2023
Year in Review
Inspiring Meaningful Change
Message from
Tamara Haberman
Dear AMDF Family, Trustees, Partners, and Friends,
2023 was a year of exciting change, gratitude, and new beginnings.
AMDF was thrilled to welcome two babies to our family! Alyse Bernbaum, our Executive Director, and Haley Burkes-Millo, our Communications Director, are proud new parents, and we couldn’t be happier for them. In response, our leadership team shuffled to ensure uninterrupted, unwavering support for our charitable partners.
While navigating these exciting transitions, we took intentional strides to strengthen our charitable relationships, deepen our impact measurement, and focus on inspiring meaningful change in the Youth Mental Health and Youth Homelessness sectors.
The heart of AMDF lies in personal connections. Meeting with our charitable partners and celebrating their milestones – such as Abiona Centre’s uplifting graduation ceremony – allows us to forge genuine connections that go beyond financial investments, nurturing a shared dedication to our priorities. Our goal of expanding our reach was demonstrated through the addition of five new charities to our portfolio, visiting a record 36 partners, and participating in 13 knowledge-building events.
Measuring our foundation’s impact was taken to new heights as we embarked on our second year with Impact Genome. Thanks to the collective efforts of our charitable partners, we gained tangible insights into AMDF’s impact. Common themes emerged across our charities, illuminating positive outcomes like improved mental well-being and access to long-term housing.
Other meaningful changes in 2023 include crafting a new Granting Framework, designed to foster growth, impact, and sustainability of our charities’ initiatives. Finally, our brand identity was transformed, unveiling a refreshed visual personality and tone that authentically reflects AMDF. These exciting initiatives will be revealed in 2024, marking a new chapter for us.
Most important is what hasn’t changed. And that is our firm commitment to Youth Mental Health and Youth Homelessness across Ontario. Never has it been more important to reaffirm our commitment to these urgent priorities. Everyone has the right to mental wellness and access to safe and stable housing. By championing early intervention and prevention programs that offer robust, sustained, and customized wraparound supports, we strive to eliminate barriers for young people across Ontario, empowering them to thrive.
To each of you who brings our mission to life through partnership, hard work, and dedication, we extend our heartfelt gratitude. We look forward to continuing this journey together.
Tamara Haberman
Acting Executive Director
Graduation Ceremony Celebration at Abiona Centre!
What We’re About
Our AMDF Family
Our Impact
Programs
Programs
Donations
Support
Where We Give
Aubrey & Marla Dan Foundation focuses our giving across Ontario, supporting 46 charities that impact over 30,000 youth struggling with mental health challenges or experiencing homelessness.
AMDF reaches diverse
geographic regions
across Ontario.
Urban Centres
Rural Areas
Statistics sourced from AMDF charities’ 2023 Impact Genome Reports.
AMDF reaches diverse geographic
regions across Ontario.
Statistics sourced from AMDF charities’ 2023 Impact Genome Reports.
Our Giving
We are committed to prioritizing Youth Mental Health and Youth Homelessness, collaborating with our AMDF Family to inspire meaningful change through annual and multi-year grants, encouraging impactful philanthropy.
To make this a reality, we donated
$2,264,020
supporting 51 priority programs.
Youth Mental Health
$1,641,020 (72.5%)
$623,000 (27.5%)
Youth Mental Health
$1,641,020 (72.5%)
People impacted:
Our Endowments
Gifts That Continue To Give.
AMDF supports seven endowments with five long-standing partners.
Why We Give
Everyone has the right to mental wellness and access to safe and stable housing. Focusing on early intervention, prevention, and wraparound supports, our goal is to create sustainable change that will have a positive social impact.
To achieve this, we nurture collaborative relationships with our community and charitable partners – our AMDF Family – who are eliminating barriers for young people across Ontario, empowering them to live successful and healthy lives.
Nurturing
Relationships
In our ongoing efforts to strengthen the relationship between the Aubrey & Marla Dan Foundation and the charities we support, we visited 36 partners and attended 13 knowledge-building events this year.
