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Mary Proulx – Vice President, Fund Development and Regional Operations

Mary Proulx – Vice President, Fund Development and Regional Operations

Mary is the Vice-President, Fund Development and Regional Operations for Kids Help Phone, and is responsible for supporting the work and efforts of staff in six regional offices and, in turn, is responsible to the more than 10,000 volunteers in the organization’s rapidly expanding network of 55 chapters across Canada, with a development budget of more than $11 million.

Since joining Kids Help Phone in 1995, she has managed their national school awareness programs, national volunteer training and development programs, a chapter expansion strategy, the launch of their Student Ambassador leadership program, the launch of two signature pledge-driven events and has been the Ontario Regional Director.

Mary’s professional background is in public relations and corporate communications. Before joining Kids Help Phone, she spent several years writing communication and training modules for the banking and chemical industries on employment equity and diversity. She has a Masters of Non-Profit Management from McGill University, Montreal.

She believes the best fundraisers must be good marketers. And the very best put power in other people’s hands. She loves her work, because every day is different; it’s challenging and rewarding, and she is fortunate to meet the most interesting, kind and generous people every day, who volunteer, donate and work closely with her.

Mary grew up in Leicester, England, but after 25 years in Canada, now calls Toronto her home. She has two grown children and three lively grandsons who live in Ireland, but whom she gets to see as often as she can.

