Yorktown Family Services is governed by a volunteer Boards of Directors whose dedication, skills, leadership and resources set the direction for the agency and provide the capacity to ensure that Yorktown remains an effective, efficient and relevant resource to communities. The Dan Goldberg Memorial Award is presented to a Board Member who has provided outstanding voluntary community service to Yorktown Family Services and the members of our communities.
Joe Santos – Yorktown’s Cause Marketing Partner
October 30, 2019
Nidhi’s Story
November 20, 2019Scarlett Swain, President of Yorktown Family Services’ Board of Directors, has been a board member for over nine years. In 2011, Sarah Smith, Yorktown’s board president at the time, and Scarlett’s long-time friend, invited Scarlett to Yorktown’s most important fundraising event, the annual Tribute Dinner. Scarlett decided to accompany Sarah to the event and was immediately captivated by the Yorktown staff she met, including, Karen Engel, Yorktown’s founder, and Executive Director at the time, Fatima Valentim, Director of Violence Against Women Services, and Suzette Arruda-Santos, then the Director of Service, and, now, Yorktown’s Executive Director. “It was my first experience seeing Yorktown close up. There was a huge turn-out for the event and when I saw and heard the messaging about the incredible work Yorktown does, I understood why,” says Scarlett. She feels that this was when the “penny dropped” for her and she recognized how supporting this West Toronto charity made sense, no matter where in Toronto you live. Scarlett joined Yorktown’s Board of Directors and the Development Committee, just a few weeks later.
Looking back at her decision to join Yorktown’s board, Scarlett feels that being a mom was an influencing factor. Her two daughters were very young at the time and Scarlett thought about how important a support network is for children and families. She has high hopes for her daughters’ futures and feels that all children should have access to the supports they need to fulfill their dreams. Scarlett recognized Yorktown as a place where children, youth and families can turn when they are in need. “Yorktown is open and welcoming. Anyone who turns to Yorktown can feel that they have come to the right place. You will be connected to the programs and services that you need to move forward. You are treated with respect,” says Scarlett.
Scarlett has a background in marketing and business and contributes her expertise to ensure that programs and services offered by Yorktown continue to be available to support communities in West Toronto. “All of Yorktown’s board members volunteer their time with the same goal in mind: To ensure that Yorktown is a strong organization that continues to respond effectively to the needs of the community,” says Scarlett. As president of the board, an important focus for Scarlett is ensuring that the welcoming culture of respect, friendliness, and openness that struck her about Yorktown also lives and breathes at the board level.
“This is a creative organization, nimble in figuring out how to navigate problems and be resourceful. I am really proud of that. It takes a lot of diversity on the board to be this way but the value is lost if members don’t feel comfortable to contribute. It is a great potential loss if voices aren’t heard. Many successes come about as a result of an unconventional idea and open mindedness can help the seed of an idea germinate and grow into something big.”
What Scarlett’s colleagues have to say about her…
Scarlett Swain introduced the idea of joining the Dolphin Gaming program which has brought in over $100,000 in proceeds over an 18 month period.