GIRLS INC. OF DURHAM 2025 - 2026 ANNUAL REPORT
ANNUAL REPORT 2025 - 2026 TABLE OF CONTENTS Message from the Board .............................................. Our Vision and Mission ................................................. Message from the CEO ................................................. The Girls Inc. Experience...............................................
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LEADERSHIP Leadership: Girls Inc. of Durham Staff ..................... Leadership: Board of Directors 2025/2026 ...........
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Our Volunteers .............................................................. Our Community Partners ............................................ Girls Inc. Service Areas ................................................ Our Programs ................................................................. Summer and March Break Camps ............................ Canada Prenatal Nutrition Program.......................... Ways to Get Involved ...................................................
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Our Investors ................................................................. Our Champions for Girls ............................................ Financial Summary ...................................................... Communications .......................................................... Girls Inc. Bill of Rights .................................................
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SIGNATURE EVENTS Spirit of Girls Breakfast .............................................. Power of the Purse ......................................................
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REGISTERED CHARITABLE NUMBER 118809268 RR0001
MESSAGE FROM THE BOARD CO-CHAIRS’ MESSAGE As Co-Chairs of the Board of Directors for Girls Inc. of Durham, we are grateful to reflect on a year filled with resilience, care, and meaningful impact. In a time when many families across Durham continued to face rising costs and uncertainty, Girls Inc. remained a place where girls could feel supported, encouraged, and connected. Our mission is simple and powerful: to inspire all girls to be strong, smart, and bold. This year, that mission reached 2,024 girls, our highest number yet. Through advocacy, education, mentorship, and trusted relationships, girls across Durham found opportunities to build confidence, discover their strengths, and see what is possible for their futures. Like many not-for-profits, we also faced real funding pressures, including a 61% reduction in community funding compared to the previous fiscal year. This reinforced the importance of growing a broader, more sustainable base of support so we can continue reducing barriers and meeting girls and families where they are. Even with these challenges, there was so much to celebrate. We opened conversations about body positivity and selfacceptance through a free screening of Empire Waist, built community through the Spirit of the Girls Breakfast, and tried something new with our first yard sale outside the Girls Inc. of Durham office. Each moment helped share our story and bring more people into this important work. We were especially grateful for support through the Canada Summer Jobs program, which allowed us to hire 48 summer camp staff and provide eight weeks of camp in five locations. Because of this, 1,253 unique girls across Durham had a summer filled with connection, learning, leadership, and joy. We were also proud to celebrate this year’s Lucile Miller Wright scholarship recipients: Quinn McIntosh, Kayla Lewis, and Nya Small. Their achievements remind us of what happens when girls are surrounded by belief, opportunity, and encouragement. This year also marked our most successful Power of the Purse fundraiser yet. In November, our community came together in a powerful way to support girls across Durham, showing what is possible when people choose to invest their time, energy, and resources in this work. On behalf of the Board of Directors, thank you to our staff, volunteers, funders, donors, partners, families, and community champions. Your generosity and commitment make this work possible. Together, we are helping girls believe in themselves, reach their full potential, and grow into the strong, smart, and bold leaders they are meant to be. As we look ahead, we know the need for Girls Inc. of Durham will continue to grow. With community funding decreasing across the sector, support from people like you is more important than ever. We invite you to stand with our girls by volunteering, attending Power of the Purse, making an individual or corporate donation, exploring sponsorship opportunities, donating items for our auction, or registering a girl for Girls Inc. of Durham programming. Together, we can help even more girls in the years to come feel supported, encouraged and empowered to achieve their dreams. With thanks, Anu Aduvala and Rico DeVega Board Co-Chairs, Girls Inc. of Durham
OUR VISION
Empowered girls living in an equitable society.
OUR MISSION
Girls Inc. of Durham is a registered charity that empowers girls to believe in themselves and reach their full potential. We inspire all girls to be strong, smart, and bold through advocacy, education and programs.
WE FOCUS ON THE WHOLE GIRL Girls Inc. empowers girls 6 to 18 to be self-confident, responsible, and wellrounded individuals by delivering research-informed, age appropriate In School, After School, March Break and Summer Education Programs.
