At Nellie’s, we are lucky to be surrounded by a wonderful community of generous donors. From hardworking businesses to selfless individuals, we are stronger because of every passionate person who has supported us over the years.
As the pandemic continued through 2021, many felt the effects of COVID-19 on their mental health, their routines and their businesses. But even during this difficult time, our donors continued to step up and find new ways to advocate on Nellie’s behalf.
When businesses had to close their doors, they created virtual fundraisers. When people had to stay home, they spread the word on social media. They got creative and they found ways to navigate through all of the past year’s challenges. In a time of so much uncertainty, we cannot express how appreciative we are for their unwavering support
Here are just a few who helped make a difference in 2021.
One Academy
For the second year in a row, One Academy raised over $5,000 in support of Nellie’s shelter. Even as they dealt with gym closures and lockdown requirements, they kept Nellie’s in their thoughts. One Academy launched “We are Stronger as One”, an event which offered free community fitness classes in exchange for donations to our shelter. People showed up both virtually and in-person to sweat for the cause!
King Ursa
King Ursa, a full-service advertising and marketing agency, has been a long-time supporter of Nellie’s. Before the pandemic, their dedicated staff often volunteered at our annual community holiday party. In 2021, they also helped fundraise for Nellie’s and one staff member went above and beyond, providing hand-packed shoeboxes filled with self-care essentials. There was a package for every woman in our shelter.
The Flying Yogi
Whether it was virtual workouts or yoga in the park, The Flying Yogi continued donating a portion of their fees to Nellie’s last year. Their donation-based classes have hugely supported our staff and residents over the past several years.
Rothman, Benson & Hedges
Last year, In addition to their annual corporate support, Rothman, Benson & Hedges People and Culture department helped raise funds for Nellie’s through their “Holiday Cheer” campaign. We’re so grateful to Rothmans, Benson & Hedges for their many years of support. Their annual grants have helped us expand our community programs and allowed us to maintain our services through the pandemic.
Peggy Capitan
Thank you to Peggy Capitan who once again reached out to her network to spread awareness about Nellie’s and raise funds for the shelter. Peggy is a Toronto mom and volunteer who started Nellie’s holiday party tradition, and she has continued looking for new ways to help out our staff and residents.
The Women at Thomson Reuters
The women at Thomson Reuters have offered continuous support to the children staying at Nellie’s shelter. Their most recent campaign raised over $5,000 and helped furnish our new computer room. This new room will allow women and children better access to online resources and provide a place for groups to gather.
The Justice of Canada Employment Equity and Diversity Committee
In 2021, the Red Rose Campaign raised over $6,000 in support of Canada’s National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women. On December 6th each year, we remember the tragic mass shooting at l’École Polytechnique de Montreal in 1989 which took the lives of 14 young women. We thank the committee for commemorating this piece of history and raising money in support of ending violence against women.
The women and their children in our community count on us to be there for them when they need us and we thank every single community organization and corporation that helped us to do just that last year.
