Thank you to the donors who so generously supported Merrymount in 2015-2016.Your gifts helped change the lives of children and families

Presidents’ CampaignDr. Larry & Patricia AllenShelley & Richard BakerWilliam BergDebbie CollinsAllan & Susan EdwardsMarcella & Peter GrailDr. Richard & Jan LubellJeff & Marjie MacounTerry & Emily MarcocciaShawn & Bev McConvilleMyrna McDermidKaren & Alan MenkisRichard & Lynne RauschRobert & Cheryl RitchieMichael ScratchDavid ThompsonScott & Cindy WebsterShirley WilloughbyJane Zoeger & Yvon Dupuis

Comedy Night SponsorsRBC Wealth ManagementRBC Dominion Securities3MGoodlife FitnessLondon City ChryslerLondon City MazdaLondon Insurance BrokersDr. Faisal RehmanEquitable LifeFidelity InvestmentsFord KeastGore Mutual InsuranceMeridian Credit UnionPszeniczny Partners Inc.Unica Insurance/CREClub Real EstateFreeman Audio Visual CanadaJim Anderson FlowersKwik Kopy PrintingNash Jewellers

Thank you to all Comedy Night Supporters

Annual GivingSusan AbercrombySusan AgranoveAlmaz AlemieAlkin CorporationDr. Larry & Patricia AllenAngelo & Ewa AndreozziElaine AndrewsThe Arcangelo Rea Family FoundationTeresa & William ArmstrongDr. Shannon ArntfieldLinda ArsenaultEdward A. & Carol I. AzizJoanne & Jim BaileyShelley & Richard BakerBeverly & Eric BallJoan BallBank of MontrealSue BarnesDel & Anne BartolozziBarbara & Jon BaskervilleDr. Karen Bax & Dr. Craig CampbellDr. Melanie Beaton & Grant CoomePamela & Gary BeattyDr. David & Beverly BellWilliam BergCammileah BethE.R. BlackKevin & Tamara BlaneyBlewett & AssociatesDr. Andrew BodkinSteve BoltonBoston PizzaCeline Bourbonnais - MacDonald & Murray MacDonaldDr. Robert & Donna BourneLee Anne Breaton & Gery CharleboisJudith & Russell BrebnerLindsay BrekelmansAnne BrooksDr. Desi Brownstone & Dr. Kandice McKeeShieky BrownstoneKimberly & Rick Buckley

Dorothy BullockShane ButcherCambria Masonry IncRichard CaneClaire CapaldiCarlson Wagonlit TravelCatholic Women’s LeagueWanda CaughellShiva Chaitanya GubbalaGuy & Connie ChalkChildren’s Aid Society of London & MiddlesexChurch of St. John the EvangelistCIBC Children’s Foundation, CIBC Miracle DayPaul Cocker & Trish FultonColborne Street United ChurchCraig Coleman & Joanne MacDonaldDebbie Collins & Gary HawkinsLynne CollinsMary Jane & Jerome CollinsShanna L. CollinsSheryl Cooke-SawyerTom & Joanne CowanGary CoxMary-Anne CreightonRoisin CrewCupe 7575Lynne E. CurrieKaren DaltonMichael J. & Susan DaviesJennifer & Peter DayMaria Del VastoNoreen De ShaneKimberly De SousaTodd DickeyDillon Consulting Ltd.Scott & Martha DisneyRonald & Lois DoaneDr. Wojciech & Yolanta DobkowskiLynn DonaldsonSteve DoubtDr. H. Brian Evans Medicine Professional CorpKay & Josh DubitskyEducator Supplies LimitedElleyr Investments Ltd.D’Arcy ElliottMike EmeryArt & Eleanor EnderFrancee EnderEquitable Life of CanadaElizabeth EscafPeter FeeneyVito & Sharon FinucciJo-Ann FisherMyrna & Jim FiskDr. Sandra & Dr. Michael FismanDerek & Yvonne FloydDonna-Marie FraleighGeneral Dynamics Land Systems CanadaThomas & Heather GetliffeMary Gillick & Frank VitaDeborah GillisDr. Erica GoldGail GoldrathGood News CRC Deacon’s FundDr. Carolyne Gorlick & Alan PomfretAdela GorodzinskyDoreen GrahamWarren & Joanne GrangerAaron GrantGreat West Life Assurance CompanyEdward & Vera GreigMuriel & Peter GuthrieCassandra HaasRhonda K. HallbergHanger 9Manfred V. HarpeDr. Michael & Bev HarperHarrison PensaJeff & Violetta HavemanBob & Midge HeighwayElizabeth HeinickeSheila HeinickeFrank & Monica HeiszEric J. HeizerGeoffrey HeylandHockey Helps the HomelessJudy HoenichMargaret Hoff