TERRITORY ACKNOWLEDGEMENT At Girls Inc. of Durham, we recognize and acknowledge the Indigenous Peoples as the original stewards of the lands on which we live, work, and volunteer. We gather on the traditional territory of the Anishinaabe Mississauga, adjacent to the Mississauga's of Scugog Island First Nation and in the territory covered by the Williams Treaty. As we move forward with kindness and respect, we recognize that this place is and will continue to be home to Indigenous Peoples. We are encouraging you to seek out the history and teachings of the natural world and recognize the collective responsibility we hold in promoting truth, understanding, and positive change. Join us in this journey of reconciliation as we work toward building a more just, equitable, and inclusive society for all.
MESSAGE FROM THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Girls Inc. of Durham is part of a network of local affiliates across Canada and the United States, some who are celebrating 160 years of working for women and girls. We celebrate 41 years of working with schools and community partners to deliver evidence-based programming in Durham Region, making a measurable difference in the lives of 2,024 girls (up from 1,605 girls served the previous year). We dedicate our work to building safe, nurturing environments that focus on meeting girls where they are and embrace each girls’ unique strengths. We work to eliminate the barriers girls face and approach our work with an equitable lens, focusing on the multiple barriers (i.e. poverty, racism, and other forms of discrimination) and intersectional challenges while helping them become the generation of leaders and change agents. Building on our resiliency and partnership skills, we continue to work hard at meeting the complex needs of girls. We continue to see the impact that the increase in the cost of living in community has had on our revenue streams compared to the previous year. Decrease in donations, community and foundational grants were offset by increase in overall fee for service revenue. We continue to see firsthand how the COVID pandemic continues to exponentially increased the needs of girls and women in our community: isolation, mental health issues and anxiety continue to grow. To address these needs we have increased our impact by 26% offering in person in school, afterschool and targeted programming serving 2,024 girls in 2025-26. Some challenges include: 8.3% decrease in overall donation revenues; 7% decrease in corporate donations and 10% decrease in individual donations. 37% decrease in BINGO revenues. Reflecting impact of economic pressures. 61% decrease in Community Foundation Grants; several multiyear grants ended in 2024 and new grants delayed timeline and/or refocused on housing instability, impacting 2025/26 funding availability. Despite these challenges, we were able to minimize the impact; our overall revenues increased by 3% and by tightening our belt and reducing costs, resulting in a year-end surplus of $25,600. We continue to invest in our staff and to serve more girls in our community by leveraging grants and funding, creating a diverse portfolio of revenues to sustain us during hard times. Some Highlights include: 40% increase in overall fee for service revenue. Including 50% increase in summer camp and 20% increase in March Break. 16% increase in Government grants 22% increase in Other Revenue; includes flow-through grant funding from Girls Inc. Network. Our portfolio investments in equity securities, balance income fund and high-yield savings account earned interest at a variable rate ranging from 2.0% to 2.2%. These investment funds are not operating funds we depend on to deliver services to girls but are our long-term emergency reserve funding in case of emergencies and surviving our economic uncertainties, ensuring sustainability for what the future may hold. Being prepared for the unknown future while continuing to invest in our vision to contribute to a world in which every girl values her whole self, discovers her inherent strengths, and achieves her goals. Together we ensure a thriving community of healthy, educated and independent girls contributing to our society. We could not do our work without the dedication and support from our amazing staff, board, and volunteers whose dedication, expertise, and passion are at the core of all we do. Thank you to all the partners and volunteers who have acted as advisors and contributors to help strengthen our work. Your support has enabled our amazing, strong, smart, and bold staff to reach 2,024 girls (26% increase over previous year) with impact in Durham Region. Yvette Nechvatal-Drew, Chief Executive Officer
The Girls Inc. Experience
THE GIRLS INC. EXPERIENCE We provide a comprehensive approach to whole girl development through three core components proven to help girls realize and reach their full potential: PEOPLE- Trained staff and volunteers who build lasting, mentoring relations; ENVIRONMENT- Pro-girl, inclusive and equitable, brave space with shared respect; and PROGRAMMING - Intentional, interactive, relevant, and culturally responsive. Empowered girls living in an equitable society. Our attention to the needs of today’s girls propels Girls Inc. to continually evolve our programming experiences, working with external partners and experts in the field to provide education and resources that help girls build the knowledge, skills, and confidence to be leaders and effect change in the world.
