2019 Impact Report

AUSOME IS...
courage.
connection.
Bella, a teen with autism, knew that she would be a
valuable asset to Ausome as a summer volunteer.
She felt that she would understand and relate to
Ausome athletes more than others because she has
autism. While many new volunteers are nervous, Bella
had to step far outside of her comfort zone, switching
up her own routines and schedules. She took the time
to learn about each athlete’s interests, and supported
them through sports like soccer, rugby and baseball.
While some days were more challenging than others,
she flourished over the summer and noted that her
confidence had grown.
Bella returned to school in September with bigger
courage muscles — sitting with peers at lunch, chatting
in class with friends and trying new activities. Through
her volunteer experience at Ausome, she proved to
herself that she can take on the world, make new
friends and be a leader in the community.
Kieran has been an Ausome athlete for two years.
This fall, in the Ausome Fitness program which pairs
Nepean High School leadership students with our
older Ausome athletes, Kieran was partnered with
volunteers Arvin and Oscar. Over 8 weeks, their bond
grew. Arvin and Oscar took their time getting to know
Kieran. They greeted each other with big smiles, high
fives and hugs. They encouraged him through every
push up, squat and race.
Though Kieran had challenging days at school,
he finished on a high on his Ausome Fitness days.
They were truly three young men who brought out
the best in each other!
2 AUSOME OTTAWA

PARTICIPANTS ENJOYING BALLOON ART,
TROT OR TREAT 2019
community.
Ausome hosted its first annual Trot or Treat
fundraiser in October. Ausome families, volunteers,
staff and friends dressed in costumes to trick–or–treat
around the Terry Fox Athletic Facility track.
BELLA,
AUSOME VOLUNTEER
Our community crafted, navigated interesting
obstacles, and wondered at balloon animal creations,
among other fun and games. It was wonderful to see
Ausome athletes, family and friends cheering each
other on as they made their way around the track.
The Ausome family continues to grow each year,
as the joys of meaningful inclusion take root in
our community.
IMPACT REPORT 2019 3

AUSOME PEOPLE
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AND CHAIR, BOARD
OF DIRECTORS MESSAGE
2019 marked another successful year of growth and maturation for Ausome.
We increased our membership by half, welcomed new staff and board
members, established many new partnerships and continued to work for
meaningful inclusion for all individuals with autism and their families.
This year, we are proud of the increased community support by way of growth
in grant funding, our monthly giving program, GameChangers, and the number
of fundraisers in support of Ausome happening in the community.
1100 +
HOURS OF
TRAINING
PROVIDED
Another highlight of 2019 was a new family-oriented signature event, Trot or
Treat for Ausome. Our hearts swelled as we saw our community come together
for a morning of physically active fun in a safe and inclusive way. We plan to
do more of this in 2020 and beyond.
In 2019 we saw an evolution of the Board of Directors to support the growth
of the organization, while anticipating its future needs. Late in the year, we
received an overwhelming response to a call for new Board members,
demonstrating the awareness and respect that Ausome has developed in
our region. Subsequently, we started 2020 with a more diverse and
committed group of leaders at our helm.
The future looks even brighter for Ausome in 2020.
Yours in sport,
Liisa Vexler,
Executive Director
Nicole Dauz,
Chair, Board of Directors
>5000
CHILD HOURS OF
SUPPORTED SPORT
& RECREATION
IN 2019
4 AUSOME OTTAWA

530
PROGRAM
SPACES
IN 2019
663
AUSOME
TRAINEES
TO DATE
92%
BUDGET INCREASE
IN 2019
7300 +
VOLUNTEER
HOURS
IN 2019
2.5x
INCREASE IN
PROGRAM SPACES
OVER LAST YEAR
>500
INDIVIDUAL
VOLUNTEERS

