Lighting the Path: WFSAD 2007 International Conference

We want you as a Partner and Sponsor!

We need your help to reach out to more people so we can continue providing those affected by mental illness with more research, better treatment solutions, and to plan the action all of us must take to end discrimination. Mental illness touches everyone. Our conference theme for 2007, "Lighting the Path", underscores the need to move world attitudes beyond stigma to targeting recovery and re-employment approaches toward mental illness. Your sponsorship will help cover the costs associated with an international conference of this magnitude.

World Fellowship for Schizophrenia and Allied Disorders (WFSAD), Schizophrenia Society of Canada (SSC) and The Schizophrenia Society of Ontario (SSO) invite you to become a valued sponsor for the 2007 International Conference on September 27–30, at the Delta Chelsea Hotel in Toronto.


Trish Ruebottom Executive Director, World Fellowship for Schizophrenia and Allied Disorders email: info@world–schizophrenia.org	Mary Jardine Chief Executive Officer Schizophrenia Society of Canada info@schizophrenia.ca	Mary Alberti Executive Director Schizophrenia Society of Ontario sso@schizophrenia.on.ca

Tel:(+1) 416.961.2855 Reg. Charity No.: 120860911 RR0001 www.world–schizophrenia.org	Tel:(+1) 905.415.2007 Reg. Charity No.: 106846553 RR0001 www.schizophrenia.ca	Tel:(+1) 416.449.6830 Reg. Charity No.: 1299040580 RR0001 www.schizophrenia.on.ca

Sponsorship

Top-notch experts from across the globe will contribute their leading-edge knowledge with an audience of hundreds of psychiatric professionals, public service organizations, government officials, NGOs, corporate human resource specialists, consumers and families. Plenary sessions and interactive Workshops will address vital Psychosocial and Employment issues, Family Interventions and Cultural attitudes.

“Lighting The Path” is certain to be an outstanding forum. The opportunity to create compelling differentiation for your corporation will be unparalleled. As competition for hearts and minds intensifies, companies whose organizational practice, vision and values offer an issues-related model are set to flourish. WFSAD invites sponsors to join influential members of the world community, share their viewpoints, and become visible leaders influencing the impact of mental illness in day-to-day living and in the workplace.

Please review the sponsorship opportunities and the valuable ways in which the host organizations will recognize your participation. For additional information about our organizations and more conference details, please visit the WFSAD, SSC or SSO websites , or contact the conference organizer, Beverlee Solby at 416.253.1888, ext. 2.

Event Sponsorship Opportunities

The WFSAD Conference will be “Lighting the Path” for participants from many parts of the globe. Everyone attending the conference — physicians, researchers, educational professionals, care givers, consumers and government leaders will recognize and appreciate the commitment of our Sponsoring Partners.

Partnership is a two-way path. We will be sure your generous investment as an outstanding corporate citizen is widely acknowledged — your support can make so much difference in the lives of so many.

Event Sponsors will benefit from:

Recognition in press kits, appropriate publicity and marketing collateral,
Complimentary registration for Sponsors of Meals or Gala Events,
Prominent placement of signage for your event and inclusion in our Valued Sponsors list,
Corporate Sponsor recognition with a short paragraph describing your business in the official conference book,
An opportunity to address the group, briefly, at your event,
Branding your issue-related commitment by “showcasing” your sponsorship using the conference logo in your corporate advertising for the year,
Including approved promotional material in the conference kit and on the Sponsor Table,
Acknowledgment in the WFSAD, SSC and SSO newsletters and annual reports.

Simply choose how you want to participate! Contact us at action@ssg.on.ca or telephone Beverlee at (416) 253-1888 extension 2. Our corporate communications specialists will donate time and expertise to finding a significant sponsorship to meet your budget and to creating the “profile” that suits your organization. If you prefer, WFSAD will be pleased to accept a general contribution to be used to make this international conference a success.

Events for September 28, 2007

The inviting buffet will boast a red and white theme for the first “official” conference activity. Canadian flags will share the limelight with flags representing the countries of the delegates. Significant sponsor signage will complete the decor. To emphasize your support, your company might choose to welcome the group to your breakfast and wish them a successful conference. Everyone will arrive in excited anticipation and who could resist fresh fruit and warm, home-style breakfast pastries?

The Delta Chef will create a custom designed menu to make this lunch an exciting experience in diversity. A taste of the Orient, a quick trip to Little Italy, a touch of New Orleans Cajun would be a unique adventure for a World Conference. The choice is yours and we will help you make your meal and your sponsorship a stand out.

If you come from anywhere in North America, we bet you remember when you were a kid and heard those bells on the ice cream cart. Remember the popcorn vendor with his already popping, delicious treat? This break brings back those favourites... ice cream bars, popsicles and hot popcorn with butter... or without. The excitement is evident. We guarantee your sponsorship will be as memorable as the event!

Welcome global delegates. Invite them to build new relationships and renew the familiar ones at this reception. The casual cocktail atmosphere and the reception menu with food from the group’s many cultures will make this event an odds-on favourite for sponsors and guests alike. It is a prime opportunity to show your colours and to tell this dedicated audience that your company supports changing the way we treat people with mental illness.

