Monday, February 13, 2012

Rock for Charity!

Rock for Charity is "friend-raising" at its finest! Planned and organized by volunteers, this charity rock show included a raffle and live bands! Raising $1,407, this amount was doubled by an anonymous donor!!!
Please read the article below for more details:

Rock for Charity Big Success
Friend Doubles Funds at Fundraiser
BY LEVIANA COCCIA
Despite the snowy weather last Thursday, it was a hot night at the El Mocambo, which was Rockin' for Charity in support of Eating Disorders of York Region. 
Rock for Charity at the El Mo was a benefit concert featuring local bands raising money to assist the registered non-profit organization to provide care for families affected by eating disorders as well as free support programs. 
DJ XITMINT & DJ LOVE kicked off the party with pump-up music, which encouraged raffle ticket sales and sent listeners to the dance floor. Highway Lights and Richmond Hill’s own littleSUNDAY kept people on the dance floor. 
Last, but certainly not least, was Stouffville band Four Nines Fine who rocked the El Mo’s old, graffiti walls until the early morning. 
Eating Disorders of York Region raffled off a pair of Toronto Maple Leaf tickets, an iTunes gift card and a Tim Horton’s gift card, with winners claiming their prizes just before midnight. 
After covering costs and raffle prizes, $1,407 was raised for the agency. 
However, the day Rock for Charity was held, a new friend and supporter promised she would match whatever sum was raised, so in total, the organization raised $2,814. 
Janice Morgante, executive director of Eating Disorders of York Region, says the organization hopes to build on the idea behind “friend-raising” to “encompass a concept of A Circle of Friends”. 
A Circle of Friends would see an individual and a circle of his or her own friends supporting the organization and eating disorder awareness. 
“For instance, if one person supports us with… a sustaining gift of $10 per month online and encourages friends to do like-wise, the level of support is increased to $60 per month,” Ms. Morgante said. 
Eating Disorders continues to offer free group support programs as well as raising awareness about eating disorders, something Ms. Morgante says is possible “if many friends support [the organization] with a small amount and encourage their friends to do likewise…” 
If you would like to donate or get more information, visit www.edoyr.com, or follow the organization on Twitter @EDOYR 
Leviana Coccia is a Richmond Hill media student at the University of Guelph-Humber. JANUARY 26, 2012---- THE LIBERAL ---- RICHMOND HILL AND THORNHILL

Natalia Tvoronovitch and Leviana Coccia, the organizers,
Tara Snow, EDOYR placement student, and Janice Morgante,
Executive Director at EDOYR pose with the big cheque!

Wednesday, February 8, 2012

Eating Disorders Awareness Week!

Eating Disorders of York Region is presenting two events for EDAW! Join us for these informative presentations!
Help & Hope
Join Eating Disorders of York Region (EDOYR) at our information and awareness sessions presented by
Tiffany Rush-Wilson, PhD. Psychologist/Counselor and Jane E. Alway, M.A. Psychotherapist

Thursday, February 9th, 2012 – 7:00 to 8:30 p.m.
Richmond Hill Public Library
1 Atkinson Street, Richmond Hill, L4C 0H5

Friday, February 10th, 2012 - 7:00 to 8:30 p.m.
Aurora Public Library
15145 Yonge Street, Aurora, L4G 1M1

A Question and Answer Period will follow the Presentations

Food sustains us. Our relationship with food can, however, be quite complex. Eating behaviors can be affected by many factors throughout the life cycle. Sometimes our relationship with food can result in disordered eating – we may eat more or less than our bodies need for healthy functioning or we may not feel at peace with what we eat or the way in which we eat. If you think that you, or someone you care about, may be struggling with eating and food, this presentation is designed to help you find the answers and the support that you need. Topics covered will include:
- Identification of Eating Disorders
- Risk factors associated with the development of Eating Disorders
- Demystifying disordered eating
- Myths connected with Eating Disorders
- How to support or help someone who may have an Eating Disorder
- How to find help if you believe you eat in a disordered way
- Taking the steps towards freedom and a healthy relationship with food

Please join us for a presentation that is designed to be a safe and non-judgmental forum for those seeking either information or help. This presentation is open to all persons with an interest in the subject of Eating Disorders. Registration for the event is not required; the event is free of charge or, if you choose, you may provide a donation to Eating Disorders of York Region.

For further information, visit www.edoyr.com or contact EDOYR at info@edoyr.com or by phone (905) 886-6632.

These events are free of charge. No registration is necessary.

Unattainable Beauty Standards by Nisha Thomas

What happens when the level of beauty becomes so unattainable that not even a human can fit into the criteria?
“H&M has been sticking real models’ heads on computer generated bodies”, as stated in the Huffington Post on December 5, 2011.
That’s what happens.
In a world where women and girls are constantly being told they are not good enough, it is no surprise that everyone finds themselves landing short. Airbrushing was just the beginning, which has already gotten extremely out of hand. It is absolutely unrealistic for women to even imagine that it is physically possible for their head to be wider than their hips. Those are the kind of images that are circulating and presenting today’s societal standard.
What did H&M have to say?
When the use of fake bodies began to circulate, H&M came to their defence saying that this action was taken “to show off their clothes”! Show off clothes that will not look like that on the average consumer? If the tactic was to be realistic, why not have had a real person model the clothing so consumers have an idea of what the clothes will actually look like on them? The image below is computer generated body with real models’ heads placed on it.



“Even the models we see in magazines wish they could look like their own images.”
― Cheri K. Erdman.
The illusion of the “perfect, flawless body” is advancing to even greater extremes now. Check out this video about Photoshop (I promise, it is three minutes that you will not regret!): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S_vVUIYOmJM
What are the extreme lengths that corporations and the media are willing to go to? Not only women, but everyone, needs to take back the definition of beauty. The Norweigan Broadcasting Corporation, who were the ones that initially discovered this, emphasize that “this illustrates very well the sky-high aesthetic demands placed on the female body”. It is difficult to simply ignore the constant bombardment of these images, but one of the driving forces comes from confidence in oneself and one’s own body.
“Healthy emotions come in all sizes. Healthy minds come in all sizes. And healthy bodies come in all sizes.”
Cheri K. Erdman

Circle of Friends by Nisha Thomas

The idea of friend is one that presents comfort to all of us. Eating Disorders of York Region (EDOYR) is always grateful for the support of their friends. The “Friend Raising” campaign is established on the premise that the kindness of our friends helps to raise awareness and funds necessary to administer support. When friends come together to embark on any given initiative, the encouragement and support they provide one another is inexplicable. We see this first hand at many of the fundraising events hosted not only by Eating Disorders of York Region, but by the friends we have gained over the years. We are hoping to take this idea one step further! With the help of even just one friend, EDOYR is able to make great strides. If that one friend were to encourage their circle of friends, not only would this increase awareness around Eating Disorders but lessen the stigma as well. Everyone knows someone who in some way, shape or form, is affected by an Eating Disorder. We need to come together, to empower one another and add that human touch to relationships that is often left behind.



A circle of friends could engage with EDOYR in multiple ways. For example, a group of friends could arrange a movie night within the local community and raise money through games and a small admission fee. These proceeds could all in turn, directly go towards Eating Disorders of York Region! An alternative idea is if one person supports us with an ongoing gift of $10.00 a month and encourages four of their friends to do so as well, this turns into a monthly contribution of $50.00 just from your circle of friends! The sustainability of our free support programs depends on community members like you. Join us! Together, let us fight the stigma, raise awareness, and share the experience with a group of people who believe in the cause!

“Once you choose hope, anything is possible”
-Christopher Reeve