Mom2Mom Child Poverty Initiative Society

Our Annual Report for the 2023-24 year is LIVE! Some highlights: • 794 grocery gift cards were distributed to single moms living in poverty • 122 activities for kids were funded through Happy Healthy Children • 92% of participant moms said that their children are receiving “better nutrition” thanks to the monthly grocery gift cards • 100% of participant moms said that Mom2Mom's support has helped them manage the increased cost of living in the past year. Visit the link below to read the full report and see how we supported Mom2Mom families ⬇️ https://lnkd.in/gfiekkDZ

Thanks to our generous community, we raised $40,000 for Mom2Mom’s Happy Healthy Children Program--DOUBLING our goal of $20,000! That means over 120 children will have year-round access to sports programs, music lessons, art classes, and a variety of other enriching extracurricular activities. “Thank you for your support and help. Your donation makes a significant difference in our lives. We appreciate you.” - Mariah, M2M participant Thank you so much for generously supporting families like Mariah’s. We are so excited to see the many doors that your generous contributions will open for children in our community and look forward to sharing more about the success of Happy Healthy Children and other Mom2Mom programs in the future.

We are so close to our goal of $20,000 to support our Happy Healthy Children program. Will you help us reach our goal and make a lasting impact for a child experiencing poverty? As an extra bonus, if you make your gift before the end of today, it will be DOUBLED thanks to a generous matching donor! Here’s just a few examples of how your gift can make a difference: • $500 for ballet classes for a little girl who dreams of one day becoming a ballerina • $300 for piano lessons for a budding musician who has grown in both skill and confidence • $250 for soccer enrolment fees for a preteen boy who needs a positive outlet for his energy • $100 for private tutoring for a child who is struggling in school due to a language barrier And so much more! Will you help us reach our goal so that more children will have the opportunity to participate in life-changing extracurricular activities? Visit the link in our bio to learn how →

Please join us in welcoming Theresa Tang, Executive Director at Mom2Mom 🤗 Theresa played a key role in stakeholder relations, engagement, and fund development at Mom2Mom while serving as Secretary on the Board of Directors for two years. 🤝 Theresa’s over twenty years of experience in non-profits shines through her commitment to aligning operations with organizational values and goals. Along with her expertise in human resources and organizational management, Theresa brings a wealth of experience in operations, finance, and strategy to the Executive Director role. 📈 "I am thrilled to join the incredible team at Mom2Mom as the new Executive Director. Having already been part of this passionate organization as a Board member, I have seen firsthand the impact we make in supporting local moms and their children. I look forward to working alongside such a dedicated group of individuals to continue empowering communities. Together, we will drive forward our mission to connect moms and their children living in poverty with the resources and support they need to thrive." - Theresa Mom2Mom has thoroughly enjoyed having Theresa on the Board of Directors and we are so excited for her new leadership role! We look forward to the important work we will accomplish together. 💙

After careful consideration, Irene Elhaimer is stepping down from her role as Mom2Mom's Executive Director. After four and a half years of equity-driven executive leadership amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Irene’s commitment to building capacity and sustainability in non-profit organizations has had a lasting impact on Mom2Mom. A remarkable leader and two-time nominee of the YWCA Women of Distinction Award, Irene has 34 years of experience in the women’s equity-seeking space as Executive Director. Supporting vulnerable communities is not just Irene’s lifelong passion, it is important work. The catalyst for Irene’s impactful career in the women’s sector was the 1989 Montreal Massacre at l'École Polytechnique. Following the horrendous act of gender-based violence, Irene’s dedication to serving women and children forever influenced her work. Her career began in Montreal, where she worked in transition houses supporting refugee and immigrant women survivors of violence. Throughout her professional career and activism, Irene advocates for greater awareness of violence against women. Irene’s grassroots work and passion for serving others through leadership will not be forgotten. Irene recognizes the importance of wellness and strongly believes in the value of women’s work. These beliefs impacted Mom2Mom, where the team is encouraged to slow down and take care of themselves, so they are well and able to support the community. “I am so thankful for the Mom2Mom team as they are the best team I have ever been a part of. I’m also grateful for the Board of Directors and the vibrant community of moms and volunteers at Mom2Mom. I feel so honoured to serve the community!” We are immensely grateful for Irene’s impact on Mom2Mom as an inspiring leader. It was an honour and joy to work with her. The Mom2Mom team, the Board, and the community will all miss her greatly. Please join us in thanking Irene for her important work and wishing her a wonderful next chapter of her life. We look forward to introducing you to Mom2Mom’s new Executive Director, Theresa Tang, tomorrow!

The 2023 BC Child Poverty Report Card shows that children growing up in single-parent households experience much higher poverty rates than their peers with two parents at home. The reality is that many children never get the chance to experience perfecting a front crawl, cultivate enduring friendships with teammates, or learn how to play an instrument due to financial constraints. We want all children to have access to these opportunities for learning, growing, and exploring what they love to do, regardless of their family’s financial situation. By donating to Happy Healthy Children, you can empower moms like Mariah by easing financial pressure. With matched giving until September 25, your gift will have DOUBLE the impact! Learn more through the link in our bio →

Mom2Mom’s Board of Directors is currently seeking expressions of interest for 1 new Director who is willing to let their name stand for election or appointment to the Board. In particular, we are seeking folks with experience in accounting/finance experience, risk Management, IT expertise, or fundraising. Application Deadline: September 24, 2024 Start: October 2024 Time Commitment: 6-10hrs bi-monthly Location: Predominantly remote with occasional need for in-person meetings in Vancouver To see the full volunteer director posting, please visit the link below ⬇️ https://lnkd.in/g5HMJi6n

What an incredible way to start September! Thank you Alpine Credits (Amur Financial) for your continued support and generous gift! 💙 It is because of compassionate organizations like theirs that we can continue this life-changing work. With Alpine Credit (Amur Financial)'s donation, we will provide financial support and resources that moms in our community need to thrive.

What did you do after school when you were younger? You may have fond memories of piano lessons, concert band recitals, swimming lessons, or travelling long distances for sports meets. Extracurricular activities keep children mentally engaged, help them explore new passions and interests, and increase their self esteem and sense of peer belonging! Unfortunately, many children are excluded from these activities because of their family’s financial situation. That’s why our goal is to raise $20,000 for Mom2Mom’s Happy Healthy Children program this fall. With your help, we’ll provide year-round financial support for extracurricular activities to over 120 children. Incredibly, all gifts will be matched up to $10,000 thanks to a generous supporter. Your gift will have DOUBLE THE IMPACT (up until September 25). For example, a gift of $250 could cover soccer enrolment fees for one child. With matched giving, you will be able to help TWO children! Transform a child’s future by donating to Happy Healthy Children today! Link in bio →

August 1 marks Emancipation Day, which celebrates the strength and perseverance of Black people in Canada. On this day in 1834, the Slavery Abolition Act was made official across British colonies. Full emancipation of enslaved people wasn’t achieved until 1838 and even still, African heritage and history faced erasure through segregation and systemic marginalization.    As BC Black History Awareness Society reminds us: “This day is not just about honouring the past. It continues to have an effect on the lives of African Canadians today. This day is about learning Canada’s collective history- not rewriting that history but telling a more complete history that includes the history of slavery.”  At Mom2Mom, it is essential for us to listen and uplift marginalized people and do our part to dismantle systems that harm them and their families. We recognize the ongoing impacts of slavery and the many oppressive systems Black people experience daily in so-called Canada.  We encourage our community to reflect, educate, and engage with the history of enslavement and emancipation in Canada.