TORONTO, Oct. 25, 2012 /CNW/ - Eva's Initiatives, the Sprott Foundation and Virgin Unite, the non-profit foundation of the Virgin Group, are pleased to offer four awards of $25,000 each for organizations working with homeless and at-risk youth.
For a second year, Eva's and our partners Virgin Unite and the Sprott Foundation are putting the spotlight on what works in terms of preventing and ending youth homelessness. This focus challenges us all to think beyond the emergency needs of vulnerable youth. The goal of ending homelessness means equipping youth in multiple domains of their lives to achieve greater and longer lasting stability. It also means program impacts that have results on different levels—from housing outcomes, for example, to skill building, employment, improved health and other outcomes.
The goal of the awards is to recognize community initiatives that are:
- Moving beyond responding to the most basic needs of homeless and at-risk youth
- Demonstrating significant impacts in the lives of vulnerable youth
- Delivering programs or services aimed at preventing youth homelessness
- Breaking the cycle of homelessness among youth by integrating supports such as: housing, education, employment, family connections, and interventions to address mental health concerns and/or addictions.
"Initiatives to end and prevent youth homelessness are indeed bold," noted Maria Crawford, Executive Director of Eva's Initiatives. "These awards are a way to recognize, honour and encourage organizations doing pioneering work that contributes to the national goal of ending youth homelessness."
The deadline for applications is 9 p.m. EST, Monday December 10, 2012. For more information on eligibility or to download applications, please see our awards website at http://awards.evasinitiatives.com or our main website at www.evasinitiatives.com.
About Eva's Initiatives
Eva's Initiatives works with homeless and at-risk youth, ages 16 to 24, to get them off the streets permanently. Each year we help over 5,000 homeless and at-risk youth through our emergency and transitional housing, harm reduction services, counselling, employment and training programs, social enterprise, and services to reconnect youth with their families.
About Virgin Unite
Virgin Unite is the non-profit foundation of the Virgin Group. We unite people and entrepreneurial ideas to reinvent how we live and work in the world to help make people's lives better. Our aim is to do our bit to revolutionize the way businesses, government and the social sector work together - driving business as a force for good. We also incubate new, independent approaches to leadership including the Elders, the Carbon War Room, and the Branson Centres of Entrepreneurship. Virgin Unite's overheads are covered by Sir Richard Branson and the Virgin Group, meaning that 100% of donations received go direct to the frontline where they are needed most. Join us at www.virginunite.com, follow us @virginunite and like us at facebook/virginunite.
Eva's Initiatives Awards for Ending Youth Homelessness are generously supported by the Sprott Foundation and Virgin Unite.
SOURCE: Virgin Unite
For more information or to inquire about interviews, please contact Lesley McMillan, Program Officer, Eva's Initiatives (416) 977-4497 x 142 [email protected]
Share this article