Welcome to Skys The Limits (STL) gallery featuring our recipients, friends, & events. Visit our website for more information: www.STLonline.org
- Run4Hope 2013!
The Fletcher's Meadows Cross Trainers' (FMCT) "Run4hope" race was held on Sunday, April 28th to benefit STL! FMCT's 9th annual race took place at Professor's Lake in Brampton. Proceeds will be used to purchase computers for Peel youth. We would like to thank everyone who volunteered their time and energy to make Sunday’s race a great success, and particularly FMCT for organizing Run4Hope!
We are very grateful and honoured to have partnered with FMCT over the last 5 years. Thanks to FMCT & all the Run4Hope supporters, STL has been able to provide 125 laptops to Peel youth to date!
- 2nd Laptop Drive at the Ontario Centres of Excellence!
Thanks to the Ontario Centres of Excellence (OCE) for hosting their 2nd laptop dive! We didn't receive any laptops, but got donations instead which is just as great! More events like these to come, so look out for us in your neck of the woods.
- E&Y provide 16 laptops to Pathways Rexdale!
Sky's the Limit and Ernst & Young have provided 16 laptops to youth participating in the Pathways to Education Program's Rexdale location.
Rexdale (aka Jamestown) is located in North Etobicoke, in the northwest end of Toronto. The community is culturally diverse and has a history of strong community spirit. However, it is also a community that is wrestling with many socio-economic issues related to poverty, unemployment, immigration, affordable housing, education, and family breakdown. In October 2005, Toronto City Council designated Jamestown as one of 13 priority neighborhoods, requiring infrastructure investment and improvement of community services.
Sky's the Limit is very proud to partner with Ernst & Young. For more information of Ernst & Young, please visit http://www.ey.com/
- TELUS and Ernst & Young donate 58 laptops to Pathways Ottawa!
With generous funding from TELUS, as well as 18 laptops donated by Ernst & Young, STL provided 58 laptops to grade 9 & 10 students enrolled in the Pathways to Education Program in Pinecrest, Ottawa.
The Pinecrest-Queensway Community Health Centre catchment area, located in the west end of Ottawa, has six social housing neighbourhoods. These communities include over 4,000 individuals, many of whom live in single-parent households. These neighbourhoods have larger than average child and youth populations (about two-thirds of residents are children and youth). Close to 30% of residents are newcomers to Canada, particularly from Somalia and Arabic-speaking countries. Almost all of the residents are living below the average income level and many are living below the poverty line.
STL would like to thank TELUS and Ernst & Young for changing the lives of 58 youth!
- Softchoice provides 111 laptops to Regent Park!
Over 100 Regent Park youth participating in the Pathways to Education program received laptops thanks to Softchoice!
Regent Park is the oldest public housing project and one of the most economically disadvantaged regions in Canada. While extremely rich in diversity, it is a community that faces many race, language and cultural barriers.
*Over 80% of residents are visible minorities, and for many English is a second language
*Few families are earning more than $18,000 per year (less than 1/3 the national average)
*The region has twice the number of single-parent families as the rest of Toronto
In September 2001, with an average of 850 high school aged youth and no secondary schools in the community, 56% of the youth in Regent Park were dropping out. That same year saw the introduction of the Pathways to Education program. Beginning in September 2001, Pathways enrolled 95% of the eligible Grade 9 high school students (and their parents) in the program and successfully addressed many of the challenges expressed by the Regent Park community.
Now after more than 10 years, The Pathways to Education Program continues to enrol and re-enrol more than 92% of the eligible Grades 9, 10, 11 and 12 students as the program has expanded to include over 900 students attending close to 60 different high schools.
We would like to thank Softchoice for their generous donation and changing 111 lives!
- Recipients Across the GTA!
STL computer deliveries are ongoing. We are always on the road delivering refurbished computers to our various program partner's student recipients. Pictured here are youth from across the GTA and the STL Ambassadors and Volunteers who make it happen.
- 20 laptops to Musqueam thanks to Compugen Finance!
"Musqueam's youth programs reach Aboriginal youth in the Musqueam community. Clost to half of our population are children and youth (over 40 percent are under the age of 25). They are our future and our foundation. These young people will one day become Musqueam's parents, Chief and Council, service providers, school counsellors, lawyers and doctors: the future leaders of our community."
STL would like to thank Compugen Finance for their generous donation!
- CCVT delivery of 15 laptops!
From CCVT: "It was a great pleasure for the Canadian Centre for Victims of Torture to welcome Sky’s the Limit to the Canadian Centre for Victims of Torture’s downtown location and to thank you in person for your generous donation of 15 laptop computers. It was evident by the enthusiasm and excitement in the room that your gift-in-kind donation was greatly appreciated.
We are proud to say that 100% of the children and youth enrolled in our programs earn their high school diplomas and often continue their education at university and other post-secondary institutions. For a majority of the families that enroll their children in our Youth Program, getting a strong education is important to achieve future successes and goals in life.
Without organizations like Sky’s the Limit, many of our youth would not get the support they need and deserve. Like all the other refugees we work with, our youth clients are extremely grateful that Canada has given the tools to succeed. They are driven by a simple objective – to show Canadians that they will become valued citizens. The world can be a very cruel and inhumane place. CCVT has spent nearly 30 years helping people arriving in Canada from all over the world to heal physically and emotionally."
- STL attends the CCVT gala!
The Canadian Centre for Victims of Torture kindly invited Sky's the Limit to their annual "First Light Celebration". It was a wonderful evening with a silent and live auction, and various awards given to outstanding members of the community. Thank you CCVT!
- FMCT Year end party!
The wonderful folks at FMCT - Multisport Club held their year end party on Saturday. FMCT hosts the annual Run 4 Hope which, together with SkystheLimit YouthOrg, has provided over 125 laptops to Peel youth! We are so grateful for our partnership (especially which such a rockin group of people who know how to party!!). See everyone at the race on April 28th!!!
- Big Brothers Big Sisters of Peel delivery!
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Peel, a mentoring organization for children, is committed to providing caring adult relationships for children to promote their healthy development and enhance their self-esteem. Children in their programs are often living under very stressful circumstances and need a consistent adult role model and friend. Each year, their agency serves over 1350 children in Peel. Children and youth in their programs demonstrate increased confidence, improved social skills, improved relationships with family and peers and hope for the future.
FMCT has been fundraising for the youth of BBBSP for 4 years running (pardon the pun) through their Run 4 Hope race and we're proud to be a part of it. We would like to thank them for supporting our efforts to bring computers to deserving youth for a 4th year, supporting 125 youth to date!
- STL at the annual Randstad Charity Auction! October 19th, 2012
STL attended the annual Randstad auction on Friday, October 19th. Did you know that Randstad Canada has raised over $473,000 to date for Sky's the Limit!?!?! This has allowed us to reach our 3000th recipient in 2012!!! Thank you so much Randstad for making an enormous impact on the Digital Divide! We couldn't do it without you and look forward to reaching 4000!
- YMCA Green Festival 2012!
YMCA Greater Toronto's Green Festival was a great event with lots of great folks who care about the environment & are working to make the planet a little bit greener.
- STL's 3000th Recipient Event Presented by Compugen Finance!
On August 21st, 2012, STL was honoured to celebrate being able to donate our 3000th laptop thanks to you! Founded in 2004 by Lara Tavares (Founder & Honorary Chair), STL gave out 100 laptops to Pathways to Education Regent Park that first year. Look how far we have come with your help!
We would like to thank Compugen Finance for being the Presenting Sponsor, Randstad Canada for being the "Brittiany" Level Sponsor, & TELUS for being the "Kyle" Level Sponsor. We would also like to send a huge thanks to Canyon Creek for being the venue sponsor and Anna Keenan for taking all of these wonderful pictures. We would also like to thank Rami Thabet (Aigu Consulting) for providing the funding for our annual "Thabet-Sky's the Limit Scholarship" and Randstad for providing the funding for their surprise laptops!
Congratulations again to the 3 scholarship winners and the 3000th recipient! We wish you a long and prosperous future!
- 124 laptops to Pathways to Education Kingston!
The city of Kingston is located half way between Montreal and Toronto, Canada’s two largest cities. The city’s north end includes the Inner North End and Rideau Heights communities, both of which struggle with high dropout rates and poverty. While residents in these communities make up less than 10 per cent of Kingston’s population, they account for 24 per cent of low incomes households, 23 per cent of residents who have not completed high school, 20 per cent of single parent families and 17 per cent of renters in the city. North Kingston today remains the crucible of socio-economic disadvantage, saddled by the traditional model of centralized public housing in Rideau Heights and the consequent problems that a concentration of multi-generational poverty breeds. Yet there is an emergent North Kingston, a community of distinct neighbourhoods with a clear sense of identity, seasoned community leaders, active citizen engagement and a string of recent community development successes.
STL would like to thank Randstad and Ernst & Young for making this delivery possible!
- 10 laptops to C.W. Jeffreys CI!
C.W. Jefferys C.I. is named after Charles William Jefferys, an outstanding Canadian artist and contemporary of the Group of Seven. His legacy continues at Jefferys, with their award-winning Specialized Visual Arts program which provides a wonderful setting for both traditional and new media courses. their students continue to excel after graduation, building careers in the Arts, Science Math and Technological fields. They are committed to developing the complete student by providing youth with outstanding academic and co-curricular programs that will allow them to reach their full potential.
C.W. Jefferys is a true community school. They welcome and celebrate the unique talents of their students, parents, and community partners in an environment that is safe, secure, respectful and always focused on success for all students.
This delivery was sponsored by Randstad Canada. STL would like to thank Randstad for their ongoing support & commitment to investing in tomorrow's IT leaders!
- 12 laptops to Youth in Motion!
Youth in Motion (YIM) is a national, not-for-profit organization focused on developing the employability and life skills of today's youth to prepare them effectively for success in life and work. Their programs are designed to provide access to career information and increase awareness about opportunities for youth and those impacting the career decisions of youth.
Opportunities Unlimited™ is an innovative mentoring and internship program for young women under the age of 30 with employment barriers. The program runs twice a year, with 15 young women experiencing four weeks of full -time, paid training. This in-class instruction teaches key employability skills. Upon completion of the training period, 12 of the most motivated women move on to the next phase, a six month paid work placement. During this employment phase, each participant is paired with a mentor who helps her cultivate her self-confidence and prepare to join the workforce.