Home Hardware - Summers Home HardwareHarry H. Homer & Joanne DowEleanor Huang & Jack JungMark HunterAssunta M. IacobelliInvesting in ChildrenInvestors Group Financial Services Inc.J. Dean Williamson LimitedPat JacklinMarion JamiesonEric & Monica JanitisAngela & Norman JonkhansFrieda & Emil KellenbergerChristine KellyCathy & David KennyGrace KingDr. Joanne KirbyKiwanis Club - Forest CityDavid & Diane KnoppertAlison & Mark KonradMary Margaret & Gary KoreenLac-Mac LimitedGina LaforceMichael & Penny LanderLarry and Susan Agranove Family FundJulie LeeDr. Michael & Barbara LefcoeDenis & Nancy LemieuxDr. Barbara Lent & Dr. Robert SolomonJohn & Jane LesauxBrian & Sharon LessardJacqueline LewisMeg Lewis & Mike MiletechNancy LiabotisLibro Credit UnionSheilanne LindsayBetsy & Tony LittleTeresa LiwoszLorraine LloydLondon and St. Thomas Real Estate BoardLondon Central LionessLondon Community FoundationLondon East Lioness ClubLondon HydroLondon Power Realty IncLondon Shrine ClubKym LoosMarion & John LottLutheran Social Services (London)Ann MacKenzieLouise MacnabJeff & Marjie MacounRichard MacgregorRobert & Leta MaloleyMarcus & Associates LLP, Hoare DaltonGerald & Sande MarcusTracy & Brad MarinoSharon MarksDixie MartinSteve & Lauren MartinChristopher MavrikkouIan MawdsleyDorothy McClellandAlex & Jean McCombBill & Joan McConnellMyrna McDermidHeather McDowallMcKenzie Lake Lawyers LLPDr. William & Nancy McKeoughMcNamara PizaleMargaret H. McNultyMele Medicine Professional CorporationJonah MelvilleValerie A. MendoncaHelen MetthamJane MetthamCindy & Bob MilesMitchell Hepburn Public SchoolMocha ShrinersMolly Maid London EastS. Elizabeth MooreMargaret MorleyDella MortonDominik MrowiecBob MullinsRose NasswetterNazem Kadri FoundationElmer & Marguerite Neimanis

New St. James Presbyterian ChurchNext Dimension Inc.M. Catherine NicholsNo Dice GamesKathleen NuttCheryle O’HaraMaria ParkMary& Maurice PellarinJosie PellegriniPeople Care OakcrossingLesley & Paul PergauMichael & Julie PetersGordon & Mary PetersonJoanne & Barry PlayfordDr. Howard & Donna PlotkinJudith M. PotterSuzanne PoutneyPszeniczny PartnersBob & Pat RamsdenRichard & Lynne RauschThomas RauthRBC Royal BankRembrandt Homes Inc.Richard & Shelley Baker Family FoundationRonald RichardsonMargo Anne-Marie Rizzo - EstateRob Killeen Fund, a fund within London Community FoundationJames RobinsonJean RobinsonPaul RomansonDr. Cecil & Linda RorabeckDr. David & Thelma RosnerRoyal Bank of CanadaPaulina RybkaPeggy SchuchtScotiabankMichael ScratchMary & Darwin SemotiukFrances ShapiroMike SharpeDeb Shaver & Rob HamiltonKaryn & Jake ShermanDr. Michael & Jill SimmonsHelen SleafordKaren SmithJerry SmithersSoroptimist International LondonLisa SortunWesley SpenceSt. George’s Catholic Women’s LeagueSt. John the EvangelistSt. Martin of Tours ParishSt.Justins CWL Lottery AccountStevenson & Hunt Insurance Brokers Ltd.Sun Media StaffCarole Sutherland & David GordonMelvyn SwainKathy TanseyWendy Tapp-MooreTetherwood SpaThames Valley District School BoardThe Forever Legacy FoundationThe NetworkersThe Sisters of St. JosephThe Toronto Dominion BankBeverly & JamesThompsonNorm & Jennifer ThompsonAnne ThomsonHonorable Justice Barry & DeborahTobinJanice ToppingMichael & Susan TremblayBrenda & Randall TrineenPauline & Mark TrudellBetty TselonisUnited Way of Elgin-St.ThomasUnited Way of London & MiddlesexUnited Way of WinnipegUnited Way Toronto & York RegionTroy Van NestPaul Vandenbosch & Cindy WrightRobert & Doreen Van WierenLeanne VaraoLisa & Mike VercilloBrian & Tracy VickersDr. Jozef & Patricia VladarsDr. W. & Diane WallWinona Warren

Lori WatsonHeather WenmanWestern ObGyn Charity Dodgeball gameWilf and Jean Bell FoundationWilfrid Laurier UniversityWilliam and Katharine Kostuk Family FundMuriel WilliamsDavid & Suzanne WilliamsonShirley WilloughbyHelen WilsonLeslie WilsonDavid Winninger & Linda LincolnAilene WittsteinWilliam & Lisa WitturWoco FoundationLucille WolfDr. Gerald & Nancy WrightAlysia M. WyvilleAndrew & Jennifer YoungMarilyn YoungYoungcorp Global IncZeta Psi - Theta Pi FraternityWally & Linda ZimmermanRandy Zittrer

While every attempt has been made to ensure accuracy, we apologize for any errors or omissions. Please let us know of any changes.