Events for September 29, 2007

It is a new day. Time to stoke up for a very busy one. Nothing get those fires burning better than a Real Canadian Breakfast. Canadian bacon, home fries, pancakes with world famous Ontario maple syrup. Whether it is a traditional experience for North American guests or a novel one for those from “away”, it is sure to put a smile on every face. Just let the chef know how you want your eggs... scrambled or Sunny Side Up!

Grab some fresh fruit or a healthful yogurt snack during this break. Top it off with a satisfying chewy granola bar. The Sponsor knows that is just the right recipe for an alert body and mind. Everyone will need real energy to focus on the scientific information in this day and for the Northern Lights Gala evening, Guests will be delighted to stay fit for facts and fun.

Today’s luncheon is “Light & Lively”. It promises to be full of animated chatter. Guests will want to meet the experts and talk with each other about the leading edge research information they received during the morning and so will your company representative. There will be lots of “buzz” about the new things they learned and the upcoming evening celebration. We bet the Sponsor of this luncheon will want to address the group and receive a hearty round of applause!

Time to celebrate our successes and our future. How will “Lighting the Path” 2007 celebrate in Canada? Why, with Northern Lights, of course! The anticipation will begin in the foyer with guests entering the ballroom along the royal carpet. As they enter the main ballroom, intelligent lighting will make them feel as though they are experiencing Canada’s Northern Lights, creating instant parallels with the conference theme; sponsor logos will animate on the dual screens throughout the evening. Planning is still in progress but we can tell you that it will be an evening filled with fun, food, and interactive entertainment. A sponsorship of this evening will enable your company to be a major focus of the event. The special Sponsor table will enable everyone, including members of your corporate family, to participate actively in the festivities as the evening’s host. Thanks to your contribution, professional experts and consumer delegates will be talking about your event long after the Gala is over!

Sponsoring Gala events offers a high profile opportunity. Choose to sponsor the entire Northern Lights Gala, the Dinner or the amazing Entertainment; or choose the highly anticipated Divine Desserts Buffet. If you would like to be a recognized part of this extraordinary evening, we will design a sponsorship customized for you.

A well-known Toronto DJ will spin music throughout the evening, providing interactive entertainment and a chance to dance after a day of workshops! No need to have a dance partner. Just join the crowd. If entertaining is your interest, this opportunity is for you!

This canapé buffet and reception will get everyone in a celebratory frame of mind. Your special signage and opening remarks will “kick off” this incredible evening. Your sponsorship will be the highly anticipated start of the special evening.

The Conference Gala Dinner Sponsor receives top-level visibility throughout the evening and during the conference. The much-anticipated celebration draws hundreds of conference attendees, and business leaders. Everyone will savour the outstanding meal, and you will have a superb opportunity to network with international players to create a valuable, cause-related position for your company.

No one will skip the unique dessert experience for this evening. Expert pastry chefs at the Chelsea will show their creative side for this enticing and intriguing dessert buffet. Who could resist the heavenly chocolate creations, tantalizing trifles, luscious subtle strudels and refreshing fruit fantasies? You might even get creative and name each delightful dessert in concert with your company.

Events for September 30, 2007

Saturday was a very busy day. Today is just as busy. Time for everyone to get ready for the upcoming plenary session. Bet their “get up and go” will be lagging a bit. A great looking, healthy breakfast buffet will start this day on an energetic note. Speaking of notes... Toronto has some of the best Barbershop groups in North America. How about some of those old favourites to get into the spirit? A few attendees might even be encouraged to sing along. Someone from your company could certainly provide a “good morning” greeting, introduce the “masters of song” and be the first sing-along participant. Nothing too bouncy though... it is a breakfast. It will revive the spirit in everyone!

Today we are “Travellin’ Light”. After yesterday’s gala and this morning’s breakfast, muffins or bagels are all that’s needed to keep the engine running or to “cover” those people who were “party hearty” folks and stayed up late.

Delegates will be on homeward bound later in the day. In keeping with lighter fare, a choice of sandwiches and salads will be on the luncheon menu so people can eat as much or as little as they wish.

Educational Sponsorship

Bringing noted experts from around the world is an ambitious undertaking. If WFSAD is to meet its objective as a seminal, world conference such as “Lighting the Path”, we must bring the best and the brightest to Toronto. Sponsoring a pre-eminent speaker is so meaningful to the conference! If you would like to contribute by sponsoring an Expert Speaker, we invite you to review the short CVs on the conference web site conference.schizophrenia.org and choose the expert that seems right for your company.

The World Fellowship for Schizophrenia and Allied Disorders trains health workers, psychiatrists, and families to become skilled in the treatment of people with mental illnesses, and to deal with the challenges of living with a mentally ill family member. In many parts of the world they have few resources, limited funds and face cultural stigma. WFSAD provides programs, training and services in parts of the world where mental health help is hard to access and funds are nearly non-existent. Your sponsor Scholarship will enable some of the most dedicated and hard working professionals from less developed nations, to attend the conference, learn from experts, and bring new treatment skills to families and sufferers of mental illness in their home countries.