PAGE 10, WH1TY FREE PRESS, WEDNESDAY, JULY 5, 1989 Imagine is a national campaign of The Canadian Centre for Plulanthropy to rncrease Canadians' awareness and contribution to al charitable and volunteer organizations. We support their goals and are contnibuting space for the Imagine ads on, this and other pages. To bring the campaign closet to home, the 'Whitby Free Press is running a series of profiles of the needs and activities of local organizatiois. Cali us if your orgamizgtion could use a boost. JOhn oward provides.&ma&ny serviees A popular rnisconception about the John Howard Society of Dur- ham Region 18 that iV only pro- vides services for the male ex- offender and hie family. nhe Society does much more. "We have 16 branches throughout Ontario and each responds Vo the needs of its community,» says Felicity Nel- son, community education co- ordinator for the Society. That diversity of service is nowhere more evident than in the Durham Region branch. John Howard Society of Durham Region Purpose: emphasis le on crime prevention programs; community education and one-to-one service. Fundraising: as a member of the United Way, John Howard Society cannot hold fundraising events. However, with special permnission from United Way, a campaign will Pe launched in the future to raise capital funds for a larger facility. The Society had a budget of $1.5- million in 1988, $434,000 of that from United Way. Membership: 40 on staff. Contact: 579-8482. Fromn a one-person office in 1974, the society now has 40 staff and saw 4,000 clients in 1988. "There '18 that misconception that we only deal with parolees. We do work with people at the Whitby Jail but we do much more t han that," said Nelson. Offered are a literacy programi which offers individualized ses- sions in basic readin writing and math; Rap Bec wfiich pro- motes self-confidence and rela- tionships with peers; Futures, a program that offers people aged 15 Vo 24 who are out of work and school, the opportunity Vo learn marketable job ekilis. One of the Society's larger roles in Durham Region le each- ing crime prevention to youtlg students. In Whitby, a residence is pro- vided for young males aged 15 Vo 24 who, for one reason or another, are unable to stay at homes. There they are taught how Vo live independently wiVh such skIdls as biudgeting, menu plan- fin g cooking and job search The house has been open five years. and has housed 81 men since 1V opened. The Society ie also in the final stages of setting up its WOW (Work Orientation Workshops) Prcnded by Ernployrnent and Immigration Canada, WOW helps youths aged 14 to 16, who are having difficulty socially or acadernically, geV jobs in the community durfng the summer. The idea, according to Nelson, le Vo show the students "the real world and hopefully prevent the kids from quitting schooL" Students are steered to the pro arn either through schools or through a studen is parents. (In Wh itby, WOW 18 handled through the youth employment centre on Brock St. S.) The students are divided into groups of 14 - two group in Osh awa - and Society staff find jobs in which students have an interest. At the end of June, there 18 a workshop which teaches job rela- ted skills, and in July, the stu- dents start work. Pay is $3.90lhour and work- days can range from five to 10 hours. The Society (or in Whitby the employment centre) then follows up with the student's employer and the parents. "There'are more kids than we have room for. Most want Vo take part," said Sausan Tanner, one of &h staff looking for places of employent. J'ohn Howard is funded through the United Way of Osh- awa-NewcastleWhitby and Ajax-Pickering. Both United Ways last year provided $434,000 to the Society which had a budget of $1.5- million. The budget includes ser- vices provided trough various governinent agencies. As a member of the United Way, John Howard cannot hold fundraising events. But with spe- cial permission, a fundraising campaign will be organized Vo raise capital funds for the Society which ie in desperate need of a larger facility. The Society office is located at a4 Bruce St. The phone number ie 579-8482. * A OURLEYIR ~The giv'ng begins with you. SHOUI) i USE MORE 0F1'EN. 4 GIVE. 'Si*m for Multip lceroi't be held July 16 The third annual «'Swim for Civie Swim challenge Multiple Sclerosis' will be held on participation from the Sunday, July 16 at Camp Samac, firefighters and city c Sirncoe St. N., Oshawa, from 2 Vo scheduled at 4 p.m., follo'v 7 p.m., rain or shine. the Oshawa Optimist Club'1 Maryanne Shoîdra, chairman of the 1989 Samac Swim, invites the ubl t,"corne out to swim and geip raise money for muchqu needed services for Durham residents with multiple scierosis." There is no admission charge for Multiple Scierosis Sociq the family day. of Canada "There will' be family swimniing,. clowns, gaines, door draw for MS with $2,000 ini prizes and a barbecue hosted by monies. "Lest year wei the Oshawa Optimiet Club. Gord $30,000," Shoîdra stated. Grilles, a country and western hopd Vo top that in 89." band will set the western mood Sponsors/pledge sheets w and Camp Samac will provide the available at the swim courysene for the fun-filled through Information Os] eVent, h said . Oshawa--City Hall, 50 Cent Highlighting the event ie the S., 434-4636. with police, couneil wed by lot Very ety iprize raised 'We vill bE and 3hawa, tre St. "The MS Swim comznittee is encouraging the public Vo hold private pool parties and Vo sponsor committed swummers. There are many ways people can help in addition Vo coring Vo the Swim- Challenge at Camp Samnac," Shoîdra stated. incorne Vax receipts will be issued for donations of $10 or more4. "Ail monies ralsed will stay in Durham Reglon, helping people with multiple sclerosis in areas of counselling, caregiving, education, recreation, and assistive devices," Shoîdra explains. 'Multiple sclerosis is Canada's number one crippler of young adults. Our cornmittee's objective la Vo promnote an increased knowledge and.awareness of the disease and Vo continue the greatly appreciated efforts of Jocelyn Muir who swamn around Lake Ontario in 1987 in support Of MS."l Self-help for acoustie neuroma Acoustic neuroma is a life-threatenlng, non-malignant brain tuinor attaching itself Vo a nerve of the inner ear. If rernoved while smaîl, modemn surgery has beconie so advanced VhaV the patient recovers with few deficits. However, once the tumor has becorne large resuits can be devastating, since much nerve damage can occur. Damage Vo the facial nerve le particularly traumatic since iV causes facial paralysis and a totally altered appearance, wlth accornpanying emotional and psychological problerne. The Acoustic Neuron'a Association of Canada is a patient-headed self-help organizaVion The address is P-O. Box 369, Eknionton, Alta. T5J 2J6, (403-428-3384). SUSAN TANNER (left) Carol Kobes the John Howard Society of Durham (centre) and Michele Cross are Region. working on the WOW program for Vinco Ohprecio-Frec Press photo