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Help our organization grow so that we can create a lasting impact for countless burn survivors.
Why We Need $10,000:
Applying for charitable status in Canada is a complex and highly detailed process. It requires professional legal support to ensure that our application meets all of the requirements set out by the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA), and to avoid costly delays or rejection. Since life After Burns operates exclusively on volunteer time and small donations, without funding the organization will not be able to cover the cost of a lawyer who specializes in non-profit and charity law. This lawyer would:
- Structure our organization more effectively
- Draft and review legal documents
- Ensure full compliance with CRA regulations
- Help us submit a strong, clear, and complete application
- And ensure we successfully secure charitable status
Once we receive charitable status, Life After Burns will be able to:
- Access more funding through grants, foundations, and corporate partnerships
- Issue tax receipts to our donors (encouraging more contributions)
- Strengthen our legitimacy as a trusted long-term organization
- Expand our programs and reach more survivors who need connection and support
- Build more sustainable services that burn survivors can rely on: today and into the future
What Life After Burns Already Does:
Community-Building Events
- Hosts in-person and virtual gatherings where burn survivors and their families can connect in a safe and supportive environment
- Some of these gatherings include:
-Thriving After Burns, an annual one-day conference focused on healing, empowerment, and community connection
-Yearly winter holiday party
-Free recreational activities such as yoga, sound baths, and paint class
-Group trips and outings
-Offers online educational workshops about burn trauma and mental health
Peer Support & Mentorship
- Facilitates a yearly in person peer support group for burn survivors at the Thriving After Burns event
- Facilitate the administration for a virtual burn survivor peer support group through the Canadian Burn Survivors Community
- Facilitate virtual peer support groups for loved ones, caregivers, and supporters run by a registered psychotherapist
- Provides one-on-one conversations with SOAR trained peer supporters for emotional support
- Connects new burn survivors with others who have lived experience for guidance, encouragement, and hope
Resource Connection and Practical Support
- Connects burn survivors to supports like health practitioners such as burn nurses, burn surgeons, occupational/rehabilitation specialists, and psychotherapists
- Connects burn trauma survivors across the country to local supports
- Shares tools, tips, and mental health resources to help survivors navigate recovery and reintegration into daily life
Affiliations
- Works with institutions, associations, and organizations to broaden the reach, and depth, of support for survivors
- Some of these affiliations include:
-Canadian Burn Survivor’s Community
-Burn Units: Ross Tilley Burn Centre at Sunnybrook Hospital,
SickKids Burn Unit, Hamilton Health Science Burn Unit
-St. John’s Rehab Program at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre
-Toronto Professional Firefighters’ Association (TPFFA)
- Contributed to a two year Boston-Harvard research study called CLIMB (Chronic Conditions Life Impact Management in Burns), which aimed to prove that burn injuries should be regarded as a chronic condition that requires ongoing care, by facilitating 6 week research cohorts
Advocacy
- Call upon community services to ensure they are doing their part in establishing adequate financial and social support for burn survivors and their loved ones (after injury), as well as emergency support workers
Education & Awareness
- Ensures burn trauma survivors across Canada stay informed about burn community news
- Raises public awareness about burn injury recovery, the challenges survivors face, and the importance of inclusive support networks
- The founder participates in: Public speaking engagements at conferences, fundraisers, and places of worship, networking at leadership events
Organizer
