Fred Victor Centre is now accepting nominations for the 2nd Annual Mary
Sheffield Award

TORONTO , Sept. 30 /CNW/ - Fred Victor Centre is accepting nominations for the 2nd Annual Mary Sheffield Award, presented to recognize the outstanding work of a woman working or volunteering in the local community, in appreciation of their efforts to address issues of poverty and homelessness in the City of Toronto .

"This award underscores the important issue of the growing number of women experiencing homelessness in Toronto , and the great work that many women across the city and the Fred Victor Centre are engaged in to address it," said last year's honouree, Valerie Elliot Hyman .

As the first Mary Sheffield Award honouree, Valerie Hyman was presented the award for her outstanding volunteer service in social action and service. She has been involved in many Toronto programs, including Out of the Cold, Streets to Homes, and the Multi-faith Alliance to End Homelessness.

Mary Sheffield , was a single mother in Toronto , who in 1886, became a leader in addressing issues of poverty and homelessness in the city by forming what became the forerunner of the Fred Victor Mission, which eventually became Fred Victor Centre.

The Award will be presented at Fred Victor Centre's Annual Fundraising Gala, Fred Victor Centre Presents the Roaring '20s, on October 22nd, 2009 at the Palais Royale.

Fred Victor Centre is a multi-service organization and registered charity in Toronto , Ontario, Canada . The Centre's mandate is to provide assistance to men and women who live in extreme poverty, and are marginally housed or homeless.

Of the many programs and services Fred Victor Centre provides, its primary services include providing supportive housing, housing support and outreach, employment resourcing, and a handful of diverse drop-ins and clinics that have become very well established among the lower income and street-active populations of downtown Toronto .

Fred Victor Centre is named after Fred Victor Massey , the son of Industrialist and one time benefactor Hart Massey, who died very young.

For a video with more information about the Mary Sheffield Award and an interview with Valerie Hyman log on to

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-PDVAqCD588.

For background information on the Fred Victor Centre, please visit www.fredvictorcentre.org.

For further information: Media Contact: Mark Pusey, Fred Victor Centre, at [phone] x303