STL congratulates this year's graduates and awards them with 12 laptops to pursue their academic goals.
STL would also like to thank Randstad Canada for sponsoring this delivery!
- 17 laptops to Pathways Hamilton!
The Bennetto and Keith neighbourhoods, located in Hamilton's diverse North End, serve as the Hamilton Pathways to Education Program sites. The community includes a mix of industrial and residential locations. Both neighbourhoods are often characterized as having lower socio-economic, higher level of immigrants, greater than average single-parent families, higher unemployment rates and greater than average high school drop out rates. What is often lost in this description is the richness of history, the strength, resilience and generosity of these communities.
The Pathways to Education program was launched in Hamilton in the fall of 2009 after which the North Hamilton Community Health Centre identified a 45% drop out rate for students living in the north end of Hamilton. Through collaboration with the Hamilton Wentworth District School Board, the Hamilton Wentworth Catholic District School Board and Mohawk College, among others, the Health Centre worked with Pathways Canada to gain the full approvals necessary to launch the program.
STL thanks Ernst & Young for their generous donation of laptops!
- 5 laptops to Living Rock thanks to the OCE!
Living Rock is a 25 year old non-profit resource centre that offers youth-at-risk (between the ages of 13-25), a place of belonging, safety, and a bridge to the community, while supporting the youth to develop a personal vision for their lives. The Living Rock is located on the edge of one of Canada's most impoverished neighborhoods, Beasley, and next to another struggling neighbourhood. Living Rock not only serves youth from the Beasley neighbourhood, but also youth from Hamilton and surrounding areas including Toronto. Youth that access the Living Rock are often new Canadians ans street youth. Living Rock serves youth regardless of race, religious belief, gender or sexual orientation.
STL thanks the Ontario Centres of Excellence for donating the laptops from their laptop drive!
- "Last Night at the Proms" with STL & IBM!
STL held a small event at the Toronto Symphony Orchestra for our corporate partners, including Randstad, TELUS, Compugen, Ontario Centres for Excellence, Canyon Creek and of course, IBM!
The tickets to the wonderful event were generously donated by IBM. We would like to thank IBM for their continued support of our efforts to bridge the Digital Divide in Canada!
- STL donates 20 laptops to the North York Women's Shelter!
The project to get a women’s shelter in North York began in 1980 when the women’s services committee of North York Inter Agency Council started proceedings to incorporate an organization to start a shelter. Reports from two North York hospitals which said they treat four or five cases of battered women a week was the cause for the creation of the project.
Since September of 1984 our shelter has been in operation 24-hours a day, 365 days a year and is able to accommodate 30 women and children at any given time. Through their holistic approach to programming they have been able to help women and children heal from the trauma of abuse. For 25 years they have been a place of empowerment, safety and offered countless women and children a promise of a better tomorrow. After all these years they are still there and have renewed hope in the lives of thousands women and children.
- YWCA JUMP Scarborough gets 12 more laptops!
- FMCT's 8th Annual "Run4Hope"
The Fletcher's Meadows Cross Trainers' (FMCT) "Run4hope" race was held on Sunday, April 29th to benefit STL! FMCT's 8th annual race took place at Professor's Lake in Brampton. Proceeds will be used to purchase computers for Peel youth.
We would like to thank everyone who volunteered the time and energy to make Sunday’s race a great success for the FMCT club and for Sky’s the Limit...TD Canada Trust, The Sports Medicine Specialist, Running Room, Targus, Flower City, Second Cup, Mandarin, Big Ring Fitness, Ice River Springs, & Endless Insurance. And of course, a huge thank you to FMCT for organizing Run4Hope! We are very grateful and honoured to partner with you again to support Peel youth!
Thanks to FMCT & all the Run4Hope supporters, STL has been able to provide 105 laptops to Peel youth to date!
- Laptop drive at OCE!
Thanks to the Ontario Centres of Excellence (OCE) for hosting a laptop dive! We received 7 laptops in total, with many more pledged via email! More events like these to come, so look out for us in your neck of the woods.
- YWCA JUMP Scarborough delivery, January 2012
YWCA JUMP (Join, Unify, Motivate, & Participate) is an Immigrant Settlement and Adaptation Program designed to help young newcomer women overcome barriers to employment and settle prosperously in Canada. The JUMP program is available in both Scarborough and Etobicoke. YWCA JUMP serves young women 13-24 who are permanent residents, convention refugees or those working under the live-in caregiver program. JUMP offers one on one, group workshops, and self-directed training in software to assist their clients in using Microsoft Office programs, improve their typing skills, conducting online research, job searching, preparing resumes, as well as writing, language and literacy related matters.
- STL and Mike "Pinball" Clemons donate 33 laptops to Y.A.A.A.C.E!
The Youth Association for Academics, Atheltics & Character Education's (YAAACE) mandate is to create a culture of high academic achievement, social and civic responsibility among its members and establish an infrastructure that will bridge the gap between young people North and South of Finch in Toronto, ON. Y.A.A.A.C.E. is committed to empowering young people; through developing self-confidence, discipline, a healthy self-image, inspiring occupational aspirations, instilling commitment to all levels of schooling (elementary, secondary and post secondary), and fostering racial and ethnic identity. Y.A.A.A.C.E seeks to forge meaningful partnerships with parents, mentors, and organizations with whom the youth they serve interact.
STL thanks the Michael "Pinball" Clemons Foundation (MPCF) whose generous donation made this delivery possible!
- STL's first laptop drive at TELUS!
Thanks TELUS for hosting our first ever laptop dive! We received 4 laptops in total, with many more pledged via email! More events like these to come, so look out for us in your neck of the woods.
- STL provides 125 laptops to P2E Ottawa!
With generous funding from Randstad Technologies, STL provided 125 laptops to grade 9 & 10 students enrolled in the Pathways to Education Program in Pinecrest, Ottawa.
The Pinecrest-Queensway Community Health Centre catchment area, located in the west end of Ottawa, has six social housing neighbourhoods. These communities include over 4,000 individuals, many of whom live in single-parent households. These neighbourhoods have larger than average child and youth populations (about two-thirds of residents are children and youth). Close to 30% of residents are newcomers to Canada, particularly from Somalia and Arabic-speaking countries. Almost all of the residents are living below the average income level and many are living below the poverty line.
- 40 laptops to YWCA JUMP program!
YWCA JUMP (Join, Unify, Motivate, & Participate) is an Immigrant Settlement and Adaptation Program designed to help young newcomer women overcome barriers to employment and settle prosperously in Canada. The JUMP program is available in both Scarborough and Etobicoke.
YWCA JUMP serves young women 13-24 who are permanent residents, convention refugees or those working under the live-in caregiver program. JUMP offers one on one, group workshops, and self-directed training in software to assist their clients in using Microsoft Office programs, improve their typing skills, conducting online research, job searching, preparing resumes, as well as writing, language and literacy related matters.
- FMCT year end party!
Fletcher's Meadow Cross Trainers (FMCT) held their annual year-end party and invited STL to attend! STL & FMCT have worked together for 3 years now getting laptops to under-resourced youth in Peel. STL was recently able to provide 20 laptops to Big Brothers Big Sisters of Peel last week, thanks to the efforts of FMCT. To date, their partnership has provided 105 laptops to Peel youth!
- FMCT, TD Bank & STL donate 20 laptops to Big Brothers Big Sisters
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Peel, a mentoring organization for children, is committed to providing caring adult relationships for children to promote their healthy development and enhance their self-esteem. Children in their programs are often living under very stressful circumstances and need a consistent adult role model and friend. Each year, their agency serves over 1350 children in Peel. Children and youth in their programs demonstrate increased confidence, improved social skills, improved relationships with family and peers and hope for the future.
This donation was generously funded by the Fletcher’s Meadows Cross Trainers 7th annual "Run4hope Race" in partnership with TD Canada Trust and the Sports Medicine Specialists. We would like to thank them for supporting our efforts to bring computers to deserving youth for a 3rd year, supporting 105 youth to date!
- Ernst & Young and STL provide 20 laptops to Pathways to Education, Scarborough Village!
Scarborough Village is located in the southeast end of Toronto. The community is ethnically and linguistically diverse. It is also very densely populated predominantly by newcomers and first-generation immigrants from South Asian, Middle Eastern and Caribbean countries. There are 15,000+ residents within a 2km area and a high proportion of single-parent families.
Scarborough Village is a community in which many residents are active and engaged. However, it is also wrestling with many socio-economic issues related to poverty, unemployment, education, affordable housing, immigration, and family breakdown. Other youth issues include: transportation access, lack of access to community and commercial services (no high school, bank or post office in the community), very little after school programming, and higher than city average dropout rates.
STL thanks Ernst & Young for their generous donation!
- STL attends annual Randstad Charity Auction!
Toronto, ON - Friday November 18th, 2011
Randstad Canada Limited held its annual charity auction to raise funds for worthwhile organizations across the country.
With its unrivalled expertise in matching job seekers with select employers, the Randstad Canada Group is a leading player in the labour market and the main supplier of human resource services in the country. Guided by their innovative vision of the job market and their commitment to exceptional service, they are pursuing their mission to shape the Canadian world of work throughout their 65 branches.
For more information, please visit www.randstad.ca
- STL donates 75 laptops to Lawrence Heights!
With generous funding from Randstad Technologies Canada, STL was able to donate 75 laptops to Pathways to Education Lawrence Heights.
STL would like to thank Randstad Technologies Canada for their generous support!
- TELUS & STL donate 100 laptops & backpacks!
TELUS & STL handed out 100 laptops & backpacks to students enrolled in Regent Park's Pathways to Education Program.
The backpacks, along with a $20,000 donation from TELUS, made it all happen. STL thanks the TELUS for their generous support!!!
- STL attends IBM's Charity Fair 2011!
STL was honoured to be invited again to this year's IBM charity showcase for the opening event of the 2011 IBM Employees' Charitable Fund campaign which was held on Tuesday, October 12th, 8am - 10:30am, in Markham, Ontario.
IBM's Employee Charitable Fund (ECF), including Dave House, Anne McIntire, Dave Robitaille, Stu Thompson, & Bon McLean, held a 9 & Dine that raised over $1,500 for STL!!!