BELLA,
AUSOME VOLUNTEER
THINGS WE DO
sports + recreation
programs
Athletes with autism participate with
their peers in soccer, basketball,
gymnastics, water polo, cross-country
skiing, paddling, yoga, ultimate,
baseball, running and more. Sport–
specific coaches guide children along
the long-term athlete development
continuum working to create healthy
habits that will keep them active for life.
Our earliest learners work primarily on
physical literacy and social aspects of
gameplay, while our most advanced
learners refine skills and develop
strategy and field and court position.
physical literacy
Children with autism often need to be
explicitly taught physical literacy skills
in order to actively engage in all kinds
of settings. We continue to partner
with Algonquin College’s Occupational
& Physiotherapy Assistant program.
Ausome staff provide classroom training
and on-the-job placement hours
through Ausome’s Fine Motor Skills,
Fundamental Movement and Sensory
Motor Movement programs.
training +
education
In 2019, we saw an increase in incoming
requests for training to support
individuals with autism from a diverse
group of organizations. In addition,
we participated in space planning
consultations for public, non-profit and
private businesses. We expect the demand
for training and consultation to increase
exponentially as organizations of all kinds
begin to recognize the economic and social
value of being inclusive to neurodiverse
individuals and their families.
PHOTOS (L to R): AN AUSOME YOGA PROGRAM; AN AUSOME GET MOVING PROGRAM; AUSOME TRAINING FOR RA CENTRE SUMMER CAMP STAFF
6 AUSOME OTTAWA

FINANCIALS
Ausome continued to grow at a rapid pace, encouraging the community
to support the development of physical literacy and healthy active lifestyles
for children with autism and their families. The annual budget increased
by 92% from 2018 to 2019 to match the increase in number of children
and families served.
TREASURER’S REPORT
Fiscal 2019 was a successful year for Ausome.
Growing awareness led to increased financial
support from our community of individuals
and organizations.
SOURCES
OF REVENUE:
1 %
Membership
4 %
Corporate
Donations
12 %
Other
Charities
REVENUE
$
464, 727
Our main goals for our fourth year were to expand
the number of individuals and families we serve,
diversify and build upon our revenue sources,
build a reserve, and invest in infrastructure to
build organizational capacity and sustainability
as we move forward.
Going into our fifth year, we plan to continue to
invest in infrastructure so that we can continue to
break down barriers for children well into the future,
both through our own programming and through
the training we provide to the larger community.
8 %
Individual
Donors
8 %
Events
10 %
Training &
Camp Fees
57 %
Grants
DISTRUBUTION
OF EXPENSES:
EXPENSES
$
431, 884
Trina Watters, CPA, CA
Treasurer
91.5 %
Programming
& Fundraising
8.5 %
Core Operating
Costs
IMPACT REPORT 2019 7

AUSOME DONORS
Thank you to the hundreds of donors whose
PLATINUM CIRCLE $50,000 +
MLSE Foundation
OSEG Foundation
Ontario Trillium Foundation
DIAMOND CIRCLE $25,000 +
Community Foundation of Ottawa
Goodlife Kids Foundation
GameChangers is a dedicated, determined
group of monthly givers on a mission to
break down barriers and give every child
a chance to play. They are people giving
whatever they can to prove that as a team,
we are unstoppable.
Albert Family
Lisa Kimmel
Amy Bienkowski
Madelyn Morgan
Anne Rahming–Jovanovic Nicole Dauz
David Humber
Nisrine Samhat
Firth–Vexler Family Robert Chalmers
Jeff Greenberg
Shannon Glenn
8 AUSOME OTTAWA
JEFF GREENBERG,
GAME CHANGER:
Last summer as I was heading towards the gym at
the RA Centre I noticed some signs for Ausome.
I also noticed a counsellor with a child who was
extremely stressed and the gentle way in which
that counsellor worked with this child so impressed
me. I then discovered that it was Ausome’s summer
program that I was observing and that it was for
children on the autism spectrum.
I went home and looked up Ausome on the web and
immediately felt that this was something that, while
I couldn’t contribute to as a hands-on volunteer, I
certainly could help financially. I set up a monthly
payment plan and hope to keep that going for the
foreseeable future.
GOLD CIRCLE $10,000 +
Minto Foundation Inc.
Canadian Tire Jumpstart Charities
ELS for Autism Canada
Unity for Autism
The MATT Foundation
Francoise & Ron Vexler
SILVER CIRCLE $5,000–$9,999
Dagher & Saadeh Family
Modern Niagara Ottawa Inc.
Bushtukah
Firth–Vexler Family
Dynes Sports Management
Charity Golf Tournament
BRONZE CIRCLE $2,500–$4,999
Aspire Academy
3 on 3 in the 613 Basketball Tournament
Quickie Community Foundation
Portia Learning Centre
Will Beaugé – Blue Panda Realty
Frank Ryan Catholic School
Innovapost
United Way
Enterprise Holdings Foundation
CHAMPIONS $1,500–$2,499
ABA Connections
Scotiabank

