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August 5, 2021

Move-a-thon Meet Up & Ravine Walk

One more (easy & fun) way to move for mentoring

Join us Sunday August 22 @ 2-4pm for a leisurely walk through the beautiful Rosedale ravine trail to Evergreen Brick Works. Where we’ll rest and enjoy some treats!

Meet us at Yonge-Bloor TTC street-level (outside of HBC Hudson Bay). Look for your hosts Darrel & Dario. We’ll be leaving at 2:15pm sharp.

Bonus! Bring along family, friends, your mentor or mentee! Even if they’ve not joined the YAY Move-a-thon yet.

They don’t need to do the full #YAY400challenge – they simply download our Free Fitness Challenge app and can do this as a one-off activity or keep moving and finish off summer with us.

Facebook Event RSVP is not required – but will give us an idea of how many are coming and plan treats! Use it’s easy share feature to invite others.

Sunday August 22 @ 2pm-4pm

June 25, 2021

Fun Ways to Move for Mentoring During COVID Reopening Phase

Fun Activities to do in Toronto, GTA and York Regions

We’re emerging from the COVID-19 crisis and that means more things to do, more ways to start to enjoy summer, and most importantly – more ways to move for mentoring.

We rounded up some ideas for things you can do to get outside and move as part of our YAY Move-a-thon. Any way you choose to move will help over 400 kids on our waitlist to be matched with a mentor.

1) Go Floating

Ontario has a ton of slow-flowing rivers that are safe & surrounded by some of our province’s best nature. This list rounds up the best tubing spots. Or at least 9 of them!

2) Night SUP Adventure

SUP as in stand up paddle board. Mix up your usual weekend night out and head to the water instead on a stand-up paddleboard through the waterways surrounding the Toronto Island.

3) Explore Nature Parks & Areas

Visit the Toronto Islands. Spending time on the Toronto Islands is one of the best ways to spend a summer day!
Hike the trails at the Scarborough Bluffs for a fantastic view of Lake Ontario!
Tommy Thompson Park This hidden gem park is a perfect for nature lovers. What used to be a man-made trash site has now become known as Toronto’s urban wilderness!
Getting a taste of nature or the wilderness is no problem in one of the biggest
Visit Greater Toronto area parks and conservation areas. There are plenty of opportunities for you to explore and enjoy nature in the GTA area.
Provincial parks and conservation reserves are open for various activities. Discover the unique attributes of each park.
Get a taste of the good old outdoors and walk, run, or bike the Great Lakes Waterfront Trail that goes all around the province!
metropolises in the world. Toronto is filled with hidden trails that wind through parks and wooded areas, past rivers and lakes, and that are home to many flora and fauna to keep you engaged and excited throughout your journey on one of many nature trails on this list.

4) Enjoy Golf

Outdoor recreational amenities like golf courses and driving ranges, soccer and other sports fields, tennis and basketball courts, splash pads, outdoor pools and skate parks are now open, Outdoor limits for social gatherings now up to ten people.

5) Visit the Zoo

Yes! As of June 19th The Toronto Zoo is open to the public. Visit the zoo and walk around to check out the baby animals born over the last few months. Escape the concrete jungle of the city and go to the Toronto Zoo instead. With animals from all over the world from gorillas and beavers, to giraffes and tigers, it’s fun for the whole family!

6) Walk and Smell the Flowers

How’d you like to get a bouquet of flowers…cut by yourself? Then visit some u-pick flower gardens near you.
Lavender Farms is now open. So hit the road to enjoy a calming, meditative walk amongst these purple flowers. You can visit from Late June to Early August, with July being the best!
Visit the Toronto Botanical Gardens for a little escape into nature and spend the day amongst the flowers in the many gorgeous gardens.

7) Farmer’s Markets in York Region are some of the most popular

Newmarket Farmers’ Market 2021Newmarket | 09:00 AM
Village Market at WaldorfThornhill | 08:00 AM
Merlin’s Hollow open houseAurora | 12:00 AM
Stouffville Farmer’s MarketWhitchurch-Stouffville | 09:30 AM
Main Street Markham Farmers’ Market 2021Markham | 09:00 AM
More details here

We’re moving with you virtually. No matter how you move – get out there and enjoy outside!

June 12, 2021

Tools & Tips: How to Show Support for YAY Move-A-Thon 2021

Whether you're a Mover, Donor or a (cheerleader) Supporter. We've made it easier for you.

We rounded up some tools to help you get the word out for YAY Move-a-Thon 2021.

Download social media banners from our library (we made them in two sizes for you), crafted tweets and post messages packed with hashtags, there are tips on how to film videos for social, and we even drafted a message for fundraising pages.

Banner Library
Social Messages
Video Tips. and More!

We need your help to make sure everyone knows they can have fun and fundraise with us all-summer long! As lockdown is loosening up lets invite them all to get out there and move for mentoring!

Why? Because every $1 you help raise helps move 400 kids off our waitlist.

Checkout the nifty collection we made for you.

By yay-shelley
In Tips

June 2, 2021

Video Filming Tips for Social Media

Ready to share with the world that you’re moving for mentoring? Here’s some video tips to help you do that.

For most Social Media – Videos should be filmed LANDSCAPE: sideways/horizontal (not vertical) on your smart phone. Make sure the quality is clear with no background noise.

The exception is Instagram Stories, which should be filmed VERTICAL: the way you normally hold your phone.

Publish your video on your social channels and tag #400YAYChallenge to be featured on ours, and you can also email it to us directly at moveathon@yay.org!

Tip: if you post on Facebook publish as “public” so we can share it too!

May 17, 2021

YAY Move-a-thon 2021 Sponsorship

Ready to sponsor and make an impact that lasts a lifetime?

