BRANT FOOD FOR THOUGHT

Annual

Report

2016-2017

Index 02 Mission, Vision and Core Values

03 Message from the President

04 Message from the Program Director

05 Student Nutrition Programs Statistics

06 Student Nutrition Programs Locations

07 Thank You to our Generous Donors & Sponsors

08 Highlights from the Year 2016-2017

09 Financial Report from the Treasurer

10 Staff and Board of Directors

11 Funders and Major Contributors

1

Mission Statement Brant Food For Thought is a not-for-profit registered charity that contributes to a

child’s ability to learn by facilitating and supporting Universal Student Nutrition

Programs in elementary and secondary schools in Brantford, the County of Brant

and Six Nations of the Grand River.

Vision Statement We envision healthy and vibrant school populations supported by thriving community

partnerships.

Core Values 1. Nutrition is a fundamental determinant of healthy child development. 2. Good nutrition positively affects a child’s ability to learn. 3. Universal Student Nutrition Programs should provide equitable access to the most nutritious foods possible. 4. The community has a collective responsibility for the well-being of our children.

History

Since 1998, Brant Food For Thought has been supporting the healthy development

of children and youth in our community to arrive at school well-nourished and ready to

learn, by facilitating healthy breakfast meals and nutritious snacks to students before,

during and after the school day, served within safe and nurturing environments.

We provide support to universal Student Nutrition Programs through financial

resources, public awareness, networking and fundraising opportunities, volunteer

skills training and recognition.

2

Message from the President The 2016-2017 program year was filled new community partnerships, a stronger governing Board and greater

measures to supporting quality standards for universal student nutrition programs.

Brant Food For Thought programs continue to provide, not only the nutritional support that students need for the

school day, but sound nutritional modelling of the most nutritious food choices that support their healthy

development and contribute to a child’s ability to learn to their full potential, now and for the future. Our strategic

direction is focused on four key organizational messages:

1. Universal access to student nutrition programs provides a welcoming, non-stigmatizing environment for

all students to participate in versus providing nutrition to marginalized target groups only.

2. Programs model the most nutritional food choices available for children and youth to support the

nutrition environment at the school and to provide an opportunity for participants to transfer their

nutrition knowledge and skills to the home environment.

3. Community partnerships and volunteerism are key components to program sustainability and success.

4. We are committed to being accountable to our donors and to the public and to share the collective good

work of the organization.

The Board of Directors have focused this past year on strengthening their governance model, ensuring proper

policies are in place, updating the by-laws and terms of reference of the organization. We welcomed back a

previous Board member and added two new school principals to the Board table.

The strength of our programs has always been the dedicated support of more than 500 educational and community

volunteers who invest their caring and hours of volunteer service in student nutrition programs. Our volunteers

have our unending thanks and appreciation for their contribution of time and talent. They are making a real, positive

difference for so many young people in Brantford and in the County of Brant. We were pleased to recognize so

many dedicated multi-year volunteers at our Annual Volunteer Appreciation event in May and celebrating program

successes at the 8th Annual Breakfast For Champions breakfast gala.

As we move into the future, our partnership continues to provide strong leadership and direction for the

organization, navigating challenges as needed, creating efficiencies in programming, forging new partnerships and

embracing opportunities for growth. Brant Food For Thought has gone digital, using their online social media

platform to share the great work of the organization, along with program successes and the extraordinary

contributions of our volunteers. As we approach our 20th year of supporting and facilitating universal student

nutrition programs in our communities, we will continue to build awareness of the need for student nutrition and to

strengthen our community and donor relationships to maintain and expand our endeavors in the future.

Sherron Birkett, Board President

3

Message from the Program Director Brant Food For Thought enjoyed another successful school year in 2016-2017 facilitating and supporting universal

student nutrition programs and services in our community. With the ongoing support of funders and generous donors,

along with the tireless commitment of more than 500 dedicated volunteers and educational staff, Brant Food For Thought

was able to support 60 individual student nutrition programs with over 10,000 students benefitting weekly from a healthy

breakfast or nutritious snack. Our amazing volunteers are the driving force of nutrition programs.

In May of 2016, Brant Food For Thought and Platinum Sponsor Investors Group, hosted the 8th Annual Breakfast For

Champions, our signature charity breakfast gala held at the sponsored New Covenant venue. This year’s event did not

disappoint and boasted lots of carrot appeal. Guest speakers, Rebecca Sherbino and Colleen Graham of the Raw Carrot

Soup Entreprise delighted our audience with their story of creating meaningful employment for adults on social disability,

along with delicious signature gourmet soups for the retail market. Our carrot and apple mascots were on hand for the

event and guests were treated to photo opportunities with the mascots at the photo booth in the foyer, courtesy of Edge

Imaging. We greatly appreciate the ongoing support of our event sponsors, and all the generous businesses and

community donors who support annually. The culture of giving is still alive in our community.