Angela BalcomAngelica BaldinelliSteve BaldinelliJulie BatteKristen BeastallDeborah BloomfieldKimiko Boon-OwensCandace BorgAaron BotosanJenna BrazierKelley CatesWanda CaughellAngie CenevivaYolanta ChajderKelly ClarkAmanda ColborneDina CollardJenn CorriganJennifer CraiganSherri DaleyDora DawkinsLori DeanMaria Del VastoShantel DengateGeri DibsdaleTodd DickeyLynn DonaldsonCassandra DouglasTiphanie DoxtatorFrancee EnderGlen EverettKatie FooteHeather FoxLisa FoxcroftDara FrancoisLaura FrenchJennifer GarciaTarra Garrow

Merrymount CentreBoard of DirectorsCeline Bourbonnais-MacDonald(President)Shelley Baker (Past President) Gerry Marcus (Secretary/Treasurer)Bill BergDebbie CollinsChristine GriffithRhonda HallbergColleen HarrisJulie LeeMartha LudlowShawn McConvilleKhaled SultanSister Nancy WalesDavid WinningerAndrew Young

Merrymount Foundation Board of DirectorsRick Rausch (President)Celine Bourbonnais-MacDonaldKimberly BuckleyGeoff HeylandDenis LemieuxMarjie MacounGerry MarcusShawn McConvilleJeff McHardySister Nancy WalesMorgan WillistonAndrew Young

Executive DirectorAilene Wittstein

Administrative AssistantKym Loos

Senior ManagementRichard MacgregorManager of Business Services

Gerry DearingPhilanthropy Director

SupervisorsLynne CollinsDeborah GillisJeff HavemanDella MortonRose NasswetterHelen SleafordLisa Sortun

CoordinatorsAnne BrooksAmanda BruynsAudrey BurnettCarol FinlaysonStacey LeighfieldTom PattersonWendy Tapp-Moore

StaffYvette AconitoKatie AshtonMelissa AshtonTiffany Atcheson

Jennifer GrahamErica HaasEmma HaldermanBrooke HeathMary Jane HodsmanLisa Jackson-LumleyYasika JarquinJenise JarvisCarly KerriganGloria Jean KingAlicja KolendowskiKim LamportNancy LiabotisCarolyn LittleTeresa LiwoszShawna LockieDianne LoftMario LucciCharlotte MansfieldLori MastersonPatricia MazariegosSandi McAlpine-McCullouchTeri McCullaghHeather McDowallShelby McGladderyJustin McGuirePatricia MeekDoug MoorePatricia Moynahan - RatelleKathryn MrkociBob MullinsTina NeebTeresa NicholsonKathleen NuttBeth O’HaganCheryle O’HaraMelissa OliverMichael Oliver

Rosemary OsborneMarisela PalaciosMaria ParkKathleen PicancoViolet PilarskiMeredith PirrieKim RichardsMelissa RiehlDenise RiopelleAdela RiveraTanya RossPaulina RybkaRebecca SaltonAnnette SchoelierKaren ScottKrishna SenguptaJennifer SmaleKaren SmithJerry SmithersHeather SoaresAmanda SpoelstraLisa St. MarieSandra StewartBarb SzczukowskiBreatriz TamayoKevin ThompsonRosemary Van WierenBrenda VeilleuxMercedes VillanuevaMaria WarrenStephanie WeberSarah WellsBecky WilfongLeslie WilsonPatricia WistowLesley WrightMaria Zuluaga

Merrymount Children’s CentreFinancial Data Year Ended March 31, 2016

CONSOLIDATED EXPENDITURES - $7,790,000FOR THE YEAR ENDED MARCH 31, 2016

CONSOLIDATED REVENUE - $7,737,000FOR THE YEAR ENDED MARCH 31, 2016

Merrymount’s Annual Community ChampionsSometimes you can be that person who can make a difference by just being you.

Doreen and Robert Van Wieren have been inviting the children who use Merrymount’s services to their farm every summer on a weekly basis for the past six years. This began when their daughter, Rose, an employee of Merrymount began working in the summer program and was looking at activities for the children to participate in. This activity has continued annually since that time.

