Region of PeelWe have recently been awarded a 2 year CORE Grant for 2022 and 2023 (our second consecutive grant of this nature) which is of huge importance to our charity since the Region provides substantial funding to cover some of our fixed costs to allow us the resources to undertake important strategic initiatives. An innovative approach to funding that speaks to the kind of partner the Region is to our charity. Options has a long historical relationship with the Region of Peel, including as a valuable resource for exchanging information and networking. The Region has also provided funding in the last year to assist with our fledgling Arts Enterprise and the purchase of additional print equipment. Our business revenues would not be the success it is without this attention and support from the Region. Community Foundation of MississaugaThis agency is a great example of what being together as part of the community is all about. The Community Foundation of Mississauga (CFM) has provided substantial grant funding for a number of projects for Options over the years, Our most recent grant from CFM was to facilitate the purchase a high end cutter with scoring/folding and perforating capabilities. This is a key ingredient to our business strategy, allowing us to do more printing of large specialized jobs in house. But just as good is the fact that CFM also supports Options by sending business our way - in this case having us assemble and send out mailings. It is a great relationship and Options is really fortunate to have such a hands-on and plugged-in organization in the Mississauga community.. During the height of Covid the Community Foundation of Mississauga served as a direct link to the Emergency Community Services Fund (ECSF), a federal government funding program allowing us to obtain critical technology in the face of Covid to work remotely and keep our charity operating. The Community Foundation of Mississauga is everything it is supposed to be. And their "Vital Signs" point-in-time insight into myriad aspects of Peel Region is simply an absolute must-read! Gov. Of Ontario, Ministry of Community and Social ServicesThe MCSS provides Options with $60,000 per year in core funding, the only ongoing funding we receive from any organization. And although it represents a relatively small (about 10%) of our annual budget, it is really important core funding that we can depend on. The MCSS is also an invaluable resource for networking and finding out what is going on from a policy and practical standpoint with regard to intellectual disability in the Province. Finally, there have been a few times over the last 15 years that Options needed some short term, one-time funding and the MCSS was there to help us when we really needed it. It is a great relationship, and the inherent knowledge and expertise in the MCSS provides a great partner with which to discuss Options’ ideas and plans. Ontario Trillium FoundationNext to the MCSS and the Region of Peel, over the last twenty years OTF has provided more funding to us than any other single organization, much of it more than 10 years ago when Options needed significant investment to develop our business, and through that investment, be able to support many more individuals who have a mild intellectual disability. When we first obtained a Trillium grant our annual business revenues were well under $100,000. They have now been sustained (before Covid-19, anyway) for more than 5 years at a level above $200,000 per year. The two large trillium grants we received were absolutely instrumental in providing the funds for the early part of this growth, and without them we simply could not have developed the robust, competitive business we have today. Canada Summer JobsOptions Mississauga has participated in this federal government program for many years. Essentially this program subsidizes the wages of 1 - 3 summer students, permitting us to hire where we would not otherwise have the financial means. It possibly provides the best "return for every dollar invested". Options has had really great, diverse students over time in several areas: marketing, social worker, graphic design, IT support - and we try to reserve one summer position each year for an individual who has a mild intellectual disability. This program has a corollary benefit: Options is a fairly unique place to work (being both a business and a social program provider) and it is typical for students at exit interviews to say they have gotten more out of their work term (specifically exposure to areas and topics they would not normally encounter) with Options than any other job experience they have had. |
Store Hours
Monday 9 am - 6 pm Tuesday 9 am - 7 pm Wednesday 9 am - 6 pm Thursday 9 am - 7 pm Friday 9 am - 6 pm Saturday CLOSED Sunday CLOSED |
Location
Mississauga, Port Credit 113 Lakeshore Rd W, ON L5H 1E9 Tel: (905) 274-8663 Fax: (905) 274-2749 Email: [email protected] |
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