Our program focus this past year was to create efficiencies within student nutrition programs and help our program

volunteers achieve greater compliance with the Ministry of Children and Youth Services – Student Nutrition Program

Nutrition Guidelines. In October of 2016 and based on successful pilots in the previous year, Brant Food For Thought

launched (2) new nutrition initiatives: the School Fresh Produce Box program and the White Milk program. These

programs were designed to help build volunteer capacity within a student nutrition program where shopping for large

quantities of white milk and fresh produce was a challenge. This innovative approach to food procurement helps

eliminate financial barriers to program success and provides the convenience of food delivered directly to a school. Local

produce supplier, Forte Produce, and Crown Dairy, based out of Guelph, have partnered with Brant Food For Thought

to provide high quality, fresh, local and Ontario grown produce and white milk, delivered directly to schools at a fair price.

The City of Brantford – City Grant, facilitated by the Brant Community Foundation, provided a $10,000 grant, enabling

us to purchase (3) double sliding door refrigerators to provide adequate and safe storage of milk and fresh produce in

schools participating in the nutrition initiatives.

The 11th Annual Holiday Gift Wrap Booth, held during the month of December and until the 24th at the Lynden Park Mall,

is the other signature fundraiser, and generated the highest sales to date in support of Brant Food For Thought and

student nutrition programs. A total of 376 volunteers from 37 nutrition programs and from the community logged over

1,036 volunteer hours to support our cause. Participating nutrition program volunteers were remunerated in “nutrition

program dollars” for 858 hours contributed to running the gift wrapping booth. We applaud them for their dedication and

sincerely appreciate their efforts in making this an annual success.

Brant Food For Thought continues to maintain strong partnerships with our Lead Agency, Haldimand-Norfolk REACH,

the City of Brantford, and the Brant United Way, along with our national partners, Breakfast For Learning and Breakfast

Club of Canada. We have strengthened our communication strategy to share our impact in the schools and how the

organization is making a real difference for children and youth in our community.

I wish to extend my sincere thanks to our Board of Directors and the agency staff for their dedication and contributions

to our mission—together we make a great team! I look forward to the upcoming school year with optimism as we invest

in our children and youth today for a healthy and vibrant community tomorrow!

Gisèle Budgell, Program Director 4

Student Nutrition Programs - Statistics

“A student in my class almost never brings any kind of fruit or vegetable in his

lunch. Each day, he is happy to select a fruit or vegetable from the bin in addition

to other items! His lunch is very small--usually two starchy items like

crackers and a sweet. The Snack bin may provide the only fruit or vegetable he

ever gets.”

School Teacher

Please note: Brant Food For Thought supports students nutrition programs on Six Nations of the Grand River through a

generous annual corporate donation, as specified by the donor. We currently support approximately 1,000 students in (7)

individual school programs.

Breakfast and Early Morning Meal Programs

Provide a healthy start to each day by ensuring nutritious choices from

3 or 4 food groups, with fruit, vegetables, milk products and wholesome

grains. Breakfasts are facilitated in school gymnasiums, classrooms or

Grab ‘n Go style.

Programs: 34 Participants: 5,536 Meals Projected: 851,827

Healthy Snack Programs—Mid-Morning and After School

Provide fresh fruits and vegetables, milk and milk products and

wholesome grains, with a minimum of 2 food groups at every snack.

Facilitated in school classrooms and community agencies.

Programs: 19 Participants: 3,687 Meals Projected: 506,528

5

Student Nutrition Programs - Locations

Agnes G. Hodge Public School Arts After School Kids Assumption College Banbury Heights School Bellview Public School Blessed Sacrament School Boys and Girls Club of Brantford Branlyn Community School Brantford Collegiate Institute Brier Park Elementary School Burford District Elementary Cedarland Public School Centennial-Grand Woodlands Central Public School Christ The King Echo Place Elementary School Ecole Dufferin Graham Bell—Victoria School Grand Erie Learning Alternatives Grandview Public School Greenbrier Public School Holy Cross School Jean Vanier Catholic Elementary King George School Lansdowne-Costain School Major Ballachey School

New Beginnings Resource Centre Northland Gardens Family Centre North Park Collegiate V.S. Notre Dame School Oakland-Scotland School Paris Central School Parks & Rec—City of Brantford Parks & Rec—County of Brant Paris District High School Pauline Johnson Collegiate V.I. Prince Charles School Princess Elizabeth School Sacred Heart Catholic Elementary Section 23 – St. Leonard’s Community Services St. John’s College St. Mary Catholic Learning Centre St. Patrick School St. Peter School St. Pius X Catholic School St. Theresa Catholic School E.E.C. Ste. Marguerite-Bourgeoys Stepping Stones Resource Centre Terrace Hill Breakfast Club Tollgate Technological Skills Centre Turning Point Program Woodman Cainsville School

