Thanks to the effort of the hard working Board and volunteers, the Open Arms Children’s Foundation had a wonderful year in which we raised just over $26,700. This was raised predominately through donations, and the holiday reunion party held in December.

OACF ran the following events in 2017:
1) The Sixth annual Skating Party was held on Sunday March 6 hosted by Kathy Soden and Jean Desgagne at the Toronto Cricket Club. Over 40 skaters joined in for the skating, snacks and small silent auction. Over $400 was raised.

2) OACF took over responsibility for the Children’s Holiday Party from the Open Arms to International Adoption Agency this year. But instead of a children’s party, OACF hosted a Reunion Party on December 2nd at Rosedale United Church, and it was a huge success! Over 240 people attended, OACF raised approximately $10,000, and the event attracted people that do not normally attend OACF events.

The event was also a tribute to Deborah Maw and her work and dedication to both the Open Arms adoption agency and the Foundation

The entire event was organized by the small but mighty volunteer team of:

• Patty Zuver
• Susan Abbey
• Deborah Maw
• Laura Isidean
• Kathy Soden
• MaryAnn Crichton
• Catherine Sim
• Murray Rice
• Shirley LaRouche
• Lisette Gélinas
• Plus spouses and family of every team member, we couldn’t have done this without you!!
• And the many volunteers who helped out the night of the event

OACF also sends out regular email communications to our subscribers. A big thanks to Laura Isidean who creates and distributes all of our newsletters. If you would like to sign up, please email Deborah at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

In 2017, OACF made the following disbursements:

Fu Hui Education Foundation

OACF donated $10,000 to help cover the cost for 11 students to attend vocational school.
TOTAL DISBURSEMENT TO FU HUI EDUCATION FOUNDATION IN 2017 = $10,000

SOS Children’s Villages

OACF donated $6,350 to continue covering medical expenses for the SOS Village in Chengdu. This is the fifth year in a row that OACF has been able to help the orphans cover medical expenses.
TOTAL DISBURSEMENTS TO SOS CHILDREN’S VILLAGES IN 2017 = $6,350

GRAND TOTAL = $16,350

There are two major issues that will impact OACF in the coming year. One, the Open Arms to International Adoption Agency shut down operations in 2017. Therefore there will no longer be new families to help support the Foundation. And secondly, although OACF has a core group of dedicated and generous donors, support and engagement at OACF events from existing families has been declining.

After the success of the Reunion Party in December, the Board will survey Open Arms families and donors in 2018 to find out the importance of OACF to them and what role OACF should have moving forward.

A heartfelt thank you to the serving Board of the Foundation in 2017:
• President – Lisette Gélinas
• Vice-President – Deborah Maw
• Treasurer – Laura Isidean
• Secretary – Murray Rice
• Board Members –Mary Ann Crichton, Julia Ouellette, Kathy Soden, and Angus Armstrong (resigned June 2017)

And a big thanks to our many supporters and volunteers! OACF could not exist without you and we could not continue to help orphans in China with their education and medical needs without your generous support. Unfortunately their need is still very real.

My very best regards,

Lisette Gélinas, President
Open Arms Children’s Foundation