Over the last couple of years, the Van Wieren’s felt a pull to do more for Merrymount and the children. After taking their own family and grandchildren on a horse drawn wagon ride to see the Christmas lights, Doreen and Robert thought the children at Merrymount would also love this experience. Doreen participates in the wagon ride, and helps the kids organize their gear for this special ride. The children bundle up in their snowsuits, warm blankets, and take along a cup of hot chocolate and cookies to take a ride around the neighbourhood and take a look at the beautiful Christmas lights filled streets of Old North.

The Van Wieren’s are providing the children with a once in a lifetime opportunity, and the joy that they receive from seeing the children enjoy the activities they are able to provide, plays a special part in why Doreen and Robert choose to give the way they do.

Family Centre Argyle

Family Centre Argyle’s doors have been open for one year this month on June 23rd. It has been a wonderful year! We have had over 7,500 visits from children and parents to our OEYC playroom, more than 1,500 people attended our workshops and 1,400 people have attended one or more of our community partnership programs.

Our Family Centre Argyle Team Vision for the community was……..“Using a community development approach the FCA will support all Argyle children, youth and families, neighbourhood by neighbourhood connecting them to valuable services, programs and resources that strengthen and enrich their lives”. We are working hard to live up to our commitment.

In the upcoming year we are hoping to see more school age and youth programs offered to the community. Watch for more family events, like Family Game Nights, Community Dinners and maybe even a popcorn and movie night!

Deb GillisProgram SupervisorOEYC/Family Centre Argyle

Reflections - Celine Bourbonnais-MacDonald, Board President

The 2015-16 year has been one filled with many behind the scenes activities by the Board of Directors, to support the day-to-day work of the staff at Merrymount who help the children and families who come through our doors. Building on a history that has made Merrymount a place full of hope and respect for the many families who seek our assistance is a constantly evolving process. It is not unlike the painting of a beautiful painting, where each stroke, each colour adds to the final picture.

To ensure that Merrymount is able to focus on what is at its heart, helping families, the Board of Directors focused on three major areas of responsibility. First, with the ongoing support of the Merrymount Foundation Board, it created a new position, that of Philanthropy Director, to help sustain its fiscal responsibilities, and ensure long-term support for the many programs used by families and children in the community. Second, like a building, an organization is only as strong as its framework: policies and procedures were reviewed and modified to meet the ever-changing needs of Merrymount and its community. Third, to be able to stay current, the Board of Directors engaged in continuous learning, building its capacity in understanding the many programs that Merrymount provides, while also sharing their own expertise to support management and staff in their work.

I would like to thank the staff, the volunteers, our many community partners, donors, the Foundation Board, and the members of the Merrymount Board of Directors who believe that giving hope and lending a helping hand are the ways to build strong children, strong families and communities.

As we close one year and move onto the next, it is important to acknowledge the great new partner within our walls, and in our neighbourhood, the Mary J. Wright Research and Education Centre, at Merrymount. The blending of the heart and mind can only lead to even stronger support for the families and children who come and seek our help. Change has been at the very heart of Merrymount’s existence over the past 142 years; and as journalist Linda Ellerbee has said, “What I like the most about change is that it’s a synonym for ‘hope’. If you are taking a risk, what you are really saying is, ‘I believe in tomorrow and I will be part of it.”

Executive Director’s Report - Ailene WittsteinEach year, I look forward to a time of reflection in preparing for our Annual General Meeting. This past year, I have been even more captivated by our mission, vision, philosophy and core values of service. I have found myself becoming increasingly proud of these roots to our work and how we have been able to build from these to what we are today. Our mission is clear, Merrymount is a caring organization committed to providing around the clock support and crisis care for children and families. We deliver responsive and innovative services and programs to strengthen children and their families in times of transition. This truly reflects who we are to ourselves and our community.

Over this past year, I am even more proud of the culture that we have created over these many years in how we work within our walls and within the community. We have a set of shared attitudes, values, goals and practices that you, our community, have come to expect and appreciate. This year has been an especially rewarding year for us all at Merrymount. We have officially opened our Family Centre Argyle, co-led with The YMCA of Western Ontario; the Mary J. Wright Research and Education Centre at Merrymount has officially opened; we have opened an Early Years Centre within the walls of the Cross Cultural Learner Centre and we were there with open arms and hearts to the Syrian families that moved into our community. I think our work with these families are what I am most proud. Our Mutual Aid Parenting Program groups became a safe haven for families new to our community, our room set up for children within the Econo Lodge gave a safe place for children to be children while their parents participated in their Orientation and the addition of 20 Syrian children to our Spring Break Camp made this year one we will always remember.

I want to personally give a special thank you to our Merrymount Community. Thank you to our Families, entire Staff, Volunteers, Merrymount Board of Directors, Foundation Board of Directors, Community Partners, Donors and Friends of Merrymount. Once again you are a source of pride for us all. There is a way of being at Merrymount that is very unique. It is an honour to be a part of this incredible community. I am very proud and humbled by all that we have accomplished.