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MEDIA RELEASE
Friday, June 5, 2020 WRYM's Together, We are Community Campaign supports active, caring citizenship The Windsor Residence for Young Men (WRYM) has launched a fundraising campaign called Together, We are Community, that promotes active, caring citizenship in Windsor and Essex County - both to assist vulnerable homeless youth and also to empower the young people themselves. The campaign runs from now until Canada Day, July 1. “Good citizenship is central to ending homelessness among our youth,” said Dave Freeman, a board member and WRYM’s donor development chair. “This is why our campaign culminates with Canada Day. WRYM assists young people with learning important life skills, accessing the resources and opportunities of our community, and becoming active empowered citizens. This is empowerment of the powerless and it works because of the support of conscientious citizens throughout our community. Together, we are community - and we all benefit as a community.” Windsor Residence for Young Men ends homelessness for young men 16 – 24 years of age by providing a safe, nurturing home and counselling. WRYM has a 95% success rate, with one third of residents returning to extended family and two thirds going on to appropriate independent living. In addition, two thirds of residents continue education while one third find employment. WRYM’s Aftercare Program continues to assist former residents as they make their way in the community. “In a crisis, we invite them back home to the residence - if that is what is needed,” said Freeman, adding, “Just as any good parent would.” Given the ongoing need for social distancing because of COVID-19, WRYM’s Together, We are Community Campaign is being conducted online in cooperation with the CanadaHelps Great Canadian Giving Challenge on the Windsor Residence for Young Men’s website at www.wrym.ca, as well as on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. The fundraising target is $30,000, and the Great Canadian Giving Challenge offers charities a possible additional prize of $20,000. “Let’s support Canada Day as active, caring citizens,” said Freeman. Until WRYM opened its doors in October 2012, Windsor/Essex had no transitional housing or life skills program for homeless male youth. Concerned citizens began working to raise community support and funding in the year 2000, but it would be another 12 years before WRYM was able to purchase and renovate a suitable residence. WRYM is an effective operation that continues to depend on community support to fulfill its mission. -ends- Media contact: Brian Worrall, Chair. WRYM PR Committee 519.255.7930/226.280.7203 / jbrianworrall@gmail.com News Release – 22 April 2020
Please join WRYM's Pandemic #GivingTuesdayNow fundaiser! The Windsor Residence for Young Men (WRYM) must raise $30,000 as soon as possible to cover expenses until June, and is asking the community for assistance. The campaign is being conducted online through social media, with donations accepted through WRYM’s website at www.wrym.ca WRYM has joined with other charities in the #GivingTuesdayNow initiative, a global day of giving and unity that will take place on May 5, 2020, as an emergency response to the unprecedented need caused by COVID-19. WRYM must implement special measures to protect vulnerable homeless youth during this coronavirus pandemic emergency. Meeting even their most basic human needs is only possible if these homeless youth have a supervised shelter. Overtime staffing and special supplies will mean added costs at a time when pandemic social distancing has put an end to in-person fundraising events. "The Windsor Residence for Young Men is desperate for funding to shelter our guys while helping new ones to enter our programs.” said WRYM’s volunteer Executive Director Greg Goulin. “I can confidently say that we have not received even our modest fair share of federal and provincial emergency funding administered by the City of Windsor – because we have simply received none." Goulin said that an anonymous donor has stepped up to offer up to $5,000 in matching funds to start WRYM's Pandemic #GivingTuesdayNow fundraiser! “We are very grateful to this donor and to all our supporters who care about protecting and helping vulnerable homeless youth.” Said Goulin. “We depend on the generosity of the citizens of our community to do this work, and that is especially true during this pandemic emergency.” WRYM provides young men 16 - 24 years with a supportive home, individual counselling, and basic life skills. Youths with potential are diverted from the streets to reconnect with their community, education and employment. WRYM’s 2019 statistics show an average 95 percent success rate over the past three years. Since its opening in 2012, WRYM has helped more than 330 youths to build new lives. This is Windsor’s only supportive transitional housing program for young men. For more information about Windsor Residence for Young Men, visit www.wrym.ca or message WRYM on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/windsorresidenceforyoungmen. You can also telephone 519-981-9917. -ends- Media liaison: Brian Worrall, Pres., Windsor Residence for Young Men Tel 519.255.7930/226.280.7203 E-mail jbrianworrall@gmail.com News Release – 28 January 2020 (Update to WRYM Appeal Release January 17)
Update – Community donates $19,300 to match $13,000 given by formerly homeless youth Rising to a January 17 challenge by a formerly homeless youth, supporters of the Windsor Residence for Young Men (WRYM) have donated $19, 300 to match, and surpass, the $13,000 he donated to boost WRYM’s Transitional Housing Program. This is the program that has helped the anonymous young man and so many others build new lives. His generous donation kick-started WRYM’s January 2020 Urgent Funding Appeal. WRYM’s Chair of Donor Development Dave Freeman said at the time, “WRYM depends almost entirely on community donations, and he heard that our year-end fundraising was not as successful as we had hoped. He wants to inspire others to help, and he wants to remain anonymous.” His $13,000 example has really motivated people - as of January 28, WRYM’s January 2020 Urgent Funding Appeal has raised a total of $32,250 in urgent donations to be applied to the WRYM Transitional Housing Program. “It took a great deal of confidence in his future to take this large amount of money from his savings and contribute to WRYM,” said volunteer Executive Director Greg Goulin today. “He can now feel confident that it was the right thing to do. Donations of well over $19,000 to match his donation says our community was very impressed.” Despite its success and unlike many other social agencies, WRYM receives very little government funding and depends on community fundraising. It is a constant challenge. WRYM offers the only supportive transitional housing program for young men in Windsor. Unlike an emergency shelter, drop-in centre or subsidized housing, the program provides young men 16 - 24 years with a supportive home, individual counselling, and basic life skills. Youths with potential are diverted from the streets to reconnect with their community, education and employment. WRYM’s 2019 statistics show an average 95 percent success rate over the past three years. In 2019, WRYM assisted 96 clients in its Transitional Housing, Aftercare and Outreach programs. Of these, 42 young men were enrolled and successfully graduated from the Transitional Housing Program. For more information, visit WRYM’s website at www.wrym.ca, Facebook site at www.facebook.com/windsorresidenceforyoungmen, or telephone 519.981.9917. -ends- Editors: 2 photos attached (1) Dave Freeman, Chair of Donor Development, Windsor Residence for Young Men (2) Greg Goulin, Executive Director, Windsor Residence for Young Men Media liaison: Brian Worrall, Pres. Windsor Residence for Young Men Tel 519.255.7930/226.280.7203 E-mail jbrianworrall@gmail.com |
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March 2023
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