Contact Mary at mary.proulx@kidshelpphone.ca

Brenda called Kid’s Help Phone to vent about her parents. She said they were being unreasonable by not allowing her to meet a boy. The 15-year-old was considering sneaking out anyway. A few questions revealed that the boy was someone she’d “met” on the Internet – and that he’d first said he was 15, but was actually 29. The KHP counselor talked about Brenda’s natural curiosity, but also about possible dangers. It didn’t take long for Brenda to admit to having “funny feelings” about it. By the end of the call, she’d decided to try to find someone her own age, met the “old-fashioned” way. Mike told us he was traveling fast on the road to nowhere. He wanted to get off drugs and off the streets. The KHP counselor calmed Mike, assessed his needs, and found him a safe shelter. Years later, Mike called again. Now 20, he was back in school, with a steady job and a new life. He was calling to say thanks – not just for what KHP had done, but most of all for listening to him and believing in him. Mike says KHP helped him turn his life around. Today, he spends his spare time helping street youth. Ten-year-old Megan was being sexually and physically abused. Two nights earlier, she’d been placed in a foster home, but didn’t feel comfortable talking to her foster parents yet. With gentle prompting, Megan began to tell her story. Her feelings were agonizingly mixed. Despite everything, she missed her mom’s bedtime stories and the familiarity of home. It meant a lot to be able to talk about her feelings with someone she could trust. Together, Megan and KHP looked at what Megan could do to make things easier, like getting bedtime stories on tape. She was grateful to be reminded that her foster home would become more familiar each day, and that KHP would be there whenever she needed it in the days ahead. Brenda called Kid’s Help Phone to vent about her parents. She said they were being unreasonable by not allowing her to meet a boy. The 15-year-old was considering sneaking out anyway. A few questions revealed that the boy was someone she’d “met” on the Internet – and that he’d first said he was 15, but was actually 29. The KHP counselor talked about Brenda’s natural curiosity, but also about possible dangers. It didn’t take long for Brenda to admit to having “funny feelings” about it. By the end of the call, she’d decided to try to find someone her own age, met the “old-fashioned” way. Mike told us he was traveling fast on the road to nowhere. He wanted to get off drugs and off the streets. The KHP counselor calmed Mike, assessed his needs, and found him a safe shelter. Years later, Mike called again. Now 20, he was back in school, with a steady job and a new life. He was calling to say thanks – not just for what KHP had done, but most of all for listening to him and believing in him. Mike says KHP helped him turn his life around. Today, he spends his spare time helping street youth. Ten-year-old Megan was being sexually and physically abused. Two nights earlier, she’d been placed in a foster home, but didn’t feel comfortable talking to her foster parents yet. With gentle prompting, Megan began to tell her story. Her feelings were agonizingly mixed. Despite everything, she missed her mom’s bedtime stories and the familiarity of home. It meant a lot to be able to talk about her feelings with someone she could trust. Together, Megan and KHP looked at what Megan could do to make things easier, like getting bedtime stories on tape. She was grateful to be reminded that her foster home would become more familiar each day, and that KHP would be there whenever she needed it in the days ahead. Brenda called Kid’s Help Phone to vent about her parents. She said they were being unreasonable by not allowing her to meet a boy. The 15-year-old was considering sneaking out anyway. A few questions revealed that the boy was someone she’d “met” on the Internet – and that he’d first said he was 15, but was actually 29. The KHP counselor talked about Brenda’s natural curiosity, but also about possible dangers. It didn’t take long for Brenda to admit to having “funny feelings” about it. By the end of the call, she’d decided to try to find someone her own age, met the “old-fashioned” way. Mike told us he was traveling fast on the road to nowhere. He wanted to get off drugs and off the streets. The KHP counselor calmed Mike, assessed his needs, and found him a safe shelter. Years later, Mike called again. Now 20, he was back in school, with a steady job and a new life. He was calling to say thanks – not just for what KHP had done, but most of all for listening to him and believing in him. Mike says KHP helped him turn his life around. Today, he spends his spare time helping street youth. Ten-year-old Megan was being sexually and physically abused. Two nights earlier, she’d been placed in a foster home, but didn’t feel comfortable talking to her foster parents yet. With gentle prompting, Megan began to tell her story. Her feelings were agonizingly mixed. Despite everything, she missed her mom’s bedtime stories and the familiarity of home. It meant a lot to be able to talk about her feelings with someone she could trust. Together, Megan and KHP looked at what Megan could do to make things easier, like getting bedtime stories on tape. She was grateful to be reminded that her foster home would become more familiar each day, and that KHP would be there whenever she needed it in the days ahead. Brenda called Kid’s Help Phone to vent about her parents. She said they were being unreasonable by not allowing her to meet a boy. The 15-year-old was considering sneaking out anyway. A few questions revealed that the boy was someone she’d “met” on the Internet – and that he’d first said he was 15, but was actually 29. The KHP counselor talked about Brenda’s natural curiosity, but also about possible dangers. It didn’t take long for Brenda to admit to having “funny feelings” about it. By the end of the call, she’d decided to try to find someone her own age, met the “old-fashioned” way. Mike told us he was traveling fast on the road to nowhere. He wanted to get off drugs and off the streets. The KHP counselor calmed Mike, assessed his needs, and found him a safe shelter. Years later, Mike called again. Now 20, he was back in school, with a steady job and a new life. He was calling to say thanks – not just for what KHP had done, but most of all for listening to him and believing in him. Mike says KHP helped him turn his life around. Today, he spends his spare time helping street youth. Ten-year-old Megan was being sexually and physically abused. Two nights earlier, she’d been placed in a foster home, but didn’t feel comfortable talking to her foster parents yet. With gentle prompting, Megan began to tell her story. Her feelings were agonizingly mixed. Despite everything, she missed her mom’s bedtime stories and the familiarity of home. It meant a lot to be able to talk about her feelings with someone she could trust. Together, Megan and KHP looked at what Megan could do to make things easier, like getting bedtime stories on tape. She was grateful to be reminded that her foster home would become more familiar each day, and that KHP would be there whenever she needed