Champion Stories: Enter a world of Innovation, Dedication and Caring
Congratulations to our award winners, the social architects who help people make transformational changes to their lives and build thriving communities. Read more about them and be inspired!
Here are a few of our featured stories. All stories are taken from the nomination forms.
Corey Wright
Dedication Award
As a Transition Support Worker of the John Howard Society and a volunteer with 902ManUp, Corey has been involved intensively in his community since his release from incarceration. His participation in an improvised play was a key activity that created community support for 902ManUp, an organization of “real men giving real time making real change”. […]
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Kari Plaggenborg
Dedication Award
In the words of her award nominator, “Kari makes you feel like you are never a problem, it’s never a burden, and she absolutely will do whatever she can for you.” Kari specializes in leading programs that are inclusive, safe and joyful for people with a wide range of abilities. Creative and caring, she leaves no one behind…
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COSTI Immigrant Services Team
Team Achievement Award
The goal of this team is to provide mobile, wrap-around, empowerment-based intensive case management and clinical mental health services to government-assisted refugees in the GTA. The team has always demonstrated consistent commitment to the refugees they serve. However, since 2015, the team has surpassed everyone’s expectations. Between November 2015 and March 2016, over 2,000 Syrian […]
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Nealia Lewis
Partnership Award
About 10,000 people in the Region of Peel access housing services each year and 75% of them are men. As Intake worker, Nealia works collaboratively with a variety of agencies across Peel to secure suitable housing for men experiencing homelessness because of mental health and addiction. Nealia’s positive interactions with community partners make her a […]
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Julian Carvajal
Partnership Award
Julian promotes and celebrates diversity daily at Art Starts. He is deeply committed to social justice and recognizes that to have the deepest impact on our communities, he needs the best possible support and expertise. Partnerships are central to Julian’s work. Art Starts says that each new partnership Julian brings to the table deepens their […]
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Diana Grimaldos
Leadership Award
In over a decade of service with Working Women Community Centre, Diana has taken on a variety of leadership roles. But it was her role managing Working Women Community Centre’s flagship multicultural community garden during a critical period of change that prompted her colleagues to nominate her. Diana’s challenge was to restructure the garden, located […]
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Ashleigh Judge
Innovation Award
Fondly referred to as the Queen of Cardboard for her ability to construct items for children, Ashleigh initiated the Nurturing Development Program at College-Montrose Children’s Place for families who have special needs or require extra support. This co-chair of the Inclusion Resource Network is also a Queen of Connectivity…
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Simon Kalkstein
Dedication Award
Look up dedication in the dictionary, and you might see a picture of Simon. He works with
some of Toronto’s most vulnerable and disenfranchised people through Jewish Family and Child, providing financial assistance and calmly guiding them through crises. Most impressively, he’s been doing it for 45 years…
All Award Winners – Stories that Spark a Smile
Explore our award winner stories by recipient name, by United Way location and/or by year. There are close to 1,000 stories (and counting!) that are sure to inspire.
Search WinnersYour Champion Stories
Durham Family Court Clinic Team
The highly talented DFCC Team goes above and beyond in so many ways. Perseverance, dedication, determination, passion, compassion, empathy are just some of the many empowering words that come to mind when I think about my colleagues at DFCC. DFCC is a charity offering specialized services for young people and families including assessment, counselling, mental health supports, and supportive educational programming in Durham Region. Young people and families who access DFCC’s programs often face a myriad of barriers. Our Team, working collectively with the young person, their family and the community, helps break down those barriers to provide hope and build the necessary building blocks for health and well-being. Whether it is as an ardent and persistent advocate to access much-needed psychiatric support for a young person, notwithstanding many systemic roadblocks; being chosen by a student as a source of inspiration for a school presentation; being told by a young person many years later that “You guys saved my life”; getting donations for and putting together Holiday Hampers to help families out at a tough time of year; or a parent saying the experience working with the Team was very empowering and helped them cope and move forward, these are only a few examples of the DFCC Team doing whatever it takes to be there for young people and families. Driven by the commitment to provide hope and guided by values of collaboration, compassion, integrity and excellence, the DFCC Team are my heroes. As DFCC’s Executive Director I am humbled, proud and honoured to be a member of this team and work with an amazing group of committed professionals who make positive changes in our community daily.
— Nicola Crow, Executive Director, Durham Family Court Clinic
From the Heart: Words about and from our Award Winners
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"Those of us who are lucky enough to work with her know that she’s the definition of irreplaceable. She’s the epitome of dedication. She is the quintessential unsung hero. In nominating her for this award we hope that she finally gets her time in the spotlight."
"Before I entered Women Moving Forward, I was confused about how I was going to achieve goals in my life. While in the program, I realized that all the teachers never gave up on me. They always believed in me even when I didn’t believe in myself. They gave me a drive to keep moving forward and never look back."
"His compassionate heart is the pulse of the organization."
"The program challenges all the negative stereotypes and helps to generate an awareness of the positive roles Black men contribute to society. . . We have seen fathers go from not saying anything to getting the resources they need to help their children’s development. . . It’s important that programs such as More Than a Haircut be recognized for their great community partnership work."
"She is the glue that keeps our organization running smoothly. Her smile and positive attitude help keep team spirits up in the face of any challenge."
"When we think of dedication, we think immediately of the unsung heroes of the non-profit sector. The people who work outside of the spotlight, whose contributions to an organization’s success are significant, but often overlooked. These people provide the solid foundation that every organization needs to achieve a meaningful impact."