STAFF
YVETTE NECHVATAL-DREW, CEO/EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR TRACEY MCCANNELL, DIRECTOR OF PROGRAMMING DARREN LEVINE, FUND DEVELOPMENT (SUBCONTRACT) STEPHANIE BOURQUE, COMMUNICATIONS/EVENTS COORDINATOR VANESSA DE RYCK AND HEATHER BUCKNER, PROGRAM COORDINATOR CLARISSA BENEDICTO, PAYTON GAULL AND SIERRA ALBIS, PROGRAM FACILITATORS MADELINE MCGEOUGH AND STEPHANIE WOLOVIEC, VOLUNTEER COORDINATOR SHANNON COMIRE, PRE & POST NATAL NUTRITION PROGRAM SUPPORT 48 SUMMER PROGRAM STAFF WITH SUPPORT FROM HRSDC CANADA SUMMER JOBS GRANT
** Board Member Feb 2026 *resigned
BOARD OF DIRECTORS 2025-2026
Anu Aduvala
Rico De Vega
Co- Chair
Co-Chair
Cheryl Pereira *
Mary Smith
Vice President
Vice President
Glena James
Eric Fry
Carly Hurash**
Dianne Cupples
Tola Ladipo Secretary
Laura Reid Treasurer
Mudit Jain
Nancy Moses*
Ellen Seyers
Kelli Burton**
Pat Southern**
Anessa Garcia *
OUR VOLUNTEERS Over 120 volunteers provided over 8000 hours of kind service. It is because of their support we are able to enhance our programs. We deeply appreciate their dedication and support.
THANK YOU: Amazon (Ajax) Bingo Volunteers Board Volunteers Youth Volunteers Interns Community Outreach Volunteers (Ajax Downs and Fundraiser Volunteers) Food ‘4’ Thought Drivers/ Grocery Delivery Volunteers Board Development Committee Volunteers Finance Committee Volunteers Events Committee Volunteers
OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS IT TAKES A VILLAGE.... AUTISM ONTARIO CENTENNIAL COLLEGE CITY OF PICKERING CITY OF OSHAWA COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL OF DURHAM COMMUNITY LIVING DURHAM DURHAM MENTAL HEALTH NETWORK DURHAM CHILDREN’S AID SOCIETY DURHAM COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTRE DURHAM COLLEGE DURHAM DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD DURHAM NOT FOR PROFIT HOUSING CORPORATION DURHAM REGION POLICE SERVICES DURHAM REGION PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENT DURHAM YOUTH HOUSING SERVICES ELEVATION FAMILY COMMUNITY ACTION PROGRAM CAPC/YMCA FETAL ALCOHOL SPECTRUM DISORDER ONTARIO NETWORK OF EXPERTISE GEORGE BROWN COLLEGE GOLF ONTARIO HUMBER COLLEGE KIDS UP FRONT MCMASTER UNIVERSITY ONTARIO TECH UNIVERSITY ROSE OF DURHAM SENECA COLLEGE SCIENTISTS IN THE SCHOOL SUNRISE YOUTH TORONTO METROPOLITAN UNIVERSITY TOWN OF AJAX TOWN OF UXBRIDGE TOWN OF WHITBY TRENT UNIVERSITY UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO WOMEN’S MULTICULTURAL RESOURCE & COUNSELLING CENTRE YORK UNIVERSITY YOUTH SERVICES NETWORK WHITBY FOOTBALL CLUB
GIRLS INC. OF DURHAM SERVICE AREAS Girls Inc. of Durham delivers programs and services to girls, women, and their families throughout Durham Region. Focusing our services to target priority neighbourhoods identified in partnership with the Durham Region Health Department in Ajax, Beaverton, Bowmanville, Cannington, Pickering, Port Perry, Oshawa, Uxbridge and Whitby. OFFERING: IN SCHOOL PROGRAMS AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS MARCH BREAK CAMPS SUMMER CAMPS FOOD ‘4’ THOUGHT PRE & POST NATAL PROGRAMS COMMUNITY OUTREACH PROGRAMS
PROGRAMS OFFERED Allies: Bullying prevention for girls in grades 3-8 Informed and In Charge: Sexual Health and Violence Prevention for girls in grades 7 & 8 GirlSTART: Literacy and reading support for girls in grades 1-3 In OUR Own Hands: Leadership and Community Action for grades 6-8 Mind+ Body: 4 Pillars of Health: Stress Management, Body Image, Physical, Nutrition for grades 6-8
OVER 9,600 HOURS OF IN SCHOOL PROGRAMMING DELIVERED
IN-SCHOOL PROGRAMS AND PARTNERSHIPS Girls Inc. of Durham provides several programs designed specifically for unique elementary and high school settings. During our 20-year partnership with the Durham District School Board, we delivered programs across Durham Region, including Ajax, Pickering, Whitby and Oshawa.