- IBM's ECF 9 & Dine for Sky's the Limit!
IBM's annual Employee Charitable Fund's (ECF) "9 & Dine" golf tournament presents a cheque for $4500 to Sky's the Limit, representing the contributions to STL from ECF in 2011 alone!
Thank you IBM, we couldn't do what we do without you!!!
- STL "IT" Charity Event 2011!
First and foremost, a huge thank you to IBM for being our presenting sponsor! Thank you to all of our donors, recipients, supporters and volunteers who came out and showed their support of our cause.
Thank you to Teri Goodfellow and the entire Six Degrees crew (2335 Yonge St, Toronto, ON) for hosting us & the Encore Catering team for providing such great food!
STL thanks our fantastic host Will Strickland who always kept the party going and the energy high, DJ Agile for the amazing music, our special guests (Bedouin Soundclash, John Ostrander, VP Integrated Technology Services, IBM & Debbie Horovitch, Social Sparkle& Shine), Caroline McIntosh (STL Volunteer of the Year), Rami Thabet & Lara Tavares (scholarship presenters), Anna Keenan (www.annakeenanphotography.com) for documenting the event festivities, Balloon King and TicketBreak.
The night would not have been possible without the hard work of our STL Team... Caroline McIntosh (STL Project Coordinator), Grace Han (STL Assistant), Sonya Bhatia (STL Publicist, PR), Lisa McPhee (STL Ambassador), Natasha Phanor, Tamsin Gosney, & Laura Armstrong (STL Volunteers).
For more information about Sky's the Limit, please visit www.STLonline.org.
- STL & TELUS @ Tropicana Caribbean Ball
STL attended the 18th Annual Tropicana Caribbean Ball: Carnival on Saturday, June 4th, 2011.
Tropicana Community Services, a Toronto-based multi-service organization, provides all youth, newcomers, people of Black and Caribbean heritage and others in need with opportunities and alternatives that lead to success and positive life choices. Their mission is achieved through culturally appropriate programs such as counselling, child care, educational and employment services and youth development.
STL was honoured to have been invited to join the TELUS table!
- STL @ TELUS Day of Giving!
Saturday May 28th was TELUS' Day of Giving and Rema (STL Executive Director) was invited to participate at the Harbourfront Community Centre!
TELUS team members, retirees, Community Ambassadors and their family and friends came together to lend a hand in their local communities on TELUS Day of Giving. This is the sixth year TELUS has hosted this signature volunteer event across Canada.
40,000 helping hands
In over 32 locations across the country, local communities are greener, cleaner and stronger thanks to the variety of volunteer initiatives led by TELUS volunteers. To date, over 40,000 TELUS volunteers have given 122,000 hours of painting, gardening, planting trees, landscaping, cooking, serving lunch, sorting cans of food and sewing, just to name a few activities.
Harbourfront Community Centre (HCC) is a non-profit organization that works in partnership with residents and community-minded organizations to create a safe and supportive environment for people of all ages. By engaging the community, they ensure that HCC’s activities will meet the growing and diverse needs of their neighbourhood – now and in the future.
- FMCT & TD Trust 7th annual "Run4Hope" for STL!
The Fletcher's Meadows Cross Trainers' (FMCT) "Run4hope" race was held on Sunday, May 8th to benefit STL!
FMCT's 7th annual race took place at Professor's Lake in Brampton. Proceeds will be used to purchase computers for Peel youth.
We would like to thank everyone who volunteered the time and energy to make Sunday’s race a great success for the FMCT club and for Sky’s the Limit...TD Canada Trust, The Sports Medicine Specialist, Running Room, Targus, Flower City, Second Cup, Mandarin, Big Ring Fitness, Ice River Springs, & Endless Insurance.
And of course, a huge thank you to FMCT for organizing Run4Hope! We are very grateful and honoured to partner with you again to support Peel youth!
Thanks to FMCT & all the Run4Hope supporters, STL has been able to provide 85 laptops to Peel youth to date!
- STL provides 70 laptops to P2E Ottawa!
With generous funding from Randstad Technologies, STL provided 70 laptops to grade 9 & 10 students enrolled in the Pathways to Education Program in Pinecrest, Ottawa.
The Pinecrest-Queensway Community Health Centre catchment area, located in the west end of Ottawa, has six social housing neighbourhoods. These communities include over 4,000 individuals, many of whom live in single-parent households. These neighbourhoods have larger than average child and youth populations (about two-thirds of residents are children and youth). Close to 30% of residents are newcomers to Canada, particularly from Somalia and Arabic-speaking countries. Almost all of the residents are living below the average income level and many are living below the poverty line.
- STL and Kevin & Stephanie Weekes donate 25 laptops to YWCA!
YWCA JUMP (Join, Unify, Motivate, & Participate) is an Immigrant Settlement and Adaptation Program designed to help young newcomer women overcome barriers to employment and settle prosperously in Canada. The JUMP program is available in both Scarborough and Etobicoke.
YWCA JUMP serves young women 13-24 who are permanent residents, convention refugees or those working under the live-in caregiver program. JUMP offers one on one, group workshops, and self-directed training in software to assist their clients in using Microsoft Office programs, improve their typing skills, conducting online research, job searching, preparing resumes, as well as writing, language and literacy related matters.
STL thanks Kevin & Stephanie Weekes for their generous donation - we couldn't have done it without you!
- STL and Ernst & Young deliver 35 laptops to Scarborough Village!
Scarborough Village is located in the southeast end of Toronto. The community is ethnically and linguistically diverse. It is also very densely populated predominantly by newcomers and first-generation immigrants from South Asian, Middle Eastern and Caribbean countries. There are 15,000+ residents within a 2km area and a high proportion of single-parent families.
Scarborough Village is a community in which many residents are active and engaged. However, it is also wrestling with many socio-economic issues related to poverty, unemployment, education, affordable housing, immigration, and family breakdown. Other youth issues include: transportation access, lack of access to community and commercial services (no high school, bank or post office in the community), very little after school programming, and higher than city average dropout rates.
STL thanks Ernst & Young for their generous donation!
- STL donates 55 laptops to UNYA!
UNYA is a registered not-for-profit society with the Province of BC and a federally registered charitable organization.
UNYA was formed in 1988 to address Native youth issues when growing numbers of young people began leaving reserves for the city. Many continue to arrive in Vancouver with few job skills, minimal training or education, and little or no knowledge of where to go for help. Today, approximately 60% of the Native population lives in urban settings, and 60% of the overall Native population is under the age of 25.
As of 2009, UNYA has twenty-one programs, over one hundred volunteers, almost 100 full and part-time staff, and 190+ community partners.
To date, thanks to our donors, STL has been able to provide 60 computers to UNYA!
- STL Christmas party 2010
STL had its annual staff Christmas party at Canyon Creek Front St. in Toronto. This year was a special celebration as it was also STL Founder & Honorary Chair, Lara Tavares', retirement party.
Lara founded STL in 2003 and has made it possible for over 2,250 under-resourced youths across Canada (and some international) to have access to a computer at home! The STL staff is proud of Lara and thrilled that she will be staying on as Honorary Chair going forward.
- STL team speaks at Thorncliffe Park Public School!
STL was invited to speak to three grade 3 classes at Thorncliffe Park Public School about the Digital Divide, the importance of charity and following their dreams. STL also provided two laptops for two students attending the school who did not have access to a computer at home.
Thorncliffe Park Public School is a K-5 school that began seeing signs of overpopulation in the late 90s. It was largely overpopulated when in 1998 it had a student population of 1,500 and as many as 40 portables filled the schoolyard. The following year students had to be sent to the nearby Don Mills school due to a lack of space. Parents objected to this and Thorncliffe Public School began a massive addition. In 2003 the new addition opened and now Thorncliffe Park Public School is the largest elementary school in North America with a staggering 1900 students. In the summer of 2008 the soccer field and baseball diamond were paved over and 20 new portables were erected in their place prompting fears of further over-crowding. On June 16, 2009 Education Minister and local MP Kathleen Wynne announced 12 million dollars in provincial funding to rebuild the school so the students would not have to be in portables.
In 2001, immigrants constituted 66% of the population of the Community Planning Area, and recent immigrants constituted 87%. Twenty-eight per cent of the residents spoke a language other than English or French at home, with the most frequent being Urdu and Gujarati. In Toronto as a whole, immigrants constituted only 49% of the population, and recent immigrants only 11%; only 19% spoke a language other than English or French at home. Median household income in 2001 was $38,404 CND.; the median income in the entire city was $45,251. Twelve per cent of the families in the Community Planning Area were officially classified as having low household incomes, while 5% of the families throughout Toronto were so classified. (Wikipedia)
- STL attends FMCT ball!
Fletcher's Meadow Cross Trainers (FMCT) held their annual year-end ball and invited STL to attend! STL & FMCT have worked together for 2 years now getting laptops to under-resourced youth in Peel. STL was able to provide 45 laptops to Big Brothers Big Sisters of Peel last week, thanks to the efforts of FMCT. To date, their partnership has provided 85 laptops to Peel youth!
- STL returns to Peel with a delivery of 45 laptops!
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Peel, a mentoring organization for children, is committed to providing caring adult relationships for children to promote their healthy development and enhance their self-esteem. Children in their programs are often living under very stressful circumstances and need a consistent adult role model and friend. Each year, their agency serves over 1350 children in Peel. Children and youth in their programs demonstrate increased confidence, improved social skills, improved relationships with family and peers and hope for the future.
This donation was generously funded by the Fletcher’s Meadows Cross Trainers 6th annual "Run4hope Race" in partnership with TD Canada Trust and the Sports Medicine Specialists. We would like to thank them for supporting our efforts to bring computers to deserving youth for a second year, supporting 85 youth to date!
- STL employee, Grace Han, speaks to class about life with Cerebral Palsy
Grace Han (STL Office Assistant) visited The Linden School’s grade 5 class to share her experience living with Cerebral Palsy and the impact it has had in her life. The class has been reading Out of my Mind by Sharon Draper as their English novel study. The main character is a girl named Melody who is living with Cerebral Palsy and has no way to communicate. The book is about her journey trying to find a way to have her voice heard and to stop people from underestimating her capabilities.
