For more information please contact Mariss Daluz, Foundation Fund Development Coordinator, at (705) 945-9987 Ext. 257 or email foundation@theofra.org.
The Ontario Finnish Resthome Foundation (OFRF)
About Us
The Ontario Finnish Resthome Foundation is the official fundraising body for the Ontario Finnish Resthome Association (OFRA).
As a registered charitable organization, we are dedicated to improving the quality of life for seniors in OFRA's care. Since 1992, we have been assisting with the costs of various expansions and enhancement initiatives involved with sustaining "Homes With A Heart."
Our Mission
"We are committed to supporting the OFRA by collecting and providing funding for projects, programs, and items that fall outside of OFRA's budget and foster the delivery of safe, compassionate, and resident-centered care. Through donations and community engagement, we help to ensure that residents live with dignity, comfort, and joy."
We need your support! We fundraise for items, programs, and equipment that are not covered by the OFRA operating budget or government funding. Donor support enables our ability to constantly enhance OFRA's level of care, accommodations, and atmosphere.
Explore the ways we raise funds below and how you can contribute to our Homes With a Heart!
Your Impact and Grant Successes
Your contributions over the years have helped us to:
- Introduce new and/or replace aging equipment and furniture to maintain comfortable living spaces;
- Fund infrastructure and accessibility improvements to enhance facilities and their atmospheres;
- Provide funding to resident programs and equipment that improve comfort, dignity, belonging, activity, and overall wellbeing.
Click the button below to see the incredible ways your impact has made a difference to our residents!
We apply on behalf of the OFRA to various government grants and private organization funding opportunities. We have been successful candidates of many grants over the years and cannot thank the programs and organizations enough for the funding to improve daily life and accessibility for those in our care.
List of services
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The Sault Ste. Marie Airport Development Corporation (SSMADC) Charity Golf TournamentList Item 1
With the generosity of the SSMADC's annual charity golf tournament, we have been selected as sole or partial recipients of tournament proceeds. With over $35,000 of funding, we've upgraded nearly all of the 30+ year old common area furnishings within our independent living building, Suomi Eesti Maja! Residents have been enjoying new chairs, tables, and couches thanks to the SSMADC.
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Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation (NOHFC) - Workforce Development ProgramList Item 4
This fund's goal is to strengthen and develop Northern Ontario’s workforce through strategic partnerships by offering internships. OFRA and the Foundation have been incredibly grateful to have been granted internship funding throughout the years and have hired talented and driven interns, many of which are still involved with OFRA, today!
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2022 Small Projects Component – Enabling Accessibility Fund (EAF)List Item 2
The EAF offered through the Government of Canada Employment and Social Development sector was granted to upgrade the accessibility of our assisted living building, Kotitalo. The entrances were small and difficult for wheelchair users or those with low mobility to enter and exit the building. This fund provided allowed for the installation of large, automatic sliding doors and eliminated this barrier to accessibility.
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New Horizons for Seniors Grants
Employment and Social Development Canada have granted us funding throughout the years, allowing for the following to be purchased or upgraded:
- Furniture in the Uusi Koti Gathering Place common area;
- Furniture and T.V.s throughout the Kotitalo assisted living building;
- Renovations to two common area washrooms in Suomi Eesti Maja;
- New courtyard and campus swings, gazebos and outdoor furniture;
- Obie interactive game projector systems for Kotitalo and Mauno Kaihla Koti residents;
- Green Circle Gardens for Mauno Kaihla Koti courtyard that allows for low mobility and wheelchair users accessibility to garden.
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Algoma Community Foundation - Community Services Recovery FundList Item 3
Focused on helping organizations adapt for Covid-19 pandemic recovery, the Algoma Community Foundation granted us with funding to purchase and implement a Hector inventory tracking system. This system modernized operations by streamlining inventory tracking, increased efficiency and improved communication, leading to cost savings, improving quality of care for our residents and prepared us for future expansions.
Foundation Board of Directors
Tarja Loewen | Chair/Puheenjohtajaa
Emma Paat | Vice Chair/Vara Puheenjohtajaa
Vacant
|Treasurer/Rahasstonhoitaja
Tania Lavoie | Secretary/Sihteeri
Elizabeth (Betty) Anne Brown
Arja Champagne
Sointu Fulcher
Doreen Hyrsky
Anita Lefebvre
Heidi Schell
Chelsey Yourchuk
Around The Pond Newsletter
The Foundation creates and distributes a newsletter that's published every March, July and October! It's filled with all things OFRA like our latest fundraising initiatives and results, feel good stories, Recreational Therapy activities and events, messages and updates from our CEO, Board Chair, Ladies' Auxiliary, and so much more. Check out all of the editions here.
