3-3250 Schmon Parkway Thorold, ON L2V 4Y6 905-684-7619 1-888-707-1277 3-2763 Stevensville Road Stevensville, ON L0S 1J0 905-382-6121

www.wellspringniagara.ca

Your support in 2014/2015 provided Wellspring Niagara with the opportunity to:

Reach more individuals living with cancer by offering a variety of

programs that respond more fully

to our members’ needs and deliver them free of charge.

Our Mission The Wellspring Niagara Cancer Support Centre Foundation provides supportive care to meet the social, emotional, informational and spiritual needs of individuals living with cancer and their families and caregivers.

Our Volunteers…leading the way.

Message from our Chair

As Chair of the Board of Directors of Wellspring Niagara, I am both pleased and proud to mark another year of service to our community. At Wellspring Niagara, we exist to deliver free social, emotional, psychological, informational and spiritual support to individuals living with cancer, their families and close supporters. Our organization is supported by a dedicated and energetic staff as well as so many wonderful volunteers who give of their time, energy and compassion to enhance the lives of our members and their families. We meet the needs of our members by delivering nearly forty (40) different programs. At Wellspring Niagara we are extremely proud to serve the entire Niagara Region. As the result of a generous gift of land from the Town of Pelham, we are in the process of planning and designing a new home for Wellspring Niagara where we will be better able to serve the growing needs of our members. Please visit our website at www.wellspringniagara.ca for exciting updates on our programs and building plans. On behalf of Co-Chair, Paul Morocco, and all the members of the Board, I want to thank our generous donors and supporters for your continued commitment to Wellspring Niagara. We look forward to offering quality cancer supportive care to our Niagara communities for many years to come.

Our Volunteers…making a difference.

My Story…

I have been a volunteer for Wellspring Niagara for several years. Fifteen years ago, I retired from a lengthy nursing career and I knew it was time to look for a volunteer role where I could be of service.

When I visited Wellspring Niagara’s office and participated in their orientation program, I knew the position for me was at their front desk.

I thoroughly enjoy meeting our members either on the phone or when they come through our door. It is very hard for most of them to take the first step in seeking the valuable services and programs that Wellspring Niagara offers. Our organization provides much needed support to those with cancer and their caregivers as they go through their treatment. It is rewarding to be there to help people on their journey. They are grateful that we are there to support them.

Fundraising for Wellspring Niagara is also another role I play. I know we need a larger facility and since I love to create paintings with a passion and a purpose, I decided to sell some of my

paintings to raise money for our new building. I have participated in two fundraising Art Shows.

The years I have been an active volunteer at Wellspring Niagara have been extremely satisfying and rewarding. Working with the dedicated and caring staff is a real pleasure. It is a place that one can give service and also experience personal growth.

Our volunteers offer their wisdom and experience through one of Wellspring’s many volunteer roles, such as Peer Support Volunteers, Front Desk Volunteers, Reiki or Therapeutic Touch Practitioners, Community Outreach and Fundraising Volunteers, Programming Volunteers, Administrative Support, Committee and Board Volunteers. Each role helps Wellspring Niagara help others, and offers full training.

Wellspring Niagara benefits from a strong complement of nearly 200 highly motivated and skilled volunteers. They all have been impacted by cancer in their lives and have chosen to give back and share

their personal growth experiences with care and compassion. Our volunteers are the backbone of Wellspring’s programming, fundraising, evaluation, research and governance structures. They are making

a positive difference in the lives of people who visit Wellspring Niagara and the community.

Our Volunteers…celebrating milestones.

15 Years Jane Cocco

Donna Cook Edy Katzman

JoAnn McKenna Enedina Mantini

Barbara Mantini-Colonico Kanchan Rege

Dr. Davide Sabatini

10 Years Joe Matthews

5 Years Leighann Carella

Dawn Cavasin Susan Hoxie

Paul Morocco Carlina Pacitto Pat Schaubel Jim Shields

Skills, Confidence,

Strength & Hope

Wellspring Niagara offered 37 Programs and Services in 2014

Coping Skills programs teach the skills needed to help manage stress and calm emotions to help people feel more in control.

