Thanks to the generosity of some of Bay Street’s biggest financial players, one of Toronto’s most important facilities for at risk women and infants remains open, Nazareth House said Monday.

The TMX Group, CIBC Children’s Foundation, Bay Street Children’s Foundation, TD Securities and the TD Securities Underwriting Hope Fund have donated $100,000 to Nazareth House, a non-profit home for at risk women and infants. This is in addition to ongoing funding provided by the RBC Foundation since 2002.

For the past 24 years, Nazareth House has provided safe, affordable and healthy housing to over 1,000 women and 125 infants. It serves women fleeing domestic abuse, or recovering from mental health and substance abuse issues.

“The recession has squeezed us from both sides. Our funding and donations are down while demand for our services has gone up,” said Sister June Dwyer, executive Director of Nazareth House

“Thanks to the generous spirit of the men and women on Bay Street, these women and their children will continue to have a safe place to stay and not be subjected to abusive relationships, drugs or the street,” Dwyer added.

“The work of Nazareth House is unique, urgent, necessary and far from over,” said James Beattie, head of institutional trading at CIBC.

“It provides long term care and counselling to help women learn to live independently, rejoin the workforce, and be caring mothers to their infants.”

One of the home’s key private fundraising sources is “Fight for Independence,” an annual charity event that sees bankers step into the boxing ring to compete against one another. The sixth annual Fight for Independence will be held September 24 at the Steam Whistle Brewery in Toronto.

IE