Dear Alan,
Reach for the Rainbow's Board of Directors, Staff and the Crystal Ball Planning Committee join me in extending a very gracious and heartfelt thank you for your overwhelming generosity and support of the 2005 Crystal Ball. We were extremely proud of the phenomenal financial success that we achieved as the agency met its goal of raising more than $1.2 million in gross revenue.
Many joined together at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre on November 19th to celebrate an evening 'From Russia with Love'. The audience was mesmerized by the marvelous decor replicating Russia in the winter and in the palace of the Czars and Czarinas. They were captivated and enticed by the outstanding Live and Silent Auction and enjoyed a brilliant performance by Diva Dionne Warwick.
Your support made a difference. Reach for the Rainbow is 100% self-funded, i.e. we do not receive government support, nor are we funded by agencies such as The United Way. We must continually raise funds to sustain our integrated programs and promote the expansion necessary to address our ever-growing wait-list. From 1999 – 2004 the agency went from serving 74 individuals to 775. We are very proud of our accomplishments in that this past summer some 800 individuals participated through meaningful integrated summer camp or work experience across the province.
Of course, inclusion is only part of what we do. I speak first hand as a parent of a beautiful young woman with complex disabilities to the ned for parental support – physically, emotionally and financially. Reach for the Rainbow is particularly proud to have facilitated over 100,000 hours equating to over $1,000,000 of respite to primary caregivers across this province last summer alone. We know we can do more and as the statistics report, we must do more.
I wanted to leave you with a thought from one of our parents:
"Program has been wonderful - child oriented; staff are super sensitive and kind; a totally positive experience. When you are wait-listed for every single imaginable service and on your own in so many ways with a child with a disability, it's very easy to get cynical about what 'the system' says and does about living with disabilities. Reach for the Rainbow, you have exceeded my expectations tremendously and we so appreciate the important work you're doing. Swim lessons might not seem like a big deal to some, but it is huge to my son and me at this stage."
On behalf to all of us at Reach for the Rainbow, please accept my sincere appreciation for your unwavering dedication to our cause. We hope to be able to count on you next year. If you can, please plan to put us in your budget. Have a safe and joyous holiday season with your family and friends. We wish you well in 2006.
Sincere and warm regards,
Donna Trella
Executive Director
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