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Alia was 30 months old when she was diagnosed with autism. After learning this our family had many questions including "What does this mean for Alia?" and "How can we help her?" We wanted to make sure Alia still had every opportunity to live her best life.

In the beginning Alia was referred for an Early Intervention Program at another organization. However, a Resource Teacher at a City day care saw opportunities for Alia to benefit from George Jeffrey Children’s Centre’s Feeding Clinic and Fine and Gross Motor Clinic. We received a referral and that’s when our journey began with George Jeffrey.

The clinicians at George Jeffrey continue to go above and beyond to help our family. They have helped identify additional therapeutic services Alia is now benefiting from including Speech-Language Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Physiotherapy, and Social Work.

The clinicians at George Jeffrey are passionate and have helped our family navigate the care system with ease. They continue to make sure we have all the information and services needed for Alia to receive the best care.

Alia has made some incredible achievements to date ranging from increased

Alia's Story

The above photos are of Alia enjoying George Jeffrey Children's Centre's P.A. Day Recreation Programming. A fun day of dog sledding and snow shoeing! P. 2 Donor Impact

•NewUtilityVan

•SensoryCircuit

• InteractivePanel

P. 3 Events •ParadeofLights

•SmileCookieCampaign

•YourEvents

P. 4 GJCF Update•FoundationUpdate

•Children'sChampionClub

•What'sHappening

Inside This Issue

Real stories about how YOU are impacting lives SPrinG neWSLeTTer 2020

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communication, improved self-regulation, and even trying almost all foods! Alia enjoys her visits to George Jeffrey with the Snoezelen room (the Centre’s controlled multi-sensory environment) being her favourite!

Looking to the future, the plan is for Alia to communicate effectively by speaking or through an assistive device with the help of the Augmentative and Alternative Communication team. We also will continue to work with the teams at George Jeffrey to help Alia do regular day-to-day tasks independently.

Our family wants the donors and supporters of George Jeffrey to know that their generosity is helping the clinicians and staff go above and beyond when it comes to helping families like ours. We don’t know what we would have done without George Jeffrey Children’s Centre.

Stimulating the Senses with a New Interactive Panel

Clients of George Jeffrey Children's Centre that utilize the Snoezelen room (the Centre's multi-sensory room) are now enjoying an new interactive panel, which was proudly funded by the Ames Family Foundation!

The new panel is having a positive impact on clients with special needs through therapy, stimulation, cognitive development, and relaxation.

The panel combines touch and sound technology to encourage focus and interaction, target several senses at the same time, and provide the opportunity to engage in fun activities in a relaxed environment!

THAnK YOU to the Ames Family Foundation for your leadership and support!

DONORSMAKING

REALIMPACT

Sensory Circuit Coming to GJCC George Jeffrey Children's Foundation was honoured to be selected as a 2019 grant recipient of the Thunder Bay Community Foundation Fund, which will bring a Sensory Circuit to George Jeffrey Children's Centre.

The Sensory Circuit will enable children with special needs to have access to a sensory motor routine, which will help them reach an optimal level of stimulation in order to participate in therapeutic activities. The sensory motor circuit will be designed and installed so that children have a pre-planned, physical pathway of sensory input to do repeatedly. It will help many children, including those with comprehension and communication difficulties.

Keep an eye out for this on our social media pages! Find us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter at @GeorgeJeffreyCF

Rolling into 2020 with a New VanFort William rotary Club has made a BiG impact at George Jeffrey Children's Centre by funding a utility van for getting trial equipment to children's homes and schools, and for transporting equipment for the Centre's recreation programs - sledge hockey, fishing, kayaking, bicycling, and other related programming.

The utility van is providing a big boost to the Centre, and enabling the clinicians and staff to do even more with ease.

THAnK YOU Fort William rotary Club for enhancing the Centre's transportation capacity for the benefit of children and their families!

A special thanks to Signs Now for creating and applying the van graphics.

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Your Events Impact LivesSpecial thanks to our supporters and community partners for their initiatives!

Tim Hortons Smile Cookie Campaign

ThankyoutoTimHortonsforonceagainselectingGeorgeJeffreytobearecipientoffundsraisedthroughlocalrestaurantsaspartoftheannualSmileCookieCampaign.GJCFwashonouredtostandalongsideThunderBayFirefightersAssociation-ToysforTots.Ourcommunityraisedmorethan$73,000lastfallforbothcharities!

Hill City Kinettes Annual Charity Auction

ThankyoutotheHillCityKinettesforincludingsupportofourFoundationintheirannualTwoBitAuction.SpecialthankstoTammyVescio,whosedonationbroughttherapeuticpooltoysandequipmenttoGeorgeJeffreyChildren’sCentre!Thetherapeutictoyswillassistinmakingpooltherapyfunandexcitingforclients!