Grace shared her experiences of living with different abilities and the ways that they have impacted her life. She also talked about her experience of emigrating from Korea as the class was doing a project on immigration. The students asked a lot of questions, such as "What was the the first food that Grace tried in Canada?" (which was pizza by the way). Grace had a great time engaging with the class and it ended with the students asking if she could come back for an all day visit with them!
- STL attends Sapphire Technologies Canada Ltd's 2010 Charity Auction!
Toronto, ON - Friday November 19th, 2010
Sapphire Technologies Canada Limited held its annual charity auction to raise funds for worthwhile organizations across the country.
Sapphire Canada Limited is Canada's leading provider of customized IT staffing solutions with a deep-rooted commitment to the community. Sky's the Limit is proud to partner with Sapphire Canada Limited.
For more information, please visit www.sapphireca.com
- STL employee, Caroline McIntosh, volunteers at forum for homeless youth!
The Paloma Foundation is a Canadian private, charitable organization that supports frontline non-profit organizations who offer intervention programs in Toronto’s most underserved downtown communities. They have made an ongoing commitment to address the needs of many of Toronto’s most vulnerable, homeless youth, by providing the youth shelters in Toronto with both ongoing yearly grants, as well as ‘social currency'.
The Paloma Foundation initiated the Paloma/Youth Shelter Training Project, forming a partnership with the 9 of Toronto’s Youth Shelters. The project is collaboratively designed with the full participation of the shelters themselves, and is envisioned to be inclusive of all youth shelter staff, either in attendance at one of the live training days, or through an ‘electronic’ rendition of the sessions, which will include the taped version of the live session as well as edited written materials. These aids will become a permanent set of tools for each shelter, available for ongoing reference and training of new staff.
On November 18, The Paloma Foundation held their second forum of 2010 on ‘Resiliency’. Dr Kenneth Ginsburg M.D., M.S., E.D. was the speaker for the over 80 attendees. Kenneth Ginsburg is a pediatrician specializing in Adolescent Medicine at The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and an Associate Professor of Pediatrics at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine. He also serves as Director of Health Services at Covenant House Pennsylvania.
The theme that ties together his clinical practice, teaching, research and advocacy efforts is that of building on the strength of teenagers by fostering their internal resilience. He works to translate the best of what is known from research and practice into practical approaches parents, professionals and communities can use to build resilience. Dr. Ginsburg lectures widely to national and international parent and professional audiences. He has written five books including “Building Resilience in Children and Teens: Giving our Kids Roots and Wings," and "Letting Go with Love and Confidence; Raising responsible, Resilient, and Self-Sufficient Teens” to be published in 2011.
- STL & JP Bickell Foundation donate 6 laptops to Living Rock!
Living Rock is a 25 year old non-profit resource centre that offers youth-at-risk (between the ages of 13-25), a place of belonging, safety, and a bridge to the community, while supporting the youth to develop a personal vision for their lives.
The Living Rock is located on the edge of one of Canada's most impoverished neighborhoods, Beasley, and next to another struggling neighbourhood. Living Rock not only serves youth from the Beasley neighbourhood, but also youth from Hamilton and surrounding areas including Toronto. Youth that access the Living Rock are often new Canadians ans street youth. Living Rock serves youth regardless of race, religious belief, gender or sexual orientation.
STL thanks the JP Bickell Foundation for their generous donation!
- Photographer Anna Keenan supports STL!
STL is honored to have the ongoing support of Toronto-based photographer Anna Keenan. Anna documents STL's annual event and recently captured the STL staff, our Volunteer of the Year and our 2000th recipient for a promotional campaign. This album is a sample of her exquisite work!
STL thanks Anna for her ongoing dedication to STL!
Anna received her BFA in Image Arts from Ryerson Polytechnic University in 1999, and has worked professionally as a photographer since that time. She began her career by undertaking a photo documentary of Toronto's underground hip-hop music scene. It was within this environment that she met many talented artists and musicians, developing a deep respect and admiration for their hard work, dedication and perseverance to their craft. Anna's ability to capture a range of emotions from subtle to angry, from colourful to recluse, has resulted in artists coming to respect her for her ability to capture 'the moment'.
Check out Anna's work at www.annakeenanphotography.com
- Turn your Google searches into cash for STL!
Comtribute allows people to personalize their search engines to their favorite charities, and to contribute money by searching on those sites. Every time someone runs a search, an average of 3 cents is donated to the charity, from the online ad revenues of the participating search engines such as Google, Bing and Yahoo.
Comtribute is free for non-profit organizations and they can personalize the search engine and toolbar to link to their Facebook pages and Twitter feeds as well as blogs and news feeds.
Please consider making it your search engine of choice!
http://skysthelimit.good-click.com/
- STL attends IBM Canada's Employees' Charity event!
STL was honoured to be invited to this year's IBM charity showcase for the opening event of the 2010 IBM Employees' Charitable Fund campaign which was held on Wednesday, October 13th, Noon - 1:30 pm, in Markham, Ontario.
IBM-ers Dave House, Anne McIntire, & Lynn Wong held a 9 & Dine and raised over $1,500 for STL!!!
- STL & TELUS provide 50 laptops to Regent Park youth!
STL volunteers handed out 50 refurbished computers to grade 9 students enrolled in Regent Park's Pathways to Education Program. This brings the total to 597 computers to date for Regent Park!
Funding for these laptops was generously provided by TELUS. STL thanks the TELUS for its support!
- STL donates 4 laptops to Amos Key Jr. E-Learning Institute!
Gai hon nya ni (they are learning) The Amos Key Jr. E~Learning Institute’s vision is to provide an exciting educational opportunity for Ontario Aboriginal Youth to acquire and attain their Ontario Secondary School Credits and Diploma.
They are achieving this by harnessing and implementing state-of-the-art technology and software in a virtual yet synchronous educational environment using the internet to offer Ontario secondary school credits on-line.
Check them out at http://www.amoskeyjr.com/
- STL delivers 5 laptops to Ojibwe Language and Indigenous Studies class!
STL was contacted by Constable John of the Anishinabek Police Services regarding an amazing class taking place at Parry Sound High School called "Ojibwe Language and Indigenous Studies".
He shared that the teacher, Johna Hupfield, has been doing an exceptional job of inspiring younger generations to actively participate and learn about Ojibwe language and cultural teachings. However, the class was in need of technical resources.
On Friday, September 10th, STL had the opportunity to provide 5 laptops for the class and watch a wonderful drumming session by some of the young women in the class!
- STL Featured in TELUS giving report!
STL was featured in TELUS Toronto Community Board's 2009 community giving report, which showcased 4 of the many charities TELUS supported in 2009.
This year TELUS was presented the Association of Fundraising Professionals 2010 Freeman Philanthropic Services Award for Outstanding Corporation. They are the first Canadian company to receive this prestigious international award! Congratulations TELUS!
- 5 Youth in Motion's Opportunity Unlimited graduates get laptops!
Youth in Motion (YIM) is a national, not-for-profit organization focused on developing the employability and life skills of today's youth to prepare them effectively for success in life and work. Their programs are designed to provide access to career information and increase awareness about opportunities for youth and those impacting the career decisions of youth.
Opportunities Unlimited™ is an innovative mentoring and internship program for young women under the age of 30 with employment barriers. The program runs twice a year, with 15 young women experiencing four weeks of full -time, paid training. This in-class instruction teaches key employability skills. Upon completion of the training period, 12 of the most motivated women move on to the next phase, a six month paid work placement. During this employment phase, each participant is paired with a mentor who helps her cultivate her self-confidence and prepare to join the workforce.
STL congratulates this year's graduates and awards them with 5 laptops to pursue their academic goals.
- STL & the George Lunan Foundation donate 5 laptops to Touchstone!
Touchstone Youth Centre serves homeless & at-risk youth 16-24 years of age. The Centre is located in East York, Toronto and is open 24 hours, 365 days per year. Touchstone provides for the immediate needs of youth in crisis by providing food, a 32 bed emergency shelter, the basic necessities and crisis intervention. Touchstone also provides for the needs of youth regarding housing, employment, and life skills through Employment, Housing, and Outreach programs; as well as a Drop-in-Centre. The computers are housed in the Drop-in-Centre & are available to the youth Monday to Friday. This is the second time STL has donated computers to Touchstone, totaling 11 to date.
"An average of 260 different youth access Touchstone's Drop-in-Centre monthly or 3,120 different youth each year." - Touchstone 2009 Quarterly Report
The George Lunan Foundation was established in 1967. Grants are limited to Ontario and have included the Boys' Choir of Toronto, the Jubilate Singers, the Toronto Mendelssohn Choir, Music at Sharon, the Kiwanis Music Festival Association of Greater Toronto, and NYO.
STL thanks the George Lunan Foundation for their generous support.
- TD Bank & FMCT present cheque to STL for $12,708.48!
The Fletcher's Meadows Cross Trainers (FMCT) "Run4hope" race was held on Sunday, April 25th to benefit STL. In partnership with TD Canada Trust, FMCT raised $12,708.48 for Sky’s the Limit!
STL thanks TD Bank for their efforts & generosity. STL thanks all the sponsors who make the race an annual success including; The Sports Medicine Specialist, Running Room, Targus, Flower City, Second Cup, Mandarin, Big Ring Fitness, Ice River Springs, & Endless Insurance.
- STL & Kids Helping Kids deliver 15 laptops to PEI!
Kids Helping Kids was founded in 2004 by Briana MacLeod when she was nine years old.
Kids Helping Kids chooses a wide range of organizations that help children in different ways and in different parts of the world. Their current plan is to give 60% of the money they raise to organizations in Montreal and 40% to organizations in the rest of Canada as well as international organizations.
Kids Helping Kids and STL first teamed up in 2009 to donation 22 laptops to Montreal youth! STL is proud to partner with Kids Helping Kids.
At Morell Regional High School, they believe that school should be a preparation for life and that all students can learn. Each student is an individual with unique personality and potential . To enable students to reach this potential the staff, students, parents, and community must work together to create an environment which is safe, both physically and psychologically. All members of the school community are be treated with respect and dignity.
- STL donates laptop to Uganda orphanage!