it in the days ahead. Brenda called Kid’s Help Phone to vent about her parents. She said they were being unreasonable by not allowing her to meet a boy. The 15-year-old was considering sneaking out anyway. A few questions revealed that the boy was someone she’d “met” on the Internet – and that he’d first said he was 15, but was actually 29. The KHP counselor talked about Brenda’s natural curiosity, but also about possible dangers. It didn’t take long for Brenda to admit to having “funny feelings” about it. By the end of the call, she’d decided to try to find someone her own age, met the “old-fashioned” way. Mike told us he was traveling fast on the road to nowhere. He wanted to get off drugs and off the streets. The KHP counselor calmed Mike, assessed his needs, and found him a safe shelter. Years later, Mike called again. Now 20, he was back in school, with a steady job and a new life. He was calling to say thanks – not just for what KHP had done, but most of all for listening to him and believing in him. Mike says KHP helped him turn his life around. Today, he spends his spare time helping street youth. Ten-year-old Megan was being sexually and physically abused. Two nights earlier, she’d been placed in a foster home, but didn’t feel comfortable talking to her foster parents yet. With gentle prompting, Megan began to tell her story. Her feelings were agonizingly mixed. Despite everything, she missed her mom’s bedtime stories and the familiarity of home. It meant a lot to be able to talk about her feelings with someone she could trust. Together, Megan and KHP looked at what Megan could do to make things easier, like getting bedtime stories on tape. She was grateful to be reminded that her foster home would become more familiar each day, and that KHP would be there whenever she needed it in the days ahead. Brenda called Kid’s Help Phone to vent about her parents. She said they were being unreasonable by not allowing her to meet a boy. The 15-year-old was considering sneaking out anyway. A few questions revealed that the boy was someone she’d “met” on the Internet – and that he’d first said he was 15, but was actually 29. The KHP counselor talked about Brenda’s natural curiosity, but also about possible dangers. It didn’t take long for Brenda to admit to having “funny feelings” about it. By the end of the call, she’d decided to try to find someone her own age, met the “old-fashioned” way. Mike told us he was traveling fast on the road to nowhere. He wanted to get off drugs and off the streets. The KHP counselor calmed Mike, assessed his needs, and found him a safe shelter. Years later, Mike called again. Now 20, he was back in school, with a steady job and a new life. He was calling to say thanks – not just for what KHP had done, but most of all for listening to him and believing in him. Mike says KHP helped him turn his life around. Today, he spends his spare time helping street youth. Ten-year-old Megan was being sexually and physically abused. Two nights earlier, she’d been placed in a foster home, but didn’t feel comfortable talking to her foster parents yet. With gentle prompting, Megan began to tell her story. Her feelings were agonizingly mixed. Despite everything, she missed her mom’s bedtime stories and the familiarity of home. It meant a lot to be able to talk about her feelings with someone she could trust. Together, Megan and KHP looked at what Megan could do to make things easier, like getting bedtime stories on tape. She was grateful to be reminded that her foster home would become more familiar each day, and that KHP would be there whenever she needed it in the days ahead. Brenda called Kid’s Help Phone to vent about her parents. She said they were being unreasonable by not allowing her to meet a boy. The 15-year-old was considering sneaking out anyway. A few questions revealed that the boy was someone she’d “met” on the Internet – and that he’d first said he was 15, but was actually 29. The KHP counselor talked about Brenda’s natural curiosity, but also about possible dangers. It didn’t take long for Brenda to admit to having “funny feelings” about it. By the end of the call, she’d decided to try to find someone her own age, met the “old-fashioned” way. Mike told us he was traveling fast on the road to nowhere. He wanted to get off drugs and off the streets. The KHP counselor calmed Mike, assessed his needs, and found him a safe shelter. Years later, Mike called again. Now 20, he was back in school, with a steady job and a new life. He was calling to say thanks – not just for what KHP had done, but most of all for listening to him and believing in him. Mike says KHP helped him turn his life around. Today, he spends his spare time helping street youth. Ten-year-old Megan was being sexually and physically abused. Two nights earlier, she’d been placed in a foster home, but didn’t feel comfortable talking to her foster parents yet. With gentle prompting, Megan began to tell her story. Her feelings were agonizingly mixed. Despite everything, she missed her mom’s bedtime stories and the familiarity of home. It meant a lot to be able to talk about her feelings with someone she could trust. Together, Megan and KHP looked at what Megan could do to make things easier, like getting bedtime stories on tape. She was grateful to be reminded that her foster home would become more familiar each day, and that KHP would be there whenever she needed it in the days ahead. Brenda called Kid’s Help Phone to vent about her parents. She said they were being unreasonable by not allowing her to meet a boy. The 15-year-old was considering sneaking out anyway. A few questions revealed that the boy was someone she’d “met” on the Internet – and that he’d first said he was 15, but was actually 29. The KHP counselor talked about Brenda’s natural curiosity, but also about possible dangers. It didn’t take long for Brenda to admit to having “funny feelings” about it. By the end of the call, she’d decided to try to find someone her own age, met the “old-fashioned” way. Mike told us he was traveling fast on the road to nowhere. He wanted to get off drugs and off the streets. The KHP counselor calmed Mike, assessed his needs, and found him a safe shelter. Years later, Mike called again. Now 20, he was back in school, with a steady job and a new life. He was calling to say thanks – not just for what KHP had done, but most of all for listening to him and believing in him. Mike says KHP helped him turn his life around. Today, he spends his spare time helping street youth. Ten-year-old Megan was being sexually and physically abused. Two nights earlier, she’d been placed in a foster home, but didn’t feel comfortable talking to her foster parents yet. With gentle prompting, Megan began to tell her story. Her feelings were agonizingly mixed. Despite everything, she missed her mom’s bedtime stories and the familiarity of home. It meant a lot to be able to talk about her feelings with someone she could trust. Together, Megan and KHP looked at what Megan could do to make things easier, like getting bedtime stories on tape. She was grateful to be reminded that her foster home would become more familiar each day, and that KHP would be there whenever she needed it in the days ahead.