Workplace Fundraisers

Thankyoutoalltheorganizationsandworkplacesinourcommunitythathavehostedworkplacefundraisers.Whetheritwasdressdowndays,volunteerinitiativefundraisers,payrolldeductions,orothercreativefundraiserswearehonouredtobeYOURcharityofchoice-THANKYOU!

Ways YOU Can Give BackAreyouinterestedingivingback,butnotsurehowtogetstarted?ContacttheFoundationteambycalling(807)623-6050oremailfoundation@georgejeffrey.comtolearnmore.

HereareafewexamplesofwaysyoucanraisemoneytoimpactthelivesofchildrenatGeorgeJeffreyChildren'sCentre:

•Celebrations(Birthday,Anniversary,Wedding,Retirement,etc.)

•HostanEvent(workplace,school,orcommunityevent)

•Giveinmemoryorinhonour

•Giftofsecurities

•CreateaLegacy

•BecomeaChildren'sChampionwithmonthlygifts

Visit www.georgejeffreyfoundation.com to learn more.

A Magical Evening at the Parade of LightsSpectators were impressed once again at the 2019 Thunder Bay Police Association Parade of Lights! Decorated trucks and vehicles lit up the evening as they paraded down Memorial Avenue, bringing holiday excitement to our community.

THANK YOU to our community who helped raise $28, 396 at the 2019 event for four local children's charities. Proceeds will be benefiting George Jeffrey Children’s Foundation, Autism Ontario Thunder Bay & District, Special Olympics Ontario – Thunder Bay, and Thunder Bay Therapeutic Riding Association.

Proudly presented by Tbaytel, the Parade of Lights would not be possible without the leadership of Thunder Bay Police Association, and the support of Impact Promotions, 91.5 CKPr, rock 94, Manitoulin Transport, The Chronicle Journal, and our trucking community!

SPeCiAL THAnKS to Thunder Bay Transit and Amalgamated Transit Union Local 966 for once again providing a special evening for the clients and families of George Jeffrey Children's Centre. Year after year they provide and decorate a City bus as our Centre’s float. They continue to make a magical evening children won't soon forget!

DisneycharacterswerespecialguestsontheGeorgeJeffreyChildren'sCentrebus!

Thesetrucksweredecoratedandready

togo!Thankyoutoeveryonewhoputinmanyhours

decoratingthetrucks!

COMMUNITYINITIATIVES

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THANK YOUFOR YOUR SUPPORT!

SteveMacDonald,ExecutiveDirector(807)625-6052smacdonald@georgejeffrey.com

Announcing GJCF's NEW Children's Champion Club! Our Foundation is excited to announce the Children's Champion Club - a monthly giving club that allows you to easily impact the lives of children and youth in Thunder Bay and across northwestern Ontario.

Your donation will ensure children and youth are receiving the specialized care they deserve.

Joining the Children's Champion Club is quick and easy! Donations can be made by credit card or pre-authorized transactions from your bank account.

Set it and forget it - monthly giving makes giving back easy. Take comfort in knowing you can update, cancel, or edit your gifts as frequently as you'd like.

Together we can impact lives! Ready to get started? Call our Foundation office at (807) 623-6050 or set yourself up online at www.georgejeffreyfoundation.com

KirstenUntinen,CharitableGivingAdvisor(807)625-6050kuntinen@georgejeffrey.com

GeneralAddress:200BrockStEThunderBayONP7E0A2foundation@georgejeffrey.com

Foundation NewsOur donors, like YOU, are continuing to have an incredible impact on care at George Jeffrey. We are excited for this year to be our best yet!

• The Board of Directors and Foundation team are thrilled to be welcoming Patricia Vo as a member of our Board.

• if you are interested in becoming a member of the GJCF Board of Directors please contact ryan Gagnon, President at foundation@georgejeffrey.com

• Thank you to John Andrews Foundation for inviting George Jeffrey clients to submit logos for its annual logo contest. A BiG congratulations to GJCC client, Landon, age 9, for being selected as the 2020 winner!

• Have YOU been for a tour of the Centre? Our team is offering personal and group tours. To plan your tour please contact our team at (807) 623-6050 or by email at foundation@georgejeffrey.com

George Jeffrey Children's Foundation Board of Directors together with Executive Director Steve MacDonald and GJCC CEO Tina Bennett. Left to Right: Katie Saj, Steve MacDonald, Kim Latimer, Stephen Margarit (top), Patrica Vo (bottom), Aldo Fata, Michael Duncan, Joyce Co Manary, Ryan Gagnon, Tina Bennett. Missing: Tyler Manning.

Follow us online @GeorgeJeffreyCF

We Are Online We are always sharing the latest news, community initiatives, and exciting things happening at George Jeffrey Children's Foundation online.

Wherever you go, stay in the know! You can find us on Facebook, Twitter, instagram, and YouTube by searching George Jeffrey Children's Foundation or typing @GeorgeJeffreyCF.

Be sure to hit the Follow/Like button to get updates right to your online feed!

CALL USFOr A TOUr!

(807) 623-6050

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