On August 23, 2023, the AMDF and Dancap Family Investment Teams volunteered at Second Harvest, sorting and bagging over 1,000 lbs of carrots for distribution to charities across Ontario.
It was a fantastic experience, helping us give back to our community and learn about food waste and food insecurity.
Every year, 58% of food produced in Canada is lost or wasted – equaling $49 billion worth of food!
Second Harvest is making meaningful changes to social and environmental well-being by rescuing and redistributing food to those in need.
Program Highlights
Charity: Child Witness Centre
Program: Trauma Informed Supports
Funded Since: 2021
Did you know 27% of Canadians report experiencing physical or sexual abuse before the age of 15? At Child Witness Centre (CWC), they believe every hurt and harmed young person should be helped through the criminal justice system. That is why they walk with victimized youth, and their families, from the time of investigation through to a court resolution.
Left unsupported, young survivors of abuse and crime are 4x more likely to have thoughts of self-harm or suicide and 26x more likely to become homeless later in life. With early intervention, their healing begins, trauma is reduced, and the future becomes brighter.
Last year alone, CWC supported 1,261 local young victims. 35% were children under 12 years old, and 65% were youth aged 12 and older. Due to increased demand, CWC was forced to add 201 young people to their waitlist for the first time since they began in 1981. Knowing that all kids in crisis urgently deserve help, CWC is doing everything they can to wipe out their waitlist, so all kids get the support they need, when they need it.
Meet Krista
A caseworker at CWC, Krista McCann meets with youth in their safe space to provide a listening ear, compassion, and education. She also assists with victim impact statements, preparing to testify, and attends court with her clients. As a result, youth move from despair in their present crisis, towards well-being for a strong life trajectory.
“I get to support children and youth at a really vulnerable time, so I'm always honoured that they allow me to be a part of that journey with them, and to be able to support them through that process.”
– Krista McCann
“I was recently in court with a teenager I supported for the last year and a half. After they testified, they asked me if it was bad they were going to miss this.
I asked them to explain a little more. They said they wouldn’t miss court and dealing with the charges but would miss having somewhere to go and someone to talk to, where they felt comfortable and accepted.”
– Krista McCann
Charity: WoodGreen Foundation
Program: Youth Housing Navigator
Funded Since: 2020
WoodGreen Community Services has been meeting the UNMET needs of Toronto residents for more than 85 years. As a leading social services agency focused on poverty reduction, WoodGreen removes barriers, empowering underserved individuals and families to live healthier, more independent, and fulfilling lives. WoodGreen provides integrated supports including physical and mental health services, affordable housing, employment support, financial counselling, child care, seniors and youth programs, and more.
WoodGreen’s Youth Housing Navigator program supports young people aged 16 to 30 who are experiencing homelessness or are precariously housed – working with them to find and maintain safe and affordable housing. The program provides wraparound supports including life skills for independent living and advocacy, rent subsidies, financial literacy training, employment supports, mental wellness programming, and more. It empowers previously unhoused young people to make their way in the world from a place of safety and stability.
Meet Joseph
Stock image sourced from Adobe Stock.
At 23, Joseph approached WoodGreen Community Services for help after years of extensive racism, discrimination, and institutionalization as a black youth of the child welfare system. Joseph was attempting to leave behind a community where gang culture and violence were the norm. He was also advocating for fair treatment from his landlord, seeking tenant rights and basic housing necessitties – such as access to a working refrigerator.
"I have been living on my own since I was 17 years old and I have never felt like there was anyone who would help me. I have struggled with money and housing, and have spent years in criminal justice court trying to get away from the life I was living.”
Stock image sourced from Adobe Stock.
Joseph struggled with depression. Fueled by his experiences in the system and with his landlord, Joseph found himself challenged to put good food on the table.
With support of the Youth Housing Navigator program, Joseph learned about his rights under the Ontario Human Rights Code and Residential Tenancies Act. The program ensured that Joseph’s refrigerator was replaced, enabling him to focus on healthy eating and responsible grocery budgeting.
“WoodGreen helped me to learn how to live on a budget and supported me to make connections in the community to better understand how to navigate my legal situation. I am grateful for the support the Youth Housing Navigator program has provided."