“In order to get students to try new foods, we came up with ‘Try It Tuesday’s’ – we give students

different foods for them to try, such as kiwi, cauliflower, broccoli, hummus, etc. I had a parent call to

find out what “green” fruit we served as her son enjoyed it and wanted some for home. It turned out

to be kiwi. The students now call Wednesday’s “Cucumber Wednesday” as they know that on

Wednesday’s they get cucumbers.” School Secretary / Breakfast Program Coordinator

6

Thank You to our Generous Donors & Sponsors

21st Century Signs Adesa Auctions - Kitchener & Brampton AG Home Renovations Agnes G. Hodge School parents Aleksandar Garkov Alex Felsky Alice and Richard Reeve Assumption College Awesome Pillows by Jane Goldspink Balfour St. United Church Better Living Essentials Bird Kingdom Birley's Coffee Service BMO Bank of Montreal Braemar House School Branlyn Community School parents Brant Auto Painting Brant Community Foundation Brant County Health Unit Brant County Parks & Recreation Brant County Roads Association Brant Haldimand-Norfolk Catholic DSB Brant Mutual Insurance Brant News Brant United Way Brantford Blast Brantford Collegiate Institute Brantford Expositor Brantford Nissan Brantford Profesional Fire Fighters Local 460 Breakfast Club of Canada Breakfast For Champions supporters Breakfast For Learning Brian and Mary Jane Cochrane Brier Park School Burford District Elementary School Burnbrae Farms Butcher & Restaurant Supply Carol Ann Sloat Cayman Windows and Doors Centennial Grand-Woodlands School Central Public School Chamber of Commerce Business After Hours Charity Of Hope Chef Tracy Winkworth Chief of Police Geoff Nelson Christmas Buskers at Lynden Park Mall City of Brantford Cowan Insurance Group Paris Crown Attorney's Office Brantford Darryl and Judy Maidment Dave Levac, MPP Brant Dave Ryan Dave's No Frills Deb MacLeod – Epicure Debra Skoretz Devlin's Country Bistro Dr. Steve and Sharon Somerton Drayton Entertainment Dwayne D. Budgell Funeral Home Ltd. Echo Place School parents Ecole Dufferin

Ecole Ste. Marguerite-Bourgeoys Egg Farmers of Canada Egg Farmers of Ontario Elaine Bahlieda Energy+ Inc. Eric and Glennis Stoyles Escape key Essential Physiotherapy Ethel Noyes Evangel Church Evi Deloukas Family Care Chiropractic FirstOntario Credit Union Followers of Christ Forte Produce Friends of Brant Food For Thought Friendship House Fundamental Fitness Conditioning Galuppi Hair Design & Aesthetics Gates Canada Inc. Gayle Cunningham GEDSB Social Committee Giant Tiger Foundation Glen Morris School students Graham Bell - Victoria School Grand Erie District School Board Grand Erie Elementary Teacher's Federation Grand Erie Learning Alternatives Grand Experiences Grand River Cruises Grandview Public School Greg and Kim Anderson Gunther Mele Haldimand-Norfolk R.E.A.C.H. Halton Food For Thought Harold and Margit Offenhammer Healthy Rabbit Brantford Holiday Gift Wrap Customers Holstein Canada In Memory of Alex McNiven Investors Group – Kevin Reid Investors Group – Glenn Gaudet J.H. Young & Sons Ltd. Jaimee Stamer Jean Vanier Catholic Elementary Jennifer Nicol Jennifer Ringuette – Epicure Jillian Telfer Kathy Hockin Keith Telfer - 1759033 Ontario Ltd. Kneaded Care Inc. Kolton Stewart Kuri Tec Corporation Kuriyama Canada Inc. Leonie Hollett Liaison College Southcoast Lifetouch Canada Lococo's Lori Henderson Ludlow's Men's Wear Lynden Park Mall Magenta Insurance Professionals Inc. Major Ballachey School