gifts of all sizes make Ausome possible.
2019 BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Staterra
Rafeek Ebeid
RBC Foundation
Indigo Books and Music Inc.
Hydro Ottawa
WCPP (OJCF)
Golden Palace
SUPPORTERS $1,000 - $1,499
Excel HR
Hub Ottawa
Ottawa Shooting Stars Basketball Club
Carman Joynt & Gail Ryan Joynt
Manoj Hippola
Deborah & Fred Dings
Lisa Kimmel
Kanata Academy Private School
Kevin Caputo
The Benevity Community Impact Fund
Humber Family
Nisrine Samhat
Nicole & Mike Dauz
Madelyn Morgan
Broadway Across Canada
FRIENDS $500 - $999
Elmdale Parent Council
Esme Whitaker
Ottawa Sports Award
The Twin Team — Royal LePage Realty
Lions Club of Gloucester
Navan Lions Club
Gagne Family
Michelle Sachs
King & Colin Family
Ilia Fabbri, Realtor
Andrea Richardson
DNA Genotek
Shinder Family
Albert Family
Frey Family
Matthew Silver
Tash Goh
Julie Caissie
Rob & Jen Chalmers
Fairwinds Dental
Monarch House
Viers Family
Bienkowski Family
Mattamy Homes
Shannon & Martin Smith
Frederick Family
Katherine Kacew
Lois & Michael Fingerhut
Allan Matte
Ashbury College
Kiwanis Club of Ottawa
COMMUNITY PARTNERS
Algonquin College
Aline Moreno
Ben Madore
Blue Bench Studios
CHEO
City of Ottawa
For Pivot’s Sake
Gavin Thompson
GlowSport Ottawa
Jake’s House
Jesse Auguste
KatMat Media Inc.
Lafleur Ski Rentals
Martin Smith
Melody Maloney Photographer
Nepean Corona School of Gymnastics
OCR Academy
Ottawa River Canoe Club
Ottawa Titans Water Polo Club
RA Centre
Scot Symes
Shawn Waggott
Soloway Jewish Community Centre
Stoneface Dolly’s
The Miracle League of Ottawa
University of Ottawa Rugby Team
Katherine Kacew
Nicole Dauz
Trina Watters
Julie McIsaac
Tori Hammond
Anne Jovanovic
Shana Levin
Adora Quah
Susan Ternan
AUSOME STAFF
Liisa Vexler
Anna Whyte
Alix Alldridge
Julia Albert
Allison Sadowski
Rebecca Kaell
Anya Pelot
Rachelle Jessome
Alannah Webber
Kayla Garvey
Alyssa Gaerke
C.C.Van Aert
Elena Arambasic
George Liu
Sarah Parks
Vanessa Levy
Marisa Meleca
Megan Hayward
Brad Fitchett
Cameron Walsh
Co–Chair
Co–Chair
Treasurer
Secretary
Director
Director
Director
Director
Director
Executive Director
Director, Operations + Training
Director, Programs
Director, Communications
Director, Community Engagement
and Business Development
Volunteer Manager
Ausome Coordinator
Program Supervisor
Senior Support Staff
Senior Support Staff
Senior Support Staff
Program Support
Program Support
Program Support
Program Support
Program Support
March Break Staff
March Break Staff
March Break Staff
Camp Staff
IMPACT REPORT 2019 9