It was the best way to welcome summer! A fabulous backyard party with the Barenaked Ladies, Kim Mitchell, Melanie Doane and Blackie and the Rodeo Kings performing… all to raise over $200,000 for Serve!

Serve!’s annual fundraiser Barenaked In Rosedale took place on June 21 in large and elegant backyard in Rosedale and was the best event yet. The event was attended by over 450 people and exceeded all expectations by raising over $200,000 for Serve!’s work.

Barenaked Ladies drummer Tyler Stewart and CTV Canada AM host Seamus O’Regan hosted the evening, which featured sensational entertainment including headliners the Barenaked Ladies, Kim Mitchell, the Melanie Doane trio and Blackie and the Rodeo Kings. George Stroumboulopoulos, host of CBC’s The Hour spoke as did former Serve! participant Julie Shilhan who told a moving story of how Serve! impacted her life.

The evening also included a raffle and a live and silent auction.

Serve! would like to thank the wonderful musicians, sponsors and volunteers who made Barenaked In Rosedale a reality. Special thanks to our hosts, John Offutt and Jane Ferguson, and Mark and Maryann Gaskin. Most of all, thanks to everyone who came to made it such a memorable night. We couldn’t have done it without you and we promise it will be even more special next year!

Photos courtesy of Brent Perniac Media

Barenaked in Rosedale 2007 was presented by

and was hosted by

A unique program enabling at-risk youth in Toronto to learn the art of storytelling through film, launched on July 10th through Serve! with the support of a number of notable film industry professionals.

Presenting Our Vision (POV) is a one-of-a-kind seven-week program where vulnerable youth aged 17-19 are given the opportunity to make their own films. They will be mentored by professionals within the film industry through various hands-on workshops, and will produce a two short films that will be screened in September, 2007.

Distinguished producers, directors, actors and writers are participating in POV’s workshops this summer, including Martin Katz (Executive Producer, “Hotel Rwanda” and “Shake Hands with the Devil"), Hubert Davis (Academy Award nominee, “Hardwood"), Don Carmody (Co-Producer, “Chicago"), Fabrizio Filippo & Adam Till (Co- Creators of “Billable Hours"), Semi Chellas (Executive Producer, “The Eleventh Hour"), and Jerry Ciccoritti (Gemini winning Director). They will be sharing their experiences and teaching their craft to the 16 participants of this inaugural program.

POV is a program of Serve!, a youth service organization that provides experiential education to vulnerable urban youth in Toronto, in association with macIDeas and Vitality Media.  The participants work in two teams with two POV team leaders and two Serve! team leaders being led by assistant POV program director Jennifer De Lucia.

“For over a decade Serve! has connected with youth through a variety of means,” says Serve! Program Manager Elaine Munro. “We are pleased to be launching the POV program which will give youth a unique opportunity to tell their stories.”

The concept was originally founded by Marcello Cabezas, Artistic Producer of macIDeas.  “We very much wanted to create a program that gave talented youth the skills to tell their own stories,” explains Cabezas.  “We want to nurture the next generation of filmmakers - POV exists to give those youth that opportunity and also gives us in the film and television community, a unique occasion to give something back.”

Program Director, Jeff Kopas from Vitality Media also shares these sentiments: “We believe that film and storytelling is unique way to connect with youth and have them connect to each other.”

Participants in the POV program are youth interested in pursuing studies and work in film but lack opportunities or resources due to economic barriers and challenges. During the seven week program, youth participants will be engaged in the core features of Serve!’s programming, including personal development, teamwork, and community service projects.

The POV program would not be possible without the assistance of generous sponsors including macIDeas, as well as a pledge from Bassett Media Group.

Matthew Bassett, CEO of Bassett Media Group said, “We are thrilled to be a part of such an exciting and dynamic program. We would just like to thank all of the artists who have taken time to help contribute their knowledge and experiences to this program. My team and I are honored to be a part of such a special group.”

The program will also be supported by a fundraising event during the Toronto International Film Festival.

Last spring, Serve! got in the game with Bay Street Hoops, Toronto’s premier corporate charity basketball tournament. Held on March 29-31, 2007, the event brought together men’s and women’s teams from leading professional firms, financial services firms and corporations for three days of exciting basketball. Serve! was one of the recipients of the proceeds of the tournament, along with Special Olympics Ontario and Variety - A Children’s Charity.

The tournament, which included a party and a silent and online auction, raised a phenomenal $194,000 for the three charities, of which Serve! received $46,800.

Serve! would like to thank Bay Street Hoops for their support of Serve! and for their ongoing commitment to improving the lives of children and youth.

Starting this July, Serve! will be working with youth to make their own movies.

Presenting our Vision (POV) is a new program hosted by Serve! designed to help youth interested in pursuing studies and work in film but lacking opportunities or resources due to economic barriers and challenges. Participants will create their own short films that will be screened at an event in September.

During the seven-and-a-half-week program, youth participants will be engaged in the core features of Serve!’s programming, including personal development, teamwork, and community service projects.

Participants will also receive resources and training from people in the film industry about storytelling and filmmaking techniques and will make their own film. This film will be premiered at a public screening to happen in September 2007.

Are you a graduate of Serve!’s programs and would like some assistance with achieiving your future goals?

Every year, a minimum of four graduates of Serve! programs can receive a bursary of up to $2000. The bursary funds are to be used to benefit the recipients’ long term future, to build skills and to increase personal stability. Bursaries are intended to support graduates in attending full-time post-secondary education, starting a business initative, pursuing vocational training, establishing a career or other uses.

If you are a graduate of Serve!’s programs and are interested in applying, visit our Bursaries page

Deadline for applications is April 27, 2007