AboutFace

AboutFace Celebrates 25 Years

2010 is a year of celebration for AboutFace! For 25 years, we have aided individuals with a facial disfigurement to experience personal enrichment and growth. Founded in 1985, AboutFace has since grown to be a widely respected organization serving affected individuals at every life stage.

AboutFace is the only Canadian charitable organization that provides emotional, peer and social support, resources and educational programs to individuals with facial disfigurements and their families. We seek to increase public understanding and acceptance of people living with facial differences through public awareness and education.

Year	AboutFace Accomplishments
1985	AboutFace is incorporated as a charity with Revenue Canada Betty Bednar (Mrs. Elisabeth Ross) is 1st Executive Director of AboutFace
1988	1st Corporate Sponsor – Cartier Wines (Vincor Canada) Hotelympiad – 1st Special Event with CHMS Hosted CBC radio interview to launch AboutFace
1989	Published 1st School Program Resource – We all have Different Faces Access to Success – 2nd major event in support of AboutFace
1990	1st Trillium Grant
1991	Opened 1st office – Edward Street Hired full time staff. Opened our 800 Toll Free Hotline – North American Wide. Opened AboutFace USA, Pennsylvania
1993	AboutFace Office moved to Crowns Lane, Toronto
1994	Hosted 1st AboutFace Family Conference, Toronto. Hosted 1st Annual Gala for AboutFace, Toronto
1995	Received Max Bell Foundation Grant - $100,000 for new school program
1996	Anna Pileggi became the 2nd Executive Director of AboutFace. Launched Unwrapping the Package – New School Program. Trained 37 volunteers from across North America on new program. Hosted 1st Family Day with Sick Kids Hospital, Toronto. Launched the AboutFace Web site
1997	AboutFace moved to Edward Street
1999	New Logo is incorporated for AboutFace. 2nd Trillium Grant - $102,000 - Building Bridges in cooperation with the Women’s Health Centre, Women’s College Hospital. 1st Bay Street Hoops – Basketball Fundraiser
2000	Paul Stanley becomes Celebrity Spokesperson for AboutFace
2001	Released Facing Differences School Program – independent unit
2002	Held 1st Annual Golf Classic. Released Building Bridges Guide for Health Care Professionals and Facilitators Manual AboutFace USA moves to Chicago
2003	Hosted 1st Teen Camp, Ontario. Published Jessie’s Blessing – story book for kids about differences and acceptance
2004	Released the Jessie’s Blessing DVD. Received a sponsorship from the Elementary Teachers Federation of Ontario to create the Teacher’s Guide for Jessie’s Blessing. Hosted 1st Wine in the Courtyard, Toronto. AboutFace USA moves to Nevada. AboutFace receives $100,000 donation from Shoppers Drug Mart
2005	Hosted 1st Camp Trailblazers in BC. National Symposium on Bullying – Ontario and BC. Released the Educational version of Jessie’s Blessing – book and DVD at the New Teachers Conference, Oakville. AboutFace Brazil opens
2006	Jessie’s Blessing French book is released
2007	Scotiabank and Genworth Donate $10,000 to establish the AboutFace Scholarship Fund for Youth going to post secondary education. Making Faces book is released – picture book about the treatment journey of cleft lip & palate child. Hosted 1st Global Conference on Facial Differences: Inspiration 2007. AboutFace USA is dissolved
2008	AboutFace awards 1st Student Scholarship. Hosted 2 new camps – Newfoundland and Nova Scotia. 1st Leap of Faith – Skydiving event
2009	Released Facing It Together – book and DVD for new parents. Hosted new camp in Manitoba – Now have 5 camps across Canada. Received the Special Friend of Canadian Dentistry Award – CDA. 3rd Trillium Grant – automating volunteer development and training