Longtime STL supporter Shawna Coxon recently coordinated the delivery of a laptop to a Ugandan orphanage called African Child in Need (ACIN) in Kampala. The orphanage has 22 young men ranging in age from 12-18. It is a small facility with two rooms where they sleep on triple level bunk beds, an office, a "kitchen" (there's just a sink and a small countertop) and a common area with benches. After becoming orphaned, many of the young men were abused by relatives, living on the streets, collecting plastic bottles for pennies, and huddling together in gutters or under cars to sleep.
The photo also includes the man who started and runs the orphanage, Milton Opoya and his wife Immaculate. He gave up everything to start ACIN including leaving extended family in his rural village, moving his wife and four children into a one-room house in a slum and saving his money to start it.
This computer will allow them to become organized in a way that was not possible before. For example, with the original hand written files, there was no way to track their clients except by hand - a significant problem when you are trying to find corporate local donors or beneficiaries from the West. The computer is now a prized possession in the office. Milton now uses excel to electronically update their finances and (of course) the kids love to use it.
These young men dream of creating a better life for themselves - they long to have a family, a home, to go to school. In the words of Shawna, "...this is another example of how donating a computer means so much more than it may seem."
- STL's 7th annual event a great success!
Thank you to all of our donors, recipients, supporters and volunteers who came out and showed their support of our cause.
Thank you to Tony Bradshaw and the entire Canyon Creek team (156 Front Street West, Toronto, ON) for hosting us!
STL thanks our fantastic host Will Strickland who always kept the party going and the energy high, DJ Mista Jiggz for the amazing music, our special guests (Rosario Marchese, MPP Trinity-Spadina), James Bonnici (STL Volunteer of the Year), Kim Thomas, Brittiany & the Eminence Quartet, Dave Robitaille and Terry Power), Anna Keenan and Marsha & Larry Nicols for documenting the event festivities, Sonya Tsui for the delicious cupcakes, and TicketBreak.
The night would not have been possible without the hard work of our STL Team... Rema Tavares (STL Operations Manager), Grace Han (STL Assistant), Sonya Bhatia (STL Publicist, PR), Addis Embiyalow (STL Communications), Lisa McPhee (STL Ambassador), Soteira Hortop (STL Volunteer).
For more information about Sky's the Limit, please visit www.STLonline.org.
- Ernst & Young donates laptops to STL!
STL received assorted Dell and Lenovo laptops from Ernst & Young's downtown Toronto branch (222 Bay Street). STL will install software on these laptops and deliver them to under-resourced youth across the GTA. Stay tuned for photos of the recipients coming soon!
For more information of Ernst & Young, please visit http://www.ey.com
- STL and Ernst & Young deliver 39 laptops to Rexdale, Toronto youth!
This year Sky's the Limit teamed up with Ernst & Young to provide laptops to youth participating in the Pathways to Education Program's Rexdale location.
Rexdale (aka Jamestown) is located in North Etobicoke, in the northwest end of Toronto. The community is culturally diverse and has a history of strong community spirit. However, it is also a community that is wrestling with many socio-economic issues related to poverty, unemployment, immigration, affordable housing, education, and family breakdown. In October 2005, Toronto City Council designated Jamestown as one of 13 priority neighborhoods, requiring infrastructure investment and improvement of community services.
Sky's the Limit is very proud to partner with Ernst & Young. For more information of Ernst & Young, please visit http://www.ey.com
- STL delivers 70 laptops to Winnipeg!
R.B. Russell Vocational High School facilitates an inclusive learning environment that is engaging, relevant and safe.
Their priorities are to:
-promote respect, belonging and responsibility
-develop the learning potential of each student
-prepare student for employment or further education
This delivery was funded by Sapphire Canada, a division of Randstad, in Winnipeg, MB.
STL is proud to partner with Sapphire Canada!
- FMCT and TD Trust 6th annual "Run4Hope" for STL!
The Fletcher's Meadows Cross Trainers (FMCT) "Run4hope" race was held on Sunday, April 25th to benefit STL!
FMCT's 6th annual race took place at Professor's Lake in Brampton. Proceeds will be used to purchase computers for Peel youth.
With the Help of TD Canada Trust, FMCT raised $12,000 for Sky’s the Limit!
We would like to thank everyone who volunteered the time and energy to make Sunday’s race a great success for the FMCT club and for Sky’s the Limit...TD Canada Trust, The Sports Medicine Specialist, Running Room, Targus, Flower City, Second Cup, Mandarin, Big Ring Fitness, Ice River Springs, & Endless Insurance.
And of course, a huge thank you to FMCT for organizing Run4Hope! We are very grateful and we are so honoured to partner with you again to support Peel youth!
- STL delivers 2000th computer!!!
Brittiany was the 2000th recipient of an STL laptop on April 9th, 2010. Below, Brittiany describes how not having a computer was impacting her life and school work:
"My name is Brittiany, and I am an honour roll student attending Secondary School in Brampton, Ontario! I am currently in my last year of high school and intend on graduating with double honour.
However, my educational journey has been a trying one, as I am currently without a computer. I have struggled on numerous occasions trying to find different ways to access a computer, just so I wouldn't lose any marks because my work wasn't typed. I have also not been able to keep up with many class assignments, and have been at a disadvantage when I am assigned a summative task, as these tasks all require a computer.
I have now also come to the realization that university is not going to be any easier than high school and in fact, having a computer is a definite must for all students. I cannot imagine not having access to a computer for my future endeavours as an athlete, mediator, singer, poet, and so much more. As our world becomes more and more dependent on technology, it is evident that eventually I would have been left behind whilst attempting to hand write my work.
STL has given me a tool that has played a large role in being the first in my family to attend university and make my family proud. My heart is filled with gratitude."
Lara Tavares (STL Founder and CEO) visited Brittiany's class on May 6th as a guest speaker to speak to them about her past, present and future career aspirations.
- STL assists in Haiti relief effort!
For over 88 years Save the Children Canada has fought to deliver immediate and lasting improvement to children’s lives worldwide. Save the Children Canada's commitment to long-term development at the grassroots level through partnerships with local communities, government bodies and international organizations, means mobility is of the utmost importance. Sky’s the Limit’s generous donation provides our field staff with a mobile office, allowing them to stay connected to their work wherever they may be; at home or abroad.
Stay in touch to follow the 5 laptops as they travel the world helping children and youth!
- Sister 2 Sister 2010: Girls’ Issues are World Issues
Rema Tavares (STL Operations Manager) & Soteira Hortop (STL Volunteer) wrote a workshop called "Intimate Partner Violence: Spotting the Red Flags and Finding Ways to Break the Cycle of Violence". The workshop took place on Thursday, March 4, 2010 at the University of Toronto at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE).
This year's Sister 2 Sister workshop was for young women in Grade 8 from four public schools in Regent Park, a high-needs area of Toronto. To date STL has donated over 500 computers to under-resourced youth participating in Pathways to Education Regent Park, one of the sponsors of Sister 2 Sister!
- Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce 9th annual Aboriginal Job Fair
The fair was held on Tuesday, Feb. 23rd, 2010, with about 700 job seekers and 30 employer booths. The event was hosted by the Aboriginal Centre – a gathering place for people and a centre to foster new ideas in education, economic development, social service delivery and training. See more here: http://www.abcentre.org/
This year, an STL laptop was awarded as a door prize to a lucky winner - Donna! She was absolutely thrilled to have had her name drawn for the computer. She’s a grade 12 student taking university entrance courses. Her school doesn’t have many computers, so for her to have her own was a very special gift. STL congratulates Donna & wishes her all the best in her future endeavours!
- STL & Karmaloop.com donate 10 laptops to under-resourced youths in the GTA!
KarmaloopTV documented the delivery of 10 laptops to youths in the GTA for their new show “Globaloop”, dedicated to fostering awareness of domestic and international social, political and cultural issues.
STL donated 10 laptop computers to 10 youth on on Saturday, January 16th, 2010 from 2:00pm – 3:00pm. This donation was funded by Karmaloop.com and was filmed and documented by KarmaloopTV.com, the world’s leading online channel for all things related to street wear, lifestyle and culture.
Since launching in early 2008, KarmaloopTV’s millions of viewers have seen exclusive segments with artists, performers and cultural icons such as Mos Def, Shepard Fairey of Obey Giant, Danny Boyle, Director of Slum Dog Millionaire, Kid Cudi, MIA, Bun B, Russell Simmons, Talib Kweli, Gym Class Heroes, Jonas Bevacqua of LRG, Steve Aoki, Kid Sister, Clipse, Three 6 Mafia, Leah McSweeney of Married to the Mob, Pete Rock, Slick Rick, Dennis Calvero of Crooks & Castles, The Cool Kids, Atmosphere, Common, Prodigy of Mobb Deep, Fafi, DJ Muggs,Uffie, Bigfoot, The Pack, and many others.
Targeting the 18-24 demographic, Globaloop aims to build and focus on this group's active idealism by presenting topics in a compelling manner with a fast paced format and appearances by relevant icons in music, art and fashion. Globaloop is dedicated to fostering awareness of domestic and international social, political and cultural issues.
Watch the video now!
http://www.clicker.com/web/globaloop/Global-Journal-Sky-s-The-Limit-Youth-Organization-882405.html
- Kevin and Stephanie Weekes donate 5 STL laptops to Barbados youth!
Kevin and Stephanie Weekes furthered their mission to assist youth by funding the purchase of 5 laptops for youth enrolled at The Phoenix Academy of Barbados. The Academy also received $10,000 from the Kevin Weekes Celebrity Charity Golf Classic which was held on the picturesque island of Barbados from July 2nd – 6th, 2009.
- Canyon Creek event helps Dufferin Mall Youth Services
Tony Bradshaw and his colleagues at Canyon Creek's Front Street location in Toronto held a holiday event for Dufferin Mall Youth Services (DMYS). DMYS is a collaborative storefront service for youth and their families, located in the Dufferin Mall. It serves the needs of youth 12-24 and their families in the west end of Toronto. Youth access services through referral, word-of-mouth, and walk-in. DMYS established in 1994, is well known in the local community by schools, community centres, service organizations, parents, and many youth in the neighbourhood.
STL was proud to donate t-shirts to the event! STL thanks Tony and Canyon Creek for their continuing support of under-resourced youth.
- STL heads West bringing laptop computers to kids in Vancouver!
STL donated 100 laptops to youth at the Native Education College, 285 East 5th Ave, Vancouver, B.C. V5T 1H2.
