Unity in the Community: Toronto

Trying to make a difference, one family at a time.
THIS HOLIDAY SEASON, WHY NOT GIVE THE GIFT THAT GIVES! When you send us a donation, we will send a handmade holiday card (pictured above) to the recipient of your choice.  A caption inside let’s them know that a donation was made on their behalf to Unity in the Community: the Vadasz Family Project.  How will we get your recipient’s mailing information? We will  exchange quick emails when your donation is received.  Click the above photo to get started!

THIS HOLIDAY SEASON, WHY NOT GIVE THE GIFT THAT GIVES!

When you send us a donation, we will send a handmade holiday card (pictured above) to the recipient of your choice.  A caption inside let’s them know that a donation was made on their behalf to Unity in the Community: the Vadasz Family Project. 

How will we get your recipient’s mailing information? We will  exchange quick emails when your donation is received. 

Click the above photo to get started!

We had great success at our last fundraiser - we hope that you can help us this holiday season!

We had great success at our last fundraiser - we hope that you can help us this holiday season!

DONATE HERE!

All proceeds go directly to the Vadasz family’s legal needs.

You might be wondering…..

1) WHY ARE WE TRYING TO HELP?

 Well, we think that this is a completely achievable goal. This is one family’s story but there are hundreds more like them right here in Toronto. We’re trying to shed light on this issue and hopefully get people talking. If we can make a difference with the Vadasz family, who’s to say we can’t help others.

2) WHERE DOES THE MONEY GO?

 All proceeds go directly from our Paypal account into the legal fund for the family. We are not an official charity, there are no hidden expenses - ALL money goes straight to the cause.

3) HOW HAS THE MONEY BEEN SPENT SO FAR?

 The funds we have raised so far have paid for the Humanitarian Appeal and the lawyer’s fees. These are costs that are almost impossible for the family to cover on their own. With your help, we are hoping to raise enough to cover the next step in their struggle to stay in the counry: the PRRA (see below for more info).

What is a PRRA??? (click here )

Thanks to the generous donations raised the night of the fundraiser, the family has been able to get an amazing lawyer, filed a Humanitarian Appeal and has been invited to submit a PRRA (Pre-removal Risk Assesment - for more info, click above).

The youngest, Vendel Vadasz, taking in the fundraising music with Mom. HOW DID WE GET INVOLVED? Here’s a message from Larry Smith, who really got the ball rolling: I first heard about the Vadasz family one morning as I finished my morning shave. CBC radio was broadcasting a two-part series focussing on Roma students at Parkdale Collegiate. Jozsef stood out for me. Later, at work, I remembered my colleague’s wife worked at Parkdale so I mentioned the radio piece I’d heard that morning. Apparently, his wife Alison had been very involved with Jozsef’s plight. Without even hesitating, I offered my assistance if she ever needed it. About a month later she arranged for me to meet Jozsef. After meeting him, I talked to my daughter, Gemma, to see if she’d be willing to help with fundraising. Without any hesitation, she also said yes. That was the beginning.    When asked why I became involved, I recall the hospitality I received from a complete stranger in Algeria. I was in my early twenties. On a bus trip to Tunisia I became aware that I had developed a severe eye infection to the point where pus secreted from the tear duct. Across the aisle was a medical student who saw what was happening. He invited my travel companion and myself to come with him to his home. We could spend the night, he’d treat my eye and then we could be on our way in the morning. And so we spent the night with the student and his mother in a little two room shelter and she shared what food they had with us. We left in the morning, my eye already healing and left behind a pair of much sought after American jeans to thank him. When I returned to Canada I realized that if this student from Algeria encountered the same problem here, most likely he wouldn’t be invited to a home and receive the hospitality I received.    Borders do not make sense anymore. We are all citizens of the earth, in fact, recent DNA finds have discovered we are all related having all come from those first ancestors who first gained self-consciousness. We all have traces of the original DNA in our bodies. We are all family. We need to treat each other in that light. 

The youngest, Vendel Vadasz, taking in the fundraising music with Mom.

HOW DID WE GET INVOLVED?

Here’s a message from Larry Smith, who really got the ball rolling:

I first heard about the Vadasz family one morning as I finished my morning shave. CBC radio was broadcasting a two-part series focussing on Roma students at Parkdale Collegiate. Jozsef stood out for me.
Later, at work, I remembered my colleague’s wife worked at Parkdale so I mentioned the radio piece I’d heard that morning. Apparently, his wife Alison had been very involved with Jozsef’s plight. Without even hesitating, I offered my assistance if she ever needed it. About a month later she arranged for me to meet Jozsef. After meeting him, I talked to my daughter, Gemma, to see if she’d be willing to help with fundraising. Without any hesitation, she also said yes. That was the beginning. 
 
When asked why I became involved, I recall the hospitality I received from a complete stranger in Algeria. I was in my early twenties. On a bus trip to Tunisia I became aware that I had developed a severe eye infection to the point where pus secreted from the tear duct. Across the aisle was a medical student who saw what was happening. He invited my travel companion and myself to come with him to his home. We could spend the night, he’d treat my eye and then we could be on our way in the morning. And so we spent the night with the student and his mother in a little two room shelter and she shared what food they had with us. We left in the morning, my eye already healing and left behind a pair of much sought after American jeans to thank him. When I returned to Canada I realized that if this student from Algeria encountered the same problem here, most likely he wouldn’t be invited to a home and receive the hospitality I received. 
 
Borders do not make sense anymore. We are all citizens of the earth, in fact, recent DNA finds have discovered we are all related having all come from those first ancestors who first gained self-consciousness. We all have traces of the original DNA in our bodies. We are all family. We need to treat each other in that light. 

The night included performances by Jason Chesworth, Joanne Boland, Tyler Kyte, the Cowgirl Choir, Down By Riverside, Kate Hewlett & Michael lake, Meredith Zwicker, and Matthew Barber. We were overwhelmed by the talent in the room. Jozsef  (the oldest Vadasz boy) is pictured above with musician Jason.

In October, 2011, we held a fundraiser at Buddies in Bad Times Theatre to support the Vasdasz family’s need to retain a lawyer.

In October, 2011, we held a fundraiser at Buddies in Bad Times Theatre to support the Vasdasz family’s need to retain a lawyer.

Who are we trying to help?


In 2008 the Vadasz Family claimed refugee status in Canada when they arrived from Hungary. Faced with discrimination for being Roma, the family fled to Canada for a better life and access to a good education for their three sons; Jozsef, Marcell (pictured) and Vendel. 

Their claim was denied at the beginning of the year, and they recently learned that their appeal was also denied. Their last chance is to apply for a PRRA (Pre-Removal Risk Assessment) and Humanitarian Appeal.