Expressive Arts programs help people express their feelings through artistic media while meeting with peers for mutual support.

Children's programs provided a network of support for children whose parent has cancer and information for families facing cancer together.

Support programs provide patients and caregivers with a network of peers to talk about your circumstances in a shared, confidential group setting.

Health Restoring through Exercise help patients recover from the various physical and lifestyle impacts of cancer.

Financial programs help patients navigate the complex maze of income replacement and drug reimbursement programs.

Energy-Based Programs help restore the body’s natural and healthy flow of energy, and provided a relaxing experience to enhance one’s sense of well-being.

Discussions Series and Lending Library provide patients and caregivers with access to credible, expert-led advice and answers to your cancer questions.

Wellspring Niagara partners with other organizations to better meet the needs of its community. Programs included the New Voice Club, Look Good Feel Better, Niagara Brain Tumour Support Group and Wellness on the Water.

Look Good Feel Better, a partnered program with Look Good Feel Better, Wellspring Niagara is the official host of this 2-hour workshop that helps support and empower women to look and feel better about themselves.

Niagara Brain Tumour Support Group, a partnered program with the Brain Tumour Foundation of Canada, this monthly drop-in program provided a network of support and information for patients and their families.

Wellness on the Water (W.O.W.), an off-site sailing program in Port Colborne, Wellspring Niagara can offer families fun, relaxation and short break from cancer, thanks to the many volunteers.

Thank you Niagara!

Your Support Means So Much!

Community Grants CIBC Community Investment The Fleck Foundation Humble Servant at the Strategic Charitable Giving Foundation Niagara Community Foundation Niagara Community Foundation - Necklaces of Hope Fund Niagara Community Foundation - Hope Fund Ontario Paper Foundation Rankin Cancer Run

3rd Party Events 1000 Ball Challenge at Lookout Point Country Club 4 Artists for Charity BBBlooms Spring For A Day Bonnie Barron Glo-Ball Golf Tournament Brad Baker & Peter Holley Open House Breast Cancer Event with RBC Breast Cancer Event with Vermeer's The Butterfly Gallery's Butterflies For Wellspring Canada Border Services Agency - Soup Days Canadian Federation of University Women-Annual House Tour Canadian Federation of University Women-Dancing With The Stars Event Cancer Rock N Rally Carolyn Kett's Retirement Party Cheryl Gordon - Yoga Fundraiser City of St. Catharines, Legal & Clerk Services - Jean Day Club Capri Elimination Draw David Gadsby Memorial Golf Tournament GHL Trivia Night GHRYA Regatta Giant Tiger Fonthill - Calendar Sales Great Lakes Christian College Dress Down Days Jack Astors Event for Bill Beekers Jason Rhodes Coast 2 Coast Bike Ride Lundy Manor Holiday Bazaar Nature's Corner Bakery Fundraiser Necklaces of Hope Niagara Heritage Quilters' Guild - Quilt Raffle Niagara Tournament of Hope Niagara-on-the-Lake Kinsmen Wine & Bike Tour Palazzo Salon Head Shave Event Patricia Howard Yard Sale Pink Chicks Streak And Shot Event Regal Sales - Heather De Cal Sandy Cup Sarah Seburn Lemonade For Cancer Fundraiser Sharon-lynn Roach Cards Fundraiser Shaw Festival Theatre - Staff Christmas Party Sparrow Lakes Tuesday Night Ladies League St. Catharines Dragon Boat Festival The Lancer Family Restaurant - Poker Chip Fundraiser Township of Wainfleet - Dress Down Fridays Trinette Tomasello Memorial Trivia Night Vivere Fashion Show Wellspring Day @ Gord's Place Windmill Point Park Cardboard Boat Race 2014