We’re accepting new sponsors for our 2021 Move-a-thon in support of peer mentoring.

Every $1 invested in mentoring high-risk youth returns $23 to society.

Bonus! Corporate Team Building. Not only can you help our youth, but you can also engage in-office and remote employees in activities that encourage health and fitness fun as they move together (virtually) toward their fund-raising goal. Free Registrations for all your employees and their family.

Download our sponsorship kit or email ecarlson@yay.org

2021 Move-a-Thon Sponsorship Kit

October 5, 2020

Youth Assisting Youth announces 2020 Move-a-thon fundraising total

Thank you!

Youth Assisting Youth along with presenting sponsor McCarthy Tétrault, are extremely proud to announce the results and impact of the 2020 YAY Move-a-thon Fundraiser. “Thanks” for all of the amazing ways that you moved for mentoring!

Your support was instrumental in sustaining our life-changing mentoring program during the pandemic, helping at-risk kids to stay connected from a distance, build resiliency and succeed in the face of adversity.

How much did you help raise?

With support from 65 participants, 11 teams, 6 sponsors and hundreds of donors, we raised more than $38,000 for our youth mentoring program. While those same 65 participants and 11 teams, ran, walked, swam, skated, danced, cartwheeled, hula-hooped and moved for a total 13,404 Kilometers, leading to the donation of 6 laptops to 6 kids by reBOOT Canada ($11,500 value).

This is absolutely amazing, and again we thank you!

Mentoring matters

Mentoring is proven to have a significant effect on youth and their ability to succeed, and 98% of the youth that we’ve worked since 1976 have gone on to graduate from high school. Research also shows that youth who have a mentor are 55% less likely to skip school; 55% more likely to enroll in college; 46% less likely to start using drugs; and 81% more likely to be engaged in extracurricular activities (www.mentoring.org). Furthermore, adults who had a mentor in their youth earn $315,000 more income in their lifetime, and every $1 invested in youth mentoring for high-risk youth returns $23 to society (Mentoring Effect on Health 2016).

Big shout out to all our 2020 sponsors

Presenting Sponsor – McCarthy Tétrault; Technology Sponsor – ReBOOT Canada; Gold Sponsor – BLG Borden Ladner Gervais; Silver Sponsor – Torys LLP; Silver Sponsor – Shell Canada; Silver Sponsor – Brian Elder Be-At-Home.com; Special Thanks to – NKPR Inc. and Mediatonic Digital.

The support and generosity of our sponsors helped to make this event a success, while also helping us to sustain our life-changing programs during the COVID-19 pandemic. We thank them for their committed support of our YAY Move-a-Thon and our 1:1 Youth Mentoring Program.

We had fun moving with you

On behalf of everyone at Youth Assisting Youth, staff, volunteers, mentors, mentees and families, as well as our event sponsors, we would like to thank everyone involved for their tremendous support of this important initiative. You truly made this inaugural event special, and your support is having a real, life-changing impact on the lives of youth across Toronto! Thank You!

If you want to keep supporting our youth consider doing a monthly donation here.

Are you doing something special at your work, community or school? Talk to us about how you can easily add-on fundraising for youth mentoring! Email us at mail@yay.org

July 31, 2020

Meet Our Mentoring Movers!

A few more weeks are left to ride, walk, run and move at a safe distance in support of youth mentoring.

And you’ve already matched 3 laptops to kids in need and raised just over $24,000 of our $50,000 goal. Yay!

We need our current and new movers to keep moving toward their goals because every time the group unlocks a #YAY400challenge milestone ReBOOT Canada matches one of our youth with a laptop!

Your fundraising is greatly needed so that we can focus on connecting youth and mentors in meaningful, life-changing relationships – offline and online.

July 30, 2020

Quick Tips to Stay Hydrated While You Move!

As we power through the #YAY400challenge, or just go about our daily lives, there’s one thing we can’t forget – water!

Over 60% of our bodies are made up of water, but it’s still all too easy for us to lose track of just how much we have to be drinking every day. Experts recommend the 8-by-8 rule – eight 8-ounce glasses of water – per day for optimal results, but when you add in lots of movement those numbers likely need to go up. Here are a few tips to keep your daily intake up!

July 23, 2020

Artist Stevvan Anderson donating partial proceeds of paintings to Youth Assisting Youth

50% of the sales of Stevvan paintings will support at-risk and newcomer youth mentoring in Greater Toronto Area and York Region.

We are proud to present our collaboration with Stevvan Anderson, an artist who is offering a unique contribution to Youth Assisting Youth’s #YAY400challenge for our YAY Move-a-thon!

Now you have one more way you can help support youth mentoring by purchasing on of Stevvan’s creations at S TEVVAN.COM

Discover his richly-hued, diverse body of work. Each purchase will directly contribute to helping 400 youth in need be matched with a meaningful mentor!

July 16, 2020

No More Excuses, Start Moving for Mentoring

What is your favourite excuse to not exercise?

Do you find yourself saying you don’t have the time, you’re too tired or not motivated enough? Do you feel that there is not enough room for physical activity in your life? Here are solutions to all the good excuses for sitting on the couch!

I’m running out of time.

Active people are not necessarily those who have the most free time. It is above all a question of priorities and interests. Being active is even part of the way to give ourselves energy to more effectively accomplish all of our other activities. During busier times, allow yourself to do a little less or split your time into a few blocks. Example, 1 hour into two blocks of 30 minutes.

It does not interest me.

Perhaps you think you have to suffer for it to be worth it. Think again! All activities are good for health. Perhaps you are already doing more than you think.

By yay-shelley
In Move Inspo