STL believes in the Native Education College's goal to provide a supportive learning environment and we hope that this computer donation will enable them to continue doing so.
This donation was generously funded by Sapphire Technologies Canada Limited in partnership with IBM Canada. STL is proud to be Sapphire's charity of choice and proud to partner with IBM. We would like to thank them for supporting our efforts to bring computers to deserving youth.
- Lara wins 2009 Harlequin "More Than Words" award!
Lara Tavares (Founder & CEO, STL) was awarded a 2009 Harlequin "More Than Words" award for ordinary women who have made extraordinary contributions to their communities. Of the 5 North American recipients, Lara is the only Canadian winner.
The book "More Than Words, Volume 6" features a story based on Lara's life called "No Limits" by Rochelle Alers.
(Harlequin Special Release, Apr 2010, Category: Relationship Novel, Trade Paperback, ISBN: 9780373837441)
The award also included a $10,000 USD prize! For more information, please visit Harlequin
The Harlequin More Than Words campaign aims to enhance the well-being of women. Their goals are to:
- Raise awareness about worthy causes that are of concern to women
- Provide financial assistance to these important charities
- Engage employees, authors and readers and the general public in worthy causes and provide opportunities for them to make a difference
For more information, please visit www.eharlequin.com
- STL & the Rotary Club of Toronto provide 40 laptops to Regent Park youth!
STL volunteers handed out 40 refurbished computers to students enrolled in Regent Park's Pathways to Education Program. This delivery brings the number of computers delivered to this community to 547!!!
Funding for these laptops was generously provided by the Rotary Club of Toronto. STL thanks the Rotary Club for its support!
- STL and Mike "Pinball" Clemons donate 60 laptops to Y.A.A.A.C.E program participants!
The Youth Association for Academics, Atheltics & Character Education's (YAAACE) mandate is to create a culture of high academic achievement, social and civic responsibility among its members and establish an infrastructure that will bridge the gap between young people North and South of Finch in Toronto, ON. Y.A.A.A.C.E. is committed to empowering young people; through developing self-confidence, discipline, a healthy self-image, inspiring occupational aspirations, instilling commitment to all levels of schooling (elementary, secondary and post secondary), and fostering racial and ethnic identity. Y.A.A.A.C.E seeks to forge meaningful partnerships with parents, mentors, and organizations with whom the youth they serve interact.
STL thanks the Michael "Pinball" Clemons Foundation (MPCF) whose generous donation made this delivery possible!
- STL outfits Belka bus with 10 laptops for youth in the Jane-Finch Neighborhood of Toronto, ON
Belka Enrichment Center is a non-profit educational agency providing after school programs dedicated to raising academic achievement levels for low-income and at-risk children in inner city areas and to encouraging them to become active, involved members of society.
Belka began it's pilot program in the Jane-Finch Neighborhood of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. This neighborhood, one of the most dangerous and crime-ridden areas of the province, desperately needed a safe haven in which children grades K-8 could obtain homework assistance, mentoring, friendship, and above all, protection from the dangers and negative influences they encounter in their daily lives. All services are usually free or with an affordable registration fee.
The bus was donated to Belka by the Toronto Transit Commissions (TTC) in 2006. This unique project services youth in the communities of Jane/Finch, Jane/Sheppard, Finch/Weston, Finch/Keele/Centennial and Keele/Sheppard. The bus provides students in the community with the opportunity to complete their homework and projects. The bus is stationed at centers where homework clubs are offered.
Belka works in collaboration with other groups in the community and neighbouring centers. The Mobile Computer Lab is parked at the various centers when the students are present.
Laptops for this project were generously donated by Telus Canada.
- Sapphire Canada Limited 2009 Charity Auction
Toronto, ON - Friday November 13th, 2009
Sapphire Technologies Canada Limited held its annual charity auction to raise funds for worthwhile organizations across the country.
Sapphire Canada Limited is Canada's leading provider of customized IT staffing solutions with a deep-rooted commitment to the community. Sky's the Limit is proud to partner with Sapphire Canada Limited.
For more information, please visit www.sapphireca.com
- STL employee wins "Best of Bayview" & "Best of North York" for Community & Public eye for 2009!
Rema was selected as "Best of Bayview" and "Best of North York" 2009 (Community & Public Eye) by Post City Magazines for "Best Display of Community Spirit". The official selection was announced in their 20th anniversary edition "Best Of" issue in both the Bayview Post & North York Post, November 2009. The annual "Best Of" issue is one of Post City Magazines most popular, hardest to get into and most widely read issue of the year.
- STL expands to Peel, with a delivery of 40 laptops!
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Peel, a mentoring organization for children, is committed to providing caring adult relationships for children to promote their healthy development and enhance their self-esteem. Children in their programs are often living under very stressful circumstances and need a consistent adult role model and friend. Each year, their agency serves over 1350 children in Peel. Children and youth in their programs demonstrate increased confidence, improved social skills, improved relationships with family and peers and hope for the future.
This donation was generously funded by the Fletcher’s Meadows Cross Trainers 5th annual "Run4hope Race" in partnership with TD Canada Trust Bank branch # 2120. We would like to thank them for supporting our efforts to bring computers to deserving youth.
- STL expands to Kitchener-Waterloo, with a delivery of 30 laptops!
There are two neighbourhoods in Kitchener that have opened their doors to the Pathways to Education Program. Both communities are diverse, with a wealth of languages and cultures represented among the participants. The two neighbourhoods, both of which are in the south-central core of Kitchener, have a high percentage of families living in public housing and new Canadians settling in the areas. Most importantly, with two of the highest dropout rates in Kitchener, the families in these neighbourhoods are eager to see the program succeed in their communities.
- STL's Montreal expansion brings french laptops to youth in Verdun!
STL donated 22 IBM laptop computers to grade 7 & 8 students participating in the Pathways to Education program in Verdun, Quebec on Monday, August 24th. The Montreal expansion was made possible by generous funding from Kids Helping Kids (http://www.kidshelpingkids.ca), a foundation started in 2004 by Briana MacLeod when she was only nine years old.
Verdun, located on the south part of the Island of Montreal, is one of the Quebec’s oldest municipalities. According to a comprehensive 2003 socio-economic survey of the area, there are 13,981 families with children, most of whom are economically marginalized. Key issues identified by the local community are the high dropout rate and the need for school supplies. The vast majority of families are Francophone, with smaller English speaking and Vietnamese communities.
- Youth in Motion's Opportunity Unlimited graduates get laptops!
Youth in Motion (YIM) is a national, not-for-profit organization focused on developing the employability and life skills of today's youth to prepare them effectively for success in life and work. Their programs are designed to provide access to career information and increase awareness about opportunities for youth and those impacting the career decisions of youth.
STL congratulates this year's graduates and awards them with 9 laptops to pursue their academic goals.
- 5th Kevin Weekes Celebrity Charity Golf Classic benefits STL and The Phoenix Academy of Barbados!
The 5th Kevin Weekes Celebrity Charity Golf Classic, presented by the Barbados Tourism Authority, supported two youth focused initiatives - Sky’s the Limit, and The Phoenix Academy of Barbados. This exclusive event was held from July 2nd – 6th, 2009 on the picturesque island of Barbados. Kevin and his wife Stephanie donated funds to purchase 50 computers for under-resourced youth. Lara Tavares (Founder & CEO, STL) visited The Phoenix Academy of Barbados on July 4th. The Academy received $10,000 from the Kevin Weekes Celebrity Charity Golf Classic.
- Canada Millennium Scholarship Foundation Celebration for the 2009 Laureates
Lara Tavares (Founder & CEO, STL) was invited to be a special guest at a celebration honouring the Ontario high school graduates who have won 2009 Canada Millennium Excellence Awards. Ontario's Lieutenant Governor David Onley and the Canada Millennium Scholarship Foundation held the event for these exceptional students on June 30, 2009 from 10 a.m. to 11:45 a.m. at the Liberty Grand at Toronto's Exhibition Place. Lara was included among innovators and leaders from all walks of life to be Guest Hosts at a table of these students and their parents during this event.
- STL Event 2009 a phenomenal success!
Thank you to all of our donors, recipients, supporters and volunteers who came out and showed their support of our cause.
Thank you to Tony Bradshaw and the entire Canyon Creek (156 Front Street West, Toronto, ON) team for hosting us!
STL thanks our fantastic host Will Strickland who always kept the party going and the energy high, DJ Agile for the amazing music, our special guests (Mike "Pinball" Clemons, Grace Han, Kevin Weekes, Rejean Marchildon (STL Volunteer of the Year), Judith Montreuil, Dave Robitaille and Terry Power), Anna Keenan and Marsha & Larry Nicols for documenting the event festivities, Sonya Tsui for the delicious cupcakes, and TicketBreak.
The night would not have been possible without the hard work of our STL Team... Rema Tavares (STL Operations Manager), Grace Han (STL Assistant), Sonya Bhatia (STL Publicist, PR) and Lisa McPhee (STL Ambassador).
- FLARE Volunteer Awards 2009 (2009-05-13)
Lara Tavares, Founder & CEO, was honoured to be chosen as a judge for the 13th annual FLARE Volunteer Awards. This year they presented the first-ever Teenflare Volunter Award.
The event was held on May 13th at the Four Seasons Hotel. Grace Han (Office Assistant) accompanied Lara to the fabulous event!
- FMCT and TD Trust "run4hope" for STL!
The Fletcher's Meadows Cross Trainers (FMCT) "Run4hope Race" was held on Sunday, April 26th to benefit STL!
FMCT's 5th annual race took place in Brampton. Proceeds will be used to purchase computers for youth participating in the Big Brothers and Sisters of Peel program.
With the Help of TD Canada Trust they raised $10,000 for Sky’s the Limit!
We would like to thank everyone who volunteered the time and energy into making Sunday’s race a great success for the FMCT club and for Sky’s the Limit...TD Canada Trust, SMS, Second Cup, Mandarin, City of Brampton, FMCT, Targus, Running Room, New Balance, Swim and Sport, Booster Juice.
- Lara wins AronIMAGE Award (Youth & Community) at 3rd Annual Aroni Awards!
The Awards were created in honour of the late Aron Y. Haile, an accomplished student, entrepreneur, software developer, event planner and theatre enthusiast.
Aroni, as he was affectionately known, provided mentorship, guidance, friendship and inspiration to those he came in contact with throughout his short life.
