A friend of the Mission, and a longtime Silverado, John Watson has donated $1 Million for bursaries.  The dream of sending children to school regardless of their financial status has indeed come true.  Thank you John for your very generous gift. YONGE STREET MISSION ENDOWMENT FUND, GEORGE BROWN COLLEGE As you are aware, over the past six years, Los Silverados have taken it upon themselves to assist the Yonge Street Mission by making solid contributions to helping the poor. This past year we donated over $80K to the ongoing operational needs of the Computer Lab for Children. We have done this for a number of years now and have thereby helped over 450 children, ages 8-12 to learn computer skills. Los Silverados have helped with initiatives which provide a donated, re- conditioned computer for each child who graduates with new computer skills. We have continued to provide innumerable items ranging from diapers to divans. We have given our time, money and food to assist in the feeding of over 37 thousand meals... just this last year alone. Silverados and their friends buy, cook and serve dinner to the children at the Evergreen Drop In Centre twice and soon to be three times a week, and at least once a week at the Community Centre. Not too bad for a motorcycle gang which remains a figment of our imaginations. The Computer Centre puts the real-world tool of knowledge into the hands of otherwise disadvantaged pre- teens. Now we have a new hill to climb. The older children in the YSM community need help too – help with getting an education or skills training, so that they too have a chance to escape from the endless cycle of poverty. To meet that need, Los Silverados have created a scholarship/ bursary fund through George Brown College Foundation. Here’s how the program works: · Donations will be made to the George Brown College Foundation, Yonge Street Mission Endowment Fund · A receipt for income tax purposes will be issued by the Foundation for the full amount of the charitable donation of any individual, group or corporation · To qualify for bursary funds, youth will be selected by a committee consisting of the Executive Director of the Mission, the Director of the Mission and the Director of Evergreen. There will probably be another person on the selection committee representing George Brown College. Once the youth has been approved for a program, accountability for that student’s progress will fall to George Brown College, as is the case for all students. · The Endowment funds are placed in a bond that cannot be touched for a period of ten years. At that time the funds will be rolled over for another ten years and on forward. Only the interest that accrues on the fund is available for bursaries. The principal remains intact. · If for any reason the George Brown College Foundation should cease to operate, the money in the Endowment fund will revert back to the care of Yonge Street Mission. Currently we have raised $150K+ and have been able to award small bursaries. Obviously, the more money we can raise to start the Endowment Fund, the better the program we can offer. The George Brown Endowment Fund managers have indicated that with a solid financial commitment from us, they may have the ability to tap into other, related government funds that can effectively stretch the value of our dollars. These additional funds may be grants or other special programs which are available to students who have specific educational interests, i.e. cooking, bricklaying, etc. It is easy to think of the many benefits that will arise from such a bursary program. The obvious one is that children will gain the skills needed for legitimate employment. The hidden benefit will be the realization that good things can happen if the effort is made. The link between George Brown College and the Mission offers the dream of education to our youth. When coupled with the other resources the Mission can provide, like clothing and housing assistance, that link becomes a solid bridge to the future. As a Silverado, you can make an important difference in the lives of youth in the Mission community by contributing to the Endowment Fund. The bursary programme will help our youth become brick layers, office assistants, upholsterers, healthcare workers, and yes, even a few university graduates. More importantly, it will help them gain personal dignity and self- sufficiency. Thank you in advance for your generosity. May God's grace be with you. Call Jon Unger Brandt at the Mission 416-929-9614 ext. 4259 if you would like to give a hand. Cheques can be made payable to Yonge Street Mission, Los Silverado Bursary Fund and sent to the Mission at 306 Gerrard St. E., Toronto M5A 2G7