Corporate /Local Businesses 2DayFM Niagara BBBlooms Floral Studio Betty's Restaurant Broderick & Partners Burtnik Printing The Business Link CanWeb Printers Chateau des Charmes Coldwell Banker AvMark Realty Colonial Florists Cotton Inc. Elmwood Fine Custom Cabinetry FirstOntario Credit Union Fruitbelt Development Gord’s Place Great White North HUB International Insurance Kismet Wool Shop Konzelmann Estate Winery Matera Hotels Meridian Credit Union Michael Brady Financial Services Niagara Ice Dogs Niagara This Week Nino D’Ambra Hair & Aesthetics Ontario Power Generation The Pen Centre PenFinancial Credit Union Penner Lumber and Builders’ Supplies Petroff Partnership Architects Pillitteri Estate Winery RBC Royal Bank Reif Estate Winery Resolute FP Canada Inc. Sarah Peters Photography Simply Beautiful Subway Port Colborne Sullivan Mahoney LLP Tim Hortons TV Cogeco Niagara W.S. Tyler Ltd. Walker Industries Washington Mills Electro Minerals Corporation White Oaks Resort & Spa

Services Clubs & Schools Boyle Brethren in Christ Church Brain Tumour Foundation of Canada British Canadian Veterans Association of Niagara Falls Brock University Busy Bee Crafters Canadian Union of Public Employees, Local 1263 Cardinal Red Hats Sisterhood Church of St. Columba Club Sardegna Nel Niagara Inc. Fort Erie Secondary School Class of 1014 Hope Floats John Howard Society of Niagara (Niagara Falls) Lioness Club of Merritton New Voice Club of Niagara Region Niagara Association of Realtors Niagara Regional Police – Senior Officers Association Peoples – Memorial United Church Women Rotary Club of Niagara Falls St. Julia’s Catholic Women’s League Vale Rec Committee

Our Niagara…Honouring Achievements and Milestones.

Our Niagara…Remembering Those We Love.

Amira Ballesteros Emilio Raimondo Nadia Kaczuk Ann Marie Crocco Florence Walter Norma MacKay Bill & Eileen Rouse Gianni Bortolussi North Caught David Hogan Jaqueline & Charles Bernard Ron & Corrine Grundy Debbie Walma Linda Campbell Sharon Kirton Diane Paling Mike Murphy Susan Pozhke Edy Katzman Monica Cullip Tania Knapp

Aldo Mantini David Young Kay Horvatek Pam Murphy Alice Avedesian Domenico DiPietro Ken Rowland Patricia Hodge Alice Delano Donato Perrella Laura Bayley Patricia Sutherland Andrew Morton Dr. Andre Rivet Lesia Bezzubko Peggy Hemphill Angela Napoli Dr. Udayan Rege Lorenzo Gatto Penny Rominger Ann Raby Duilio Fabbro Lorraine Piccolo Rev. Kenneth Ramsay Barbara Gordon Edith Rossetto Lou Poolsaar Robert Scott Barry Mazachowski Elise Aitken Louise Didyk Rocco Giacomino Bill Beekers Emma Colangeli Louise Leafloor Rochelle Chamberlain Bill Marotta George Robichaud Lucien Trottier Ron Law Bobbi-Johnson-Murray Giuseppina Domanico Luigi Marson Ronald Kingham Bruce Romanek Graeme Scott Lyn Aitken Rosario Campangella Byron Leslie Guy Ferraccioli Lynda Campbell Ruby Kehoe Carlo Nero Hazel Scott Marg Ross Russell Fox Carmela Sarcino Heather Koudys Lapenna Margaret Ann Wood Russell Nunnamker Carol Smith Irene Collee Margaret Paton Ruth Arthur Catherine Lucin James McGrath Margerite Vallee Lajeunesse Sally Ferry Celilia Riganelli Jen Roberts Marianna Charette Soern Petersen Charina La Selva Jim Proveau Margorie Whalen Susan Hall Charles Bernard Jo-Ann Ravenda Mark Diacur Suzanna Kordos Christine Berler Joanne LaPera Mark Tapley Teresa Gifford Colleen Coleman-Admans Joe Grosse Mary Bray Trinette Tomasello Colleen Lavers John Continelli Mary Colt Venazio Colangeli Dalton Molson John Copeland Murray Hackett Viola Mantini Danijela Trgovcevic John Frado Nancy Cielsa Walter Slack Dave Pounder John Mayo Norma MacKay Wayne Irwin David Rankie John Newberry Odelie Sorencen Wendy Murrell William Smith

Our Niagara…Helping Wellspring meet a Growing Need.