After School Programming GirlZONE GirlZONE is a leadership and community action program for girls aged 13-18. Our GirlZONE participants are also encouraged to act as peer mentors to the younger girls in GirlSPACE.
GirlSPACE GirlSPACE focuses on developing skills, abilities, and self-esteem for girls aged 6-12.
Mind+Body Mind+Body is a program for girls aged 11-18 that focuses on four pillars of health; stress management, nutrition, body image and physical activity.
Inspiring all girls to be strong, smart, and bold
2,024 girls served in 2025/26 26% increase over previous year
Girls Inc. Programming Impact Through Girls Inc. programming, girls discover their strengths, develop the confidence to lead, and gain the resilience to overcome challenges. Each program is a step toward empowering girls to create brighter futures for themselves and their communities. By engaging in hands-on learning, minds-on activities and supportive peer connections, girls are encouraged to explore new interests, think critically, and believe in their own abilities. They learn to advocate for themselves, make healthy choices, and envision possibilities that may have once felt out of reach. The impact extends beyond the individual; when girls thrive, they inspire their families, strengthen their schools, and contribute to stronger, more equitable communities.
SUMMER and March Break CAMPS In 2025/26, Girls Inc. Summer Camp and March Break Camp continued to provide high-quality programming tailored to the needs of girls and youth in our community. Our camps offered a unique “minds-on/hands-on” approach, engaging girls ages 6 to 12 in a wide variety of activities, while our Counsellor-in-Training (CIT) Program supported girls ages 13 to 16 in developing leadership and mentoring skills. Participants explored a balance of fun and educational opportunities through interactive games. Each activity was intentionally designed around key components of Girls Inc. programs, ensuring that girls not only had an enjoyable camp experience but also built confidence, leadership, teamwork, and problem-solving skills. Community partnerships played an important role in making these camps possible. The Durham NonProfit Housing Corporation provided in-kind use of their community room spaces, while the Durham District School Board provided in-kind program space.ional facilities.
Serving 1,253 unique girls at our camp programs 45,000 programming hours
SUPPORTING YOUNG MOMS
FOOD “4” THOUGHT The Canada Prenatal Nutrition Program, known locally as Food ‘4’ Thought, is a community-based initiative administered by Girls Inc. of Durham, funded by the Public Health Agency of Canada and supported by Durham Region’s Social Investment Fund. Pregnancy and early parenting can be particularly challenging for young mothers under 30 who face challenges, including financial insecurity, limited support networks, or other vulnerabilities. Food ‘4’ Thought provides a safe and supportive space where these at-risk mothers can access guidance on pregnancy and parenting while receiving essential education on nutrition, breastfeeding, pregnancy and infant care. The program offers both in-person and outreach support, delivering food vouchers or weekly packages of fresh fruit, vegetables, milk, pantry staples, and prenatal vitamins to help mothers and their babies stay healthy and supported. Following a population health approach, the program works to reduce inequities for those most affected, including families experiencing food insecurity, vulnerable young children, high-risk expectant mothers, individuals facing mental health challenges, and racialized communities.
Serving the following communities: Ajax, Beaverton, Bowmanville, Cannington, Pickering, Port Perry, Oshawa, Uxbridge, and Whitby.
