Covenant House Staffer Wins Leadership Award
Toronto, ON (PRWEB) January 31, 2014 -- Covenant House Toronto’s Support Services Manager Danielle Neilson has been recognized for her outstanding leadership with a Vital People grant from the Toronto Community Foundation.
Vital People grants recognize valued leaders who are making exemplary contributions at non-profit organizations across the city and support their continued training and professional development.
Neilson received the honour for her work as manager of the agency’s education, employment assistance and job training programs.
“I have always felt a strong commitment to the work Covenant House does to create opportunity for homeless and at-risk youth,” Neilson says. “I feel privileged to have received this award and I’m looking forward to pursuing new training opportunities and applying the new skills I acquire to my work.”
“We are immensely proud of Danielle and her passion for bettering the lives of homeless youth,” says Covenant House Program Services Director Carol Howes. “We applaud her efforts to strengthen the programs that serve our youth and the vision and leadership she demonstrates on a daily basis. This award is certainly well-deserved.”
Toronto Community Foundation President and CEO Rahul K. Bhardwaj said, “The foundation is proud to celebrate these inspiring leaders who are building Toronto into the city we all want.”
“The vitality and well-being of our city counts on individuals who take initiative, make a positive contribution and demonstrate leadership.”
Neilson was awarded a $5,000 grant to support her formal training or other informal development opportunities that will enable her to improve her programs.
Since 2004, the Toronto Community Foundation has invested almost $450,000 in the professional development of 93 leaders. This year, with additional gifts from the Kevin Burke Foundation, Honey Family Foundation and Erica Shuttleworth Fund at the Toronto Community Foundation, Vital People grants were awarded to 10 ten leaders for a total investment of $48,015.
Covenant House Toronto, Canada’s largest homeless youth agency, changes lives by providing the widest range of services and support under one roof, including 24/7 crisis shelter and a longer-term residential program along with comprehensive services, including education, counselling, health care, employment assistance and job training. To do all this, the agency relies on donors for 80 percent of its $20-million annual operating budget.
Rose Cino, Covenant House Toronto, http://www.covenanthousetoronto.ca, +1 (416) 204-7081, [email protected]
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