In 2023, Joseph walked away from a lifestyle that jeopardized his well-being with the law. He was supported to find stable, safe, and affordable housing where he was treated with dignity and respect. With housing in place, and greater emotional well-being, Joseph was able to secure employment in the Toronto film industry. Joseph is now feeling stable in his life and is making tremendous strides building a sustainable, fulfilling film career.
"The Youth Housing Navigator program helped me to find housing that I could afford, where I was not being taken advantage of. Getting housing was huge, because it gave me a chance to figure out how to get a job in the film industry.”
- Joseph
Our 2023 Grants
Safe housing, mental health programming, and wraparound supports for homeless and under-housed mothers aged 13-24, and their children.
Support for a Youth Social Prescribing Navigator who will develop a multi-charity program using a proven model, aiding youth with clinical mental health diagnoses.
Healthcare support that assists people in the performing arts to cover expenses including physiotherapy, counselling, dental treatment, medical equipment, fees for addiction treatment, and more.
Safe housing, mental health programming, and wraparound supports for homeless and under-housed mothers aged 13-24, and their children.
Support for a Youth Social Prescribing Navigator who will develop a multi-charity program using a proven model, aiding youth with clinical mental health diagnoses.
Healthcare support that assists people in the performing arts to cover expenses including physiotherapy, counselling, dental treatment, medical equipment, fees for addiction treatment, and more.
1:1 community-based mentorship that matches a Little (aged 7-16) with a Big to cultivate healthy and positive relationships.
Employing the power of music through youth serving agencies to develop skills and competencies in mental wellness and personal development.
Early intervention to support families and infants born with extreme prematurity, in collaboration with Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre.
Piloting an evidence-based early intervention for eating disorder model in integrated youth service settings, focusing on youth aged 16-25.
Trauma-informed support for young victims or witnesses of crime or abuse, providing advocacy throughout the investigation process and court proceedings.
Indigenous youth and their families receive culturally appropriate and trauma-informed mental health and wellness services and treatment.
Focusing on youth and technology to support youth mental health in the Digital Age that promotes a healthy and balanced relationship with technology and social media.
Student development through workshops, performances, artistic expression, and mentorship that cultivates a sense of community, relationship-building, and problem-solving skills.
1:1 and group activities with an occupational therapist focused on life skills development to help youth succeed in independent living.
Specialized support services for youth and parents who have a sibling or child with complex medical needs to provide peer support and coping tools.
Supports youth aged 17-25 who are living with Type 1 diabetes (T1D) and are transitioning into adult care and post-secondary education systems.
Black-focused service delivery framework which incorporates seven Afrocentric principles to improve programming, services, and wraparound supports, facilitating successful transitions to stable and sustainable living.
Mental health awareness for youth aged 13-17 through cooking and workshops that teach about mental illnesses such as depression, addiction, and eating disorders.
Increased access to mental health services and supports for girls, young women, and their parents from low-income families and communities facing socioeconomic barriers.
Supports 25 Indigenous youth in the Hamilton area to secure and sustain housing, build skills, and connect to their culture.
Emergency shelter and services for women and their children experiencing or threatened by intimate partner violence.
Women and their children receive help to leave dangerous circumstances and access various support services to move into a safe home, purchase basic needs, pay legal fees, and more.
On court programming centered on the culture of basketball to develop resilience, self-esteem, and physical and mental well-being.
Bringing STEM education to youth in the Jane & Finch neighbourhood to develop problem-solving, critical thinking, and teamwork skills.
A fully subsidized four-weekend long youth musical theatre training intensive that builds community, self-confidence, and self-expression through a combination of new music creation, masterclasses, rehearsal, and a public showcase.
A holistic and culturally based approach for pre and post-natal families to provide early intervention health and support services to nurture a healthy start for Aboriginal infants.
Eating disorder prevention and awareness to cultivate a body-inclusive school environment that improves the well-being of school-aged youth and increases the capacity for supportive adults.
The program supports a diverse student population aged 18-24 through counselling, trained peer mentorship, drop-in clinics, and wellness coordinators.