The 2008 Aroni award recipients exemplify his legacy and mirror his indomitable spirit, commitment to excellence and dedication to giving back to the community.
Rema Tavares, STL's project coordinator, accepted the award on behalf of Lara & STL.
- STL's last delivery of the year! - First Nations School of Toronto
Recipients: Students from grades K-8.
STL delivered 39 computers to the First Nations School of Toronto (FNST). FNST is unique in that Aboriginal values, spirituality, culture and Ojibway language are integrated into the school curriculum.
The goal is to ensure that urban Aboriginal children will have the opportunity to learn about their heritage and the traditional Anishinabe cultural perspective while acquiring the skills necessary to survive in today's world.
Their focus is to offer the Ontario Curriculum with an 'overlay' of Native language, tradition and culture, that meets the requirements set by the School Council, the Toronto District School Board and the Ontario Ministry of Education.
- STL Ottawa delivery - Pathways to Education, Pinecrest
With generous funding from Sapphire Technologies Canada Limited (Sapphire Canada), STL delivered computers to grade 9 & 10 students enrolled in the Pathways to Education Program in Pinecrest, Ottawa. The Pinecrest-Queensway Community Health Centre catchment area, located in the west end of Ottawa, has six social housing neighbourhoods. These communities include over 4,000 individuals, many of whom live in single-parent households. These neighbourhoods have larger than average child and youth populations (about two-thirds of residents are children and youth). Close to 30% of residents are newcomers to Canada, particularly from Somalia and Arabic-speaking countries. Almost all of the residents are living below the average income level and many are living below the poverty line.
- Sapphire Canada Limited 2008 Charity Auction
Toronto, ON - Friday November 7th, 2008
Sapphire Technologies Canada Limited held its annual charity auction to raise funds for worthwhile organizations across the country.
Sapphire Canada Limited is Canada's leading provider of customized IT staffing solutions with a deep-rooted commitment to the community. Sky's the Limit is proud to partner with Sapphire Canada Limited.
For more information, please visit www.sapphireca.com
Many thanks to Larry Nicols for the great photos!
- Beatz to da Streetz receives 4 laptops from STL
Beatz to da Streetz (1076 Pape Avenue Toronto, Ontario M4K 3W5, http://www.b2ds.ca) is Toronto's first non-profit arts program that aims to empower homeless and underserved youth ages 16-24 through urban arts to reach their full potential and become agents of positive social change. The program leverages the powerful connection between young people and music to promote opportunities for increasing self-esteem, development of creative expression, building life skills, opening opportunities for professional mentorship, education and income generation for homeless and underserved youth. The workshops are run out of Centennial College's Centre for Creative Communication.
Check out their video on youtube http://ca.youtube.com/b2dscrew
- STL goes National! Frederciton, New Brunswick
Sky's the Limit delivered 9 computers to the Boys & Girls Club of Fredericton
499 Canterbury Drive, Fredericton, NB, E3B 4M4, (http://www.fbgc.ca)
Since 1968 the Fredericton Boys and Girls Club has been offering a variety of programs and services designed to meet the needs of local youth, especially those who may be considered under-resourced. In 2005, over 1100 local children and youth benefited from their programs.
- Pathways to Education Rexdale
This year's deliveries have begun for Rexdale and Regent Park. Over 200 computers to be delivered in total!
- P2E Regent Park Fall Delivery
STL volunteers will be delivering 125 refurbished computers to students enrolled in Regent Park's Pathways to Education Program this year!
- Word of Truth Community Skills Link Employment Program
Word of Truth received 4 computers for their lab and 2 recipients received a computer to take home. Congratulations to both recipients for all their hard work!
- StepStones for Youth - Summer 2008 delivery!
StepStones services a population of youth who are economically or socially disadvantaged. The mandate of StepStones is to promote and continually improve fundamental core skills for vulnerable youth that will directly increase their potential for achievement at school, in the community, and as members of the workforce.
STL staff and volunteers were on hand for the first Summer 2008 delivery (July 25th) and the second delivery (August 14th). Thanks to Stephen Feller, Kristen Ogden, John Palmer, Kadeem Bradshaw, Tony Bradshaw and Ramon Tavares, for assisting with the computer deliveries!
- STL delivers 1000th computer!
Kyle was the 1000th recipient of an STL computer on August 8th, 2008. Kyle is entering Grade 7 in September.
Kyle received a Dell Dimension 2400 with a P4 2.2GHz CPU, 1024MB (1GB) RAM, 60GB hard drive, DVD burner, Windows XP, Office XP and speakers! He was also presented with an STL merchandise gift pack.
We asked him some questions...
What will you use your computer to do?
I will use my computer academically and socially. To research homework assignments for me and my little brother. To learn more about Canada and other countries. My teacher and mom can email each other about my progress in class.
How will receiving a computer impact your life in a positive way?
Receiving a computer will help me to complete assignments faster and easier.
Can you tell me about your interests and hobbies?
I love computers because it gives you the opportunity to learn a lot about anything and everything. My hobbies are basketball, swimming and bike riding.
- Shawanaga First Nations computer delivery
STL has partnered up with notable social activist, Toronto Police Constable Ojo Tewogbade, in order to provide refurbished computers to the Shawanaga First Nation community.
STL returned to the Shawanaga First Nation community on June 20th to delivery 80 computers to the under-resourced youth enrolled in the Kinomaugewgamik Elementary School and to families residing in the community.
STL team: Lara Tavares, Rema Tavares, Grace Han, Lisa McPhee, Raquel Lowe
- STL Event 2008 a huge success!
Thank you to everyone who made our 5th annual fundraising event a huge success! STL would like to thank the following...
SPACE & FOOD PROVIDED BY: Revival Bar
HOST: Will Strickland (UMAC)
TALENT PROVIDED BY:
Alana Bridgewater, Dane Hartsell, Jay Martin, Music by Agile, Jermaine Richards, Ivana Santilli, Calvin Beale, Shamaka, Wade O Brown,
SPECIAL THANK YOU:
B&B Authenticated, Ceridian Canada Ltd, Francisca Cartagena,Peter Chaltas (Beaverbrook Co.), Shawna Coxon, Davinder Dhillon, Julie Dixon (Dubwear Clothing Co.), Flare Magazine, IBM Ottawa Lab, Anna Keenan Photography, Marsha & Larry Nicols, Paloma Foundation, reBOOT Canada, Sapphire Technologies Canada Ltd., Joe Saturnino (Revival Bar), Christine Schloen (Optimum Health Centre), Ojo Tewogbade (Toronto Police), TicketBreak, Sonya Tsui (Cupcakes Boutique), Cynthia Wilson (STL Show Manager), Youth In Motion Opportunities Unlimited Program (Trecia Clarke, Latoya Dwyer, Grace Han)
STL AMBASSADORS:
Amy Wong, Pamela Ng, Sonya Bhatia (PR), Daniel Davidzon, Kimberly Hughes, Lisa McPhee, Adam Reeve, Maurice Tavares, Ramon Tavares
- STL Founder and CEO is a 2008 Flare Volunteer Award winner!
Lara Tavares, STL Founder and CEO, won the FLARE Volunteer Award for 2008! This prestigious award is presented each year to six outstanding Canadian female volunteers aged 18 and up whose volunteer achievements have made a difference to the lives of the people in their communities. The award ceremony took place on May 22nd at the Four Seasons Hotel in Toronto and the winners and the event will be covered in subsequent issues of FLARE. The magaize also held a photo shoot of Lara on location at reBOOT Canada. This national coverage will most certainly generate lots of interest in STL! Visit Flare.com for more award information! Read Lara's acceptance speech in her bio on the STL site.
- STL recipients across the GTA!
STL computer deliveries are ongoing. We are always on the road delivering refurbished computers to our various program partner's student recipients. Pictured here are youth from across the GTA and the STL Ambassadors and Volunteers who make it happen.
- First Nations and STL
Northward Bound!
STL has partnered up with notable social activist, Toronto Police Constable Ojo Tewogbade, in order to provide refurbished computers to under resourced youth residing in the Shawanga First Nation community.
STL travelled to Shawanaga First Nation in late April to meet with the community. Deliveries to the community are scheduled to commence in June 2008.
- P2E Regent Park Spring Delivery
STL volunteers delivered 25 refurbished computers to students enrolled in Regent Park's Pathways to Education Program. This delivery brings the number of computers delivered to this community to 428!!!
- STL and the Toronto Police work together to help youth
STL has partnered up with notable social activist, Toronto Police Constable Ojo Tewogbade, in order to provide refurbished computers to under-resourced youth and will travel to Shawanaga First Nation in late April to meet with the community.
Pictured here are Lara Tavares (STL Founder, CEO) and members of the Toronto Police at a computer workshop delivered by reBOOT Canada's Robert Tang-Wei on February 14th.
- COSTI Immigrant Services
COSTI Immigration Services
1710 Dufferin Street Toronto, Ontario M6E 3P2
www.costi.org/index.php
Meeting the needs of a diverse society for over 50 years, COSTI Immigrant Services is a community-based multicultural agency providing employment, educational, settlement and social services to all immigrant communities, new Canadians and individuals in need of assistance. COSTI strives to be a leader in community service by using a client focused, proactive, and innovative approach in planning, developing and delivering services. Their programs ensure that regardless of language or cultural barriers, people who arrive in Canada are able to use their existing skills, learn new ones, and participate actively in all aspects of Canadian life. Operating from 14 locations in Toronto, York Region and Peel, COSTI provides services in more than 60 languages. Last year, over 42,000 individuals received assistance.
Recipients: Students from newly immigrated families
Computers placed to date: 20
- Toronto Marlies game for STL
The Toronto Marlies chose STL as one of the charities they are generously supporting this year!!!
The Toronto Marlies took on the Hamilton Bulldogs at Ricoh Coliseum on Saturday February 9th @ 4pm.
- StepStones for Youth - Fall 2007 delivery
StepStones services a population of youth who are economically or socially disadvantaged. The mandate of StepStones is to promote and continually improve fundamental core skills for vulnerable youth that will directly increase their potential for achievement at school, in the community, and as members of the workforce.
STL Computer Recipients: 60 girls, aged 12-14 who have participated in a two-week camp program beginning with an initial one-week day program in the city of Toronto followed by an eight-day overnight camping experience at a rented camp facility in Northern Ontario (Owen Sound).