Wellspring’s Beginnings: Aldo’s Dream – in the 90’s When Aldo Mantini was diagnosed with cancer in the late nineties, he sought a support group to help him and his loved ones. He discovered that support beyond the clinical walls of a hospital were hard to find and very limited in scope in Niagara, but available in other communities. Shortly after Aldo’s death in 1999, the Mantini family, with the assistance of Dr. Udayan Rege, carried out Aldo’s wishes by founding Wellspring Niagara, an organization dedicated to providing programs that help patients take control of their lives in the face of cancer.

Wellspring’s Doors Open – April 2001 Today, as it did in 2001, Wellspring provides a life-line for cancer patients, families and caregivers compelled to find a new normal; before, during and after cancer treatment. Focus is always the person, not the disease, and programs are offered free of charge and without referral. Wellspring currently has 37 programs helping cancer patients and their families through peer counselling, teaching the healing arts of meditation, providing practical advice on nutrition, exercise and more.

Participant Statistics Highlight Need for More Program Space

2001 – 700 Attendees 2005 – 2,918 Attendees 2010 – 4,725 Attendees 2014 – 6,080 Attendees

All this was accomplished with minimal paid staff, 200 dedicated volunteers and the financial support of the Niagara community. Wellspring never turns anyone away, but recognizes that it has far outgrown its current small rented space. Sadly it is recognized by the medical community that 40% of Canadian women and 45% of Canadian men will develop cancer during their lifetimes.

Wellspring, Niagara’s Only Regional Cancer Support Centre In 2013, Wellspring Niagara and the Town of Pelham entered into a Memorandum of Understanding, to work together toward the creation of a regional cancer support centre. A prime, 2 acre site (along Rice Road at Regional Road 20) has been donated by the Town of Pelham for Wellspring, geographically centred in the heart of Niagara to:

Build a permanent purpose-built facility designed to serve all cancer patients and their families within Niagara;

Consolidate two, very small, (2,200 square feet) rental locations, that cannot meet increasing program needs, by building the new facility on Wellspring Way in the Town of Pelham;

Expand to meet current and future needs for social, emotional, psychological and informational support programs;

Respond to the need for new programs

Provide space to involve and train new volunteers and to,

Develop a welcoming, barrier free, non-institutional facility that provides a safe, nurturing setting for cancer patients and their families today and for generations to come.

Next Steps: The Wellspring Niagara Board of Directors will be conducting a Capital Campaign Planning Study in 2015;

Prepare to launch a Capital Campaign in 2016;

Design and build a new Wellspring Niagara Regional Cancer Support Centre.

To learn more about Wellspring Niagara’s Future Building Project, please contact

Ann Mantini-Celima at ann@wellspringniagara.ca.

Building a sanctuary of safety, acceptance and well-being.

Our Financial Summary (April 1, 2014 – March 31, 2015)

2014/15 Finance Committee

Donations43%

Foundations & Grants

37%

Special Events14%

Other6%

2014-2015 REVENUE

Administration8%

Programming72%

Special Events and Community

Awareness20%

2014-2015 EXPENSES

A Lifeline to Cancer Support

Executive Director

Ann Mantini-Celima ann@wellspringniagara.ca

Program Coordinator

Kristen Szigatti kristen@wellspringniagara.ca

Special Events & Community Relations Coordinator

Phil Gourlay phil@wellspringniagara.ca