A holistic model aimed to break the cycle of poverty through education that combines academic, financial, social, and 1:1 supports for youth during high school and post-graduation.
In collaboration with shelters and youth-serving organizations in the GTA, professional artists and facilitators are paired with youth to provide mentorship.
Initiative offers youth safe spaces for creative expression, improved mental and social well-being, and opportunities to showcase their work.
Supporting the construction of the Rappel Tower, ensuring the success of students in education and promoting self-confidence.
Promoting mental well-being and the development of life skills for girls through safe and age-appropriate activities.
Provides youth with access to healthy food through four interconnected food insecurity programs that service hundreds of charities, and facilitating food redistribution, awareness, and education workshops.
Employing music to develop life skills such as empathy, problem solving, and advocacy for youth living in underserved communities.
Professional development sessions that focus on social and emotional learning, ensuring teachers have needed support and education to work with vulnerable communities.
Professional development focused on mentorship, education, and networking to prepare young, racialized art leaders to take on their own arts initiative and senior-level positions in Arts Administration.
Supporting street-involved and houseless youth in a safe and stable space, using arts as a tool for healthy self-expression and improved mental health.
Addressing mental health challenges through an online counselling app enabling clients aged 16-29 to access immediate support.
Engages, provokes, and entertains audiences and high-school students through theatre, delving into social and political issues. Providing workshops to 1,000+ youth annually.
Supporting various arts initiatives that impact a diverse population of youth who are underhoused, disable-identifying, struggle with mental illness, or experiencing other barriers.
In a safe and supportive environment, students from various schools gain leadership, communication, self-expression, and self-regulation skills.
Provides arts-based mental health programming for underserved and racialized youth at the Unity Studio, including weekly 3-hour hip-hop workshops that culminate in a public performance.
Women from various backgrounds, many of whom have experienced abuse or trauma, receive support in overcoming personal, social, and economic barriers.
A dedicated Navigator supports Toronto youth aged 16-30 to find and maintain safe, affordable, and sustainable housing. The program also offers drop-in housing resource navigation support regardless of whether youth are enrolled in the program.
Impact Genome
We are proud to deepen our partnership with Impact Genome to better understand the collective impact of our charities.
Impact Genome is a comprehensive evidence-based evaluation tool that enables AMDF charities to employ standardized impact measurement and reporting, helping to articulate, streamline, and present meaningful program outcomes.
Key Performance
Indicators
Improved Social-Emotional Skills is the most reported primary outcome (10 programs)
78% of programs demonstrate an Efficacy Rate within or above sector benchmark ranges
40% of programs are using medium or high-quality evidence (Compared to 36% across all programs in Impact Genome)
Check out the amazing Centennial Infant and Child Centre Verified Impact Report!
Heart Gifts
Beyond our AMDF Family, we support our communities through one-time Heart Gifts, allowing us to broaden our impact. This year we supported seven charities, including The Common Table.
A drop-in grassroots community effort, The Common Table connects with over 100 people daily, providing healthy meals, basic health care services, housing referrals, social and creative activities, support groups, and more. They are a place where stories are shared and relationships are established.
AMDF is proud to support The Common Table and our extended communities through Heart Gifts.
Transforming
Tomorrow
AMDF enters 2024 with renewed energy and determination to support our partners and deepen our charitable relationships.
AMDF’s new Granting Framework will offer a progressive continuum of opportunities through three funding streams:
Nurture Grant
Inspire Grant
Transform Grant
In 2024, our grants are only available to existing charitable partners. New charities will be considered in 2025.
Visit our website this Fall to learn more about 2025 funding opportunities facilitated through the Framework. In the meantime, we invite you to visit our recently launched, refreshed, and dynamic website.
We’re excited to continue supporting our AMDF Family who inspire meaningful change for youth in our communities.
Who We Are
Aubrey Dan
Founder & Trustee
Marla Dan
Founder & Trustee
Elias Toby
Trustee
Alyse Bernbaum
Executive Director
Tamara Haberman
Acting Executive Director /
Grants Director
Haley Burkes-Millo
Communications Director
Zack Bernbaum
Acting Communications Director
Caitlyn Cuento Gujol
Foundation Administrator
