Friends of Grassroot Grannies
NEWSLETTER
We appreciate your interest in the Grassroot Grannies and the work we do to support the
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Canadian grannies
supporting
African grannies
Fall 2024 Issue
Dear Karen and Judith,
Next week, the Grandmothers to Grandmothers Campaign team will be sending a special milestone recognition to every Grandmothers group that has supported the campaign in the last few years. As you know, this campaign holds incredible significance to the SLF and to our grandmothers in Africa and the organizations that serve and support them. The steadfast dedication of grandmothers groups has been and will always be a part of the strong legacy of the foundation. Your group is one of the Top 10 fundraising groups in the Campaign. And so, ahead of the other groups receiving their note of thanks from the team, I wanted to reach out to you to say thank you, and to provide you with a certificate of appreciation for all that you have done and continue to do.
Since 2006, the Grandmothers to Grandmothers Campaign has connected like-minded women and their allies across Canada, Australia, and the U.K. as they stand in solidarity with grandmothers in sub-Saharan Africa to confront the gendered impact of HIV and AIDS. This campaign has resourced the Stephen Lewis Foundation with the funds to provide meaningful and long-lasting support to women who have had to overcome barriers resulting from the HIV epidemic in their communities. The Grassroot Grannies have been an integral part of this movement since 2006, and we thank you for the time and effort you have wholeheartedly dedicated to this important work.
In 2023, 20% of the SLF’s annual fundraising revenue was generated by groups like The Grassroot Grannies with 90% of these funds channelled directly to bolstering the work of community-led organizations working alongside grandmothers in their communities.
Your group’s unwavering support is a vital part of this work. We would like to express our immense gratitude for your fundraising efforts over the years, even joining other Ottawa groups for gatherings and events. Congratulations on your 15th successful Ride to Turn the Tide!
Please know that your hard work and dedication does not go unnoticed! We are without a doubt stronger together.
Yours in cause,
Niambi Martin-John &
The Grandmothers Campaign Team
A Special Milestone Recognition from the Stephen Lewis Foundation
Grassroot Grannies Update – What have we been up to?
Our annual book exchange event under the new name Books, Crafts and Coffee took place in the St. Isidore Parish Hall on Friday morning, October 25. Under the capable direction of our chair Ute Webb the morning was a huge social success bringing many old and new friends together to find books, purchase crafts made by the Grannies and sample delicious home-made baked good with their coffee in our bright and cozy cafe area. It was a great way for the Grannies to interact with their many supporters and at the same time to bring in $4000 for the African grandmothers.
As an aside: The Grandmothers Campaign through its cross Canada activities is responsible for raising about 20% of the SLF's annual revenue. Truly something to be proud of! See poster below.
SLF Update
A new initiative was started nationally called the Clothesline Campaign to raise awareness about the Grandmothers Campaign. Granny groups across Canada were encouraged to create their own clothesline installations which represented the support that grandmothers provide to their families and communities and which symbolized the connecting link between Canadian and African grandmothers. One such event was held here in Ottawa called the Bridge Crossing Event at the Chief William Commanda Bridge on Sept. 8 which tied in with Grandparents Day, a national event highlighted by the Clothesline Campaign. The rallying cry for the day was “ We will not rest until they can rest”.
Ottawa-Gatineau Regional Grandmothers Network (O-GRGN) Update
This network is composed of several granny groups throughout our region who come together when possible to learn, grow and support each other. This year Grannyfest was held in Ottawa on June 5 with key people from the SLF in attendance. There were workshops to choose from and a talk on Healthy Aging. In this talk three pillars for active healthy aging were discussed namely, financial security, physical security and purposeful participation. The theme of the gathering was ' Harambee' a Kenyan word for 'all pull together'.
An African proverb from the day which stuck with me was: “If you want to go first, go alone; if you want to go far, go together”.
In closing we wish you a Merry Christmas and happy holiday season. Lastly, we appreciate your ongoing interest and support in our activities to help African grandmothers and their families.
Thank you.
Judy Hansen , Karen Whiteside
Co-Chairs- Grassroot Grannies
Hello friends,
Another busy year is coming to a close and we hope the last few months have been filled with memorable and rewarding happenings in your lives At this time we invite you to read our fall newsletter which includes a report on our two major fundraising activities of the past few months.
Our annual Ride to Turn the Tide took place on Sept. 4 and 5. Thirty-one Grassroot Grannies and “grand others” cycled through the countryside doing various distances ranging from 45 to 114 kilometres a day and is so doing reached the amazing goal of $93,000 for the Stephen Lewis Foundation . The funds raised will go to help African grandmothers and their grandchildren in sub-Saharan Africa. Throughout our 2-day ride we were fed and entertained by the Lanark County Grannies and the former Mississippi Grannies. It was a wonderful coming together of different groups all intent on helping our African counterparts.
Martha Bohm, Deanne Ryan, Judy Simser and Sheila Brady.
Beautiful handmade Christmas trees.
Guest enjoying coffee and goodies.
Future Directions
The Grassroot Grannies took a morning in November to brainstorm what we as a group should focus on in the future. We drew inspiration from what was discussed. In the end we decided to keep our three major fundraising events a year but streamline them and reach out to more volunteers to give us a hand. Having co-chairs run the events is a step in the new direction. Fundraising is a constant but in the end we concluded that friendship, education and community outreach will be our cornerstones.
Grassroot Grannies after the future directions discussion.