Mark's Work Wearhouse Marlene Topper MCAP Michael & Liann Lubrick Michael & Melanie Mears Michele Wapshaw Millards Chartered Professional Accountants Ministry of Children and Youth Services Mothers Pizza Brantford Nancy McCulloch Nationwide Truck & Trailor Service New Covenant Nicol Florist Limited North Park Collegiate OLG Corporation Optimist Club of Paris Paris Central School Patricia's Ladies Wear Paul Davis Systems Pauline Johnson Collegiate Pencar Ray Minna's Bird Feeders Remax - Andy Lair Resurrection School Rev. Ted Black - Brantford Model Railroad Robert and Elizabeth Goodfellow Robert and Tara Miller Robert Gee & Shelley Stanzlik Roderick MacNeil RTO Brant District #40 Sacred Heart Catholic School parents Simply Wonderful - Kim Anderson Smakdab! Pottery Sonoco Canada Corporation Spence Print Solutions St. John's College Culinary Arts Students St. Patrick School St. Pius X School Stephen and Sherri Lepp Stephen Iverson Stephen Smith & Dorothy Woltz Foundation Strodes BBQ & Deli - Brian Witteveen Sweet Bakery Ted Lehman The Bicycle Shop The Grocery Foundation Toonies For Tummies Campaign TreeHouse Private Brands Underground Conduit solutions United Way of Burlington United Way of Greater Toronto Vanessa Gasparotto Veranova Properties Limited VIA Rail Canada Waterford Firefighters Association West Brant Window World Wilfrid Laurier University – Brantford Women of Greenbrier Presbyterian Your Neighbourhood Credit Union

7

Highlights From The Year 2016-2017

Platinum Breakfast For Champions Sponsor

(L to R) Glenn Gaudet, Investors Group, Gisèle

Budgell, Program Director, and Kevin Reid,

Investors Group

Volunteers for 15+ years

(Right - L to R) Gisèle

Budgell, Program Director,

and Marg Barrett, Terrace

Hill Breakfast Club

Missing from picture:

Sherron Birkett, Doreeen

Johnson and Barb Telfer

City of Brantford – City Grant for $10,000 to

purchase large refrigerators for schools

(L to R): Dr. Joanne Tober and Christina

Rajsic, Brant County Health Unit, Councillor

Cheryl Antoski, Gisèle Budgell, Program

Director and Deb MacLeod, 1st Vice-President

of the Board of Directors

Freggie Appeal at the Brantford Blast Event

Charity of Hope Brantford Committee

presents $5,000 to Brant Food For Thought 8

Financial Report from the Treasurer This report represents a condensed summary of the Statement of Funding,

Expenditures and Designated Reserves for the year ended March 31, 2017 and should

not be construed as the complete financial overview for the fiscal year.

A full copy of the Audited Financial Statements is available on our website at

www.brantfoodforthought.ca or a hard copy upon request by contacting the Program

Director at 519-759-6164.

Statement of Funding, Expenditures and Designated Reserves For the year ended March 31, 2017

Funding Funding for Student Nutrition Programs $ 340,769 Funding for Community Development and Program Support 120,693 Donations for Student Nutrition Programs 62,336 Community Projects 32,513 Brant United Way 30,000 Interest Income 726

587,037 Expenditures Student Nutrition Programs 412,486 Community Projects 6,254

418,740

Excess of Funding Over Expenditures 168,297

Administration Costs Administration Costs & Professional Fees 7,837 Advertising and Promotion 1,541 Bank charges 330 Mileage 1,529 Office and general, postage 6,693 Rent, Insurance, Telephone 22,232 Repairs and maintenance 1,169 Volunteer Management, Meetings and Training 5,386 Wages and Benefits (2.6 FTE) 121,105 Website management 389

168,211 Excess (Shortfall) of Funding Over Total Expenditures 86

Designated Reserves—Beginning of year 56,705

Designated Reserves—End of year 56,791 9

Staff and Board of Directors

Staff

Gisèle Budgell Program Director Nancy Waldschmidt Community Development Coordinator

Judy Maidment Volunteer Development Coordinator Diana Tedford Administrative Services Coordinator

Board of Directors Sherron Birkett President Deb MacLeod 1st Vice-President Robert Miller 2nd Vice-President Joshua Laporte Treasurer/Secretary Neil Chopp Retired Principal Brant Haldimand-Norfolk Catholic DSB

Jennifer Strome Brant County Health Unit Public Health Dietitian Richard Leadbetter Principal, Grand Erie DSB Jennifer McLaren-Gibbons Principal Brant Haldimand-Norfolk Catholic DSB Glenn Gaudet Investors Group John Poulimenos Principal, Grand Erie DSB Allan Lovett Legal Counsel Waterous Holden Amey Hitchon LLP

10

Funders and Major Contributors

BRANT FOOD FOR THOUGHT 446 Grey Street, Suite 103B, Brantford, ON N3S 7L6

T: 519-759-6164 F: 519-759-3326 www.brantfoodforthought.ca email: info@brantfoodforthought.ca

Charitable Registration Number 861021947RR0001

Funded in part by the

Ontario Ministry of Children and Youth Services

Administered regionally by Haldimand-Norfolk R.E.A.C.H.