Over 52,000 touchpoints, connections and deliveries
69-80 families served each week
OUR INVESTORS: CHAMPIONS FOR GIRLS MAKING IT POSSIBLE $100,000 + Human Resources & Skills Development of Canada Public Health Agency of Canada Department for Women and Gender Equality (WAGE)
INSPIRING ACHIEVEMENT $50,000 - $99,999 Girls Incorporated
ADVOCATE $10,000 - $49,999 CIBC Foundation Grant Delta Bingo Durham Community Foundation (Community Safety and Well Being Fund) Enterprise ERAC Foundation Hydro One Ontario Trillium Foundation R. Howard Webster Foundation Rogers Grant The City of Oshawa The Regional Municipality of Durham United Way of Durham
CREATING DREAMS $5,000 - $9,999 AECON Benevity Community Impact Foundation Canada Post Community Foundation Discovery Dental Ivany Family Meridian Credit Union Ontario Power Generation OPG Grant Town of Whitby RBC Community Investment
OUR INVESTORS: CHAMPIONS FOR GIRLS CHAMPIONS FOR GIRLS $2,000- $4,999 1799879 Ontario Inc. Durham High Voltage Abarquez Group Autism Ontario Aviso Wealth Benevity Community Impact Foundation CHUM Charitable Foundation Elexicon Energy Inc. Rotary Club of Pickering Ross McCannell (c/oRuth McCannell) The Municipality of Clarington Vancouver Foundation Yvette Nechvatal-Drew
CHAMPIONS FOR GIRLS $1,000- $1,999 Ajax Pickering Board of Trade Anu Aduvala Arbour Memorial Foundation Bansal Real Estate Team Chris Fortin ChuckIt CFO Services Dianne Cupples Durham Regional Police Association Glena James GTACC Events Inc. Jennifer Dewell Laura Reid Maria Greaves-Cacevki Marilyn Crawford Meridian Credit Union Nancy Van Rooy Patricia Southern Rico De Vega Robert Liderri Tola Ladipo
REVENUE* $ 1,320,364 $217,518 Program Fees
$ 625,606 Government Grants
$ 155,408 Donations and Fundraising $74,254 Other Revenue $ 43,596 Bingo
$ 134,214 Community Grants and Foundations
$ 41,668 Investments $ 28,100 United Way
EXPENSES* $ 1,294,730 $192,822 Program costs and training
$ 986,056 Salaries and benefits
$ 73,994 Rent, equipment, office and communications
FINANCIAL SUMMARY 70% Increase over $69,000 in program subsidies 40% increase in Program Revenue 16% increase in Government Grants 22% increase in Other Revenue (Girls Inc. Network flow thru grants) 37% decrease in Bingo Revenue 61% decrease in Community Grants 10% decrease in Individual Donations 7% decrease in Corporate Donations
Resulting in a 3% decrease in Revenues over previous fiscal year
Expenses offset by over $80,000 in-kind donations
$ 14,107 Fundraising Costs
$27,751 Professional fees and bank charges *Audited Financial Statements for year end March 31 2026 link at https://www.girlsinc-durham.org/who-we-are/our-financials
Resulting in a $25,634 surplus to: Re-invested in staffing salaries 9-month emergency reserve fund Increase program subsidies revenue
COMMUNICATIONS At Girls Inc of Durham we continue to invest in our communication with the public to ensure it is transparent, clear and reliable. We relaunched a new website, integrated a new AI Chat feature enabling parents, supporters and the general community to ask questions in any language, to find out information on our programming and services. We continue to explore new innovative, cost effective ways to grow and serve our community better.
Registered Charitable Number 118809268 RR0001
GIRLS INC. GIRLS’
BILL OF RIGHTS
The Girls Inc. Bill of Rights is the foundation of our mission. Through intentional teaching, mentorship, and meaningful challenges, we equip girls with the leadership, and lifelong skills they need to thrive.
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GIRLS HAVE THE RIGHT TO
SPIRIT OF GIRLS BREAKFAST EVENT RAISED $8,555.00 NET 100 people attended
THANK YOU
A celebration of the accomplishments of local girls and young women who are creating positive change and breaking the cycle of limitations for their families, communities, institutions, and all of us. In May 2025 over 100 influential executives, community and business leaders, local celebrities and media came together in May for an one-hour breakfast event to learn about girls at-risk in Durham and how Girls Inc. of Durham is positioned to provide the opportunities and experiences each girl needs to navigate the many gender, economic, and social barriers she faces, so she can grow up healthy, educated, and independent.
POWER OF THE PURSE EVENT RAISED OVER $100,000.00 NET In November, 250 people attended raising 30% previous year Power of the Purse is our annual fundraising evening hosted by Girls Inc. of Durham, designed to amplify our mission: inspiring all girls to be strong, smart, and bold. The event brings together corporate sponsors, volunteers, alumni, community members and supporters in a powerful show of solidarity. It’s about backing girls, celebrating community, investing in the next generation of leaders, and having fun while doing it.
Girls Inc. of Durham 1-398 Bayly Street West Ajax, ON L1S 1P1 (905) 428-8111 info@durham.girls-inc.org www.girlsinc-durham.org Registered Charitable Number: 118809268 RR0001
Inspiring all girls to be
STRONG, SMART, AND BOLD