DASCH 2025: Five Highlights that Shaped our Year

As we wrap up another successful year at DASCH, let’s look back and celebrate some of our biggest moments from 2025!

1. Community BBQ

Our 3^rd annual community BBQ was a huge hit! People we support, staff, and community partners gathered in St. Vital Park for an afternoon of hot dogs, burgers, yard games, and good company.

The BBQ is becoming staple in our calendar, offering a moment to connect different parts of our community and enjoy our fleeting summer. We can’t wait to do it again next year!

2. New DASCH Home

In the spring of 2025, DASCH opened its 56th supported community home, purchased for a group of young men aging out of their youth home so they could continue living together. Renovated over the winter into a calming, sensory-friendly space, one staff member said they aren’t ready to leave after their shift because the team did so well in creating a positive, inclusive, supportive environment.

This commitment to comfort and inclusion made an immediate difference for the residents. The home’s Program Manager shared, “We saw a huge change in one of the resident’s overall wellness almost immediately. He had been very nervous and apprehensive about moving in, but the moment he stepped into the house and saw the sensory lights and tactile items, he said ‘I like it here.”

3. Possibilities Gala

The 2025 Possibilities Gala, presented by Mid-Town Ford, was an elegant evening, bringing nearly 500 supporters together! Thanks to the generosity of our guests, sponsors, and the dedication of our volunteers, the event was a resounding success, raising over $520,000!

“Each contribution means new opportunities: vital home repairs, enhanced programs, and the flexibility to meet urgent needs for the youth and adults we serve,” says Dorothy, DASCH Foundation Chief Development Officer. “I’m deeply grateful for the generosity, enthusiasm, and unity shown by everyone who made this gala such a remarkable success.”

If you’d like to join us this year, tickets and sponsorship are now available. Or, if you’d like to donate an item for our silent or live auction, please reach out to foundation@dasch.mb.ca.

4. Recruitment Campaign

To continue growing and serving the people we support, DASCH launched a recruitment advertising campaign that ran through the summer and into the fall.

The campaign included bus ads, online ads, and a refresh of our careers page (including a new video with real staff and people we support) and hiring documents, like job descriptions. All of these efforts were designed to bring a fresh perspective to the hiring experience and ensure DASCH’s story was shared clearly and meaningfully with every potential candidate.

“The campaign brought us a more informed, engaged, and highly qualified group of candidates—people who arrived already understanding who DASCH is and eager to contribute,” says Acting Director of People Resources, Cassidy. “The excitement sparked by our ads and refreshed materials created a real sense of pride across the organization. It’s been a powerful reminder of what we can achieve when we invest in telling our story with clarity, heart, and purpose.”

If you’re interested in making a difference at DASCH, check out our careers page!

5. Unplugged

The DASCH Foundation hosted the 3rd annual Unplugged event, a fun evening of live music hosted at the Pony Corral. This year, we had the talented Bean City Band perform, keeping the energy high all night long.

The enthusiasm and generosity of our community made the night truly memorable! Unplugged has become a beloved tradition for many of the people we support, especially those who love to dance. This year, a few of them even had the chance to share the spotlight, joining the band on stage to play tambourine and air guitar.

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