- STL Ottawa Launch Phase 2
STL joined forces with Ottawa’s CompuCorps Mentoring (CCM) and CNC Global Limited Ottawa to provide refurbished computers to deserving families in the Ottawa area.
This new initiative targetted immigrant and low-income families with limited access to resources, specifically new Canadians arriving from Burma.
The 2nd phase of this initiative took place on December 4th, 2007 when CCM, CNC Global Limited and STL distributed the last 50 computers at CCM’s new facility in Ottawa at 1040 Somerset Avenue West, Ottawa. Each STL computer recipient will participate in a mentoring session provided by CCM.
The STL team (Lara Tavares, Moe Tavares, Rema-Jane Tavares, Sonya Bhatia), and the CNC Global Ottawa team led by Sue Nuttal participated in the event hosted by Bill Marvel and the CompuCorps Mentoring/reBOOT Ottawa team.
- Pathways to Education Regent Park and Rexdale computer distribution underway
Throughout the fall, computers are being delivered to students currently enrolled in the Pathways to Education Regent Park and Rexdale programs.
Thank you to all of the STL and CNC Global Volunteers for assiting in the deliveries.
- CNC Global Charity Auction
CNC Global's employees raise funds at their annual charity auction, benefiting worthwhile organizations across the country.
This year, CNC Global’s generous donation made a huge difference to over 100 student recipients currently enrolled in various Pathways to Education Program locations across the GTA.
CNC Global is Canada’s leading provider of customized IT staffing solutions with a deep-rooted commitment to the community. Sky’s the Limit is proud to partner with CNC Global Limited.
For more information, please visit www.cncglobal.com
- Youth in Motion's Opportunities Unlimited grads get computers
STL congratulates this year's graduates and awards them with desktops and laptops to pursue their academic goals.
Visit http://www.youth-in-motion.ca/oppunlim.asp for more information on the Opportunities Unlimited program.
- Biking Blue - IBM Ottawa Lab Century Ride
On August 30th at 1:00 PM, over 25 employees of the IBM Ottawa Lab, in partnership with Biking Blue, undertook a challenge to cycle 100 kilometers in support of the Ottawa chapter of Sky’s the Limit. The ride set off from the IBM Ottawa Lab facility at 770 Palladium Drive in Kanata.
The ride was in support of Sky’s the Limit goal to provide 100 computers and computer training to under-resourced children in the Ottawa area. Lara Tavares (STL) attended and spoke at the event.
‘Biking Blue’ is a group of IBM employees with a vision and passion for reaching out to the community. The Biking Blue team consists of amateur cyclists who are committed to helping raise awareness for selected charitable organizations.
- STL Ottawa Launch
STL joined forces with Ottawa’s CompuCorps Mentoring (CCM) and CNC Global Limited Ottawa to provide refurbished computers to deserving families in the Ottawa area.
This new initiative targetted immigrant and low-income families with limited access to resources, specifically new Canadians arriving from Burma.
The initiative launched on August 23rd, 2007 when CCM, CNC Global Limited and STL distributed the first 20 computers at CCM’s new facility in Ottawa at 1040 Somerset Avenue West, Ottawa. Each STL computer recipient will participate in a mentoring session provided by CCM.
The STL team (Lara Tavares, Moe Tavares, Rema-Jane Tavares, Sonya Bhatia), and the CNC Global Ottawa team led by Sue Nuttal participated in the event hosted by Bill Marvel and the CompuCorps Mentoring/reBOOT Ottawa team.
- Caring For Kenya
Lara Tavares (Founder & CEO, STL) participated in Careforce International’s “Caring for Kenya” project at the Mulli Children's Family Orphanage (MCF) in Ndalani, Kenya.
Lara Tavares participated in the "Portable Computer Project" and taught students basic computer skills. Visit our online gallery to view pictures from the Caring for Kenya trip.
What is so special about MCF?
• MCF is an internationally recognized organization that has successfully rescued and rehabilitated more than 700 orphaned street children with another 1200 currently under its care.
• MCF is a non-profit, non-governmental enterprise that provides quality education, food, skills training, health care and more to the children under its care and to the surrounding community.
• All faiths or beliefs: MCF welcomes, with open arms, all faiths, tribes and histories, with no judgment.
• MCF is a rehabilitation centre for street children and orphans affected by abuse, abandonment and neglect, and who suffer from or have been left orphaned by HIV/AIDS.
• To date the organization has positively affected over 4000 children who would have otherwise been left to the streets.
• MCF has been recognized by the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) and World Vision International for its remarkable achievements.
• For more information on MCF please visit www.mullychildrensfamily.org
• For more information on Careforce International, please visit www.careforceinternational.ca
- Sky’s the Limit bridges the Digital Divide in Ottawa
Joining forces with Ottawa’s CompuCorps Mentoring and CNC Global Limited Ottawa, Canada’s leader in IT staffing solutions, STL will provide refurbished computers to deserving families in the Ottawa area.
Lara Tavares and the STL Team, Bill Marvel and the CompuCorps Mentoring Team, and Sue Nuttal and the CNC Global Ottawa team came together to coordinate the Ottawa expansion.
For more information, read the press release in our media section.
- STL Appreciation Dinner
STL would like to thank all of our Ambassadors and Volunteers...we couldn't do it without you!
Ambassadors who attended the appreciation dinner: Pamela Ng, Adam Reeve, Lisa McPhee, Will Strickland, Anna Keenan, Lorei Keith, Arnie Blackwell, Sonya Bhatia, Tracey Vaz, Ramon Tavares, Anu Joneja, Lara Tavares
- STL Event 2007
STL would like to thank everyone who attended and participated in our 4th annual fundraising event!
Lara Tavares (STL) would personally like to thank Anna Keenan (STL Ambassador) and Lisa McPhee (STL Ambassador) for providing the photos.
- STL attends FLARE 2007 Volunteer Awards
Lara Tavares and Ramon Tavares were proud to represent Sky's the Limit Youth Organization at this year's FLARE Volunteer Awards!
- STL 2007 Art Contest Winners
STL would like to thank all of the Pathways students for their excellent entries this year!
Lara Tavares presented awards to this year's winners at the Homework Technology Centre in Regent Park.
- Abdel installs an Internet Network Card
Pathways to Education student and STL computer recipient Abdel installs an Internet card at the Homework Technology Centre in Regent Park. Graham Taylor, Program Facilitator Tutoring: Computer Literacy and Applications, assists.
- "Here and Now" Talk Show with Karen Horseman
Lara Tavares (STL) was a guest on the "Here and Now" Talk Show with Karen Horseman on CBC Radio One, Toronto, ON
- "Life Without a Computer"
Supporters of STL came together for a night of spine-tingling music and grooved to live, hypnotic instrumental music by Tej Hunjan of ConTEJous Productions along with soulful beats by DJ RA of Rhythm Force Productions. Lara Tavares (STL) would personally like to thank Sonya Bhatia (Sadharana Communications) for planning and exectuting an amazing event in support of STL!
- Rogers "daytime" television interview
Lara Tavares (STL) appeared as a guest on Rogers "daytime" Television, Toronto, ON
- FLARE MAgazine
FLARE Magazine - January, 2007
"FLARE Was There"
Lara Tavares (Executive Director, STL) and Ramon Tavares (Ambassador, STL) attend the "Night of FLARE" celebrating the launch of November's Canada Style bonus issue featuring Lara.
- STL Partner reBOOT Canada
STL purchases refurbished computers from reBOOT Canada
- STL Volunteers
Sky's the Limit is run entirely by volunteers, ensuring that administration costs are kept to an absolute minimum.
The STL team contributes to the success of our unique initiative by donating their energy, skills and time. We would not be able to achieve our goals without them. Contact us today to find out how you can be a part of our team!
- Cozy and STL present "Mingle"
In the spirit of giving, the people of Cozy and Sky's The Limit Youth Organization present "Mingle" - 1 part get-together,1 part fundraiser, all parts a good time.
- 2006 Computer Lab Attendance Winner
Contest winner!
Amekala is presented with a new printer for winning Sky’s the Limit’s Amazing Attendance Award at the Pathways to Education’s Homework Technology Centre tutoring lab.
“Thank you for helping me with my homework!” - Amekala
- 2006 Student Recipients
- FLARE Magazine
FLARE Magazine - October 16th, 2006
Lara Tavares (Executive Director, STL) featured in "Canada Style" special bonus issue showcasing trendsetters across Canada.
- 2006 Pathways to Education Graduation Ceremony
Ryerson Theatre, Toronto, ON
- 2006 Event
Revival Bar, Toronto, ON
- 2006 Art Contest Winners
Contest winner Vahini and 2nd runner up Diana
- Defy 2006 "Challenge Yourself" Information Fair
Metro Hall, Toronto, ON
The Diverse Youth Advisory Council's Defy 2006 "Challenge Yourself" focussed on the empowerment of our city's youth, acting as a medium to foster individual and community growth through participation in an exciting variety of non-traditional recreation activities.
The theme of the full-day workshop opportunity was to "challenge yourself" a call for Toronto's youth to learn more about themselves and their communities.
The event consisted of active youth-led workshops and demonstrations as well as a large information fair that Sky's the Limit participated in.
Photo credit: Brandi Costain
- B.L.I.N.G. Summit
University of Toronto, Toronto, ON
The BLING summit was a venue for Black youth from high school, college, university and the working world to come together and mobilize with their allies to take action around the violence in their communities.
The goal of this summit was not simply to be a venting forum, but to serve as a catalyst for action. The BLING summit was a place for youth to meet and make connections, discuss issues and gain skills. The B.L.I.N.G Summit was for both youth who are currently leaders in their communities and those who wish to begin involvement in community outreach.
The conference featured workshops, speakers and discussions all grounded around the questions: What is causing gun violence in our community? How can youth mobilize to stop it? Following the conference BYCAV held a Music and Arts showcase where young artists used the arts to promote the message of Bring Love in Not Guns. Contestants from the B.L.I.N.G music and arts contest will also have their work displayed.
- 2005 Student Recipients
- 2005 Event
Lula Lounge, Toronto, ON
- 2004 Student Recipients
- 2004 Event
Steam Whistle Brewery, Toronto, ON