Finalists in 2014 Voluntary Sector Reporting Awards announced

15 charities vying for five prizes of $5,000 for best annual report

TORONTO, Dec. 4, 2014 /CNW/ - 15 finalists have been announced in Canada's largest charity awards – the Voluntary Sector Reporting Awards (VSRAs).

The VSRAs recognize Canada's best charity annual reports. There are 15 finalists in five categories. Winners will be awarded a prize of $5,000 each and will be announced at the VSRA awards luncheon on February 6, 2015 in Toronto.

The Voluntary Sector Reporting Awards are presented by the CPA-Queen's Centre for Governance, a partnership between Queen's School of Business and the Chartered Professional Accountants of Ontario. Grant Thornton LLP is the exclusive accounting firm sponsor of the VSRAs.

This is the seventh annual award competition for the VSRAs and George Boland, Associate Director of the Centre, says this year's competition has been the biggest yet. More than 140 charities were nominated from Ontario, BC and Alberta. The awards recognize the best non-profit Annual Reports. Expanded rules allow national and international charities across Canada to enter the VSRAs, as long as they have a significant presence in Ontario.

"It is wonderful to see that the number of entries has once again increased this year and that the quality of those entries continues to improve. This is a clear indication of the increasing emphasis being placed on good governance and reporting in the voluntary sector and we are proud to be making a contribution to this effort," said Boland.

"Once again we are absolutely delighted to sponsor the awards. We extend warm congratulations to all the organizations that were nominated. The clarity of communication that the awards require means that each entrant advanced their thinking of how they engage with their communities, to the benefit of all. The finalists are truly examples of voluntary sector reporting. We sincerely congratulate them on their outstanding achievement and look forward to celebrating their success," said Deryck Williams, Partner and National Leader for Charity and Not-for-Profit Organizations at Grant Thornton LLP.

2014 Finalists

International Focused Organizations:

• Canadian Feed the Children
• Transforming Faces
• WaterAid (formerly WaterCan)

National Focused Organizations:

• Cystic Fibrosis Canada
• March of Dimes Canada
• The Arthritis Society

Ontario-only organizations:

Total revenues over $10 million

• Central Neighbourhood House Association
• DeafBlind Ontario Services
• Vita Community Living Services and Mens Sana Families for Mental Health

Total revenues from over $1 million to $10 million

• Kingston Literacy & Skills
• Sarnia Lambton Rebound: A Program for Youth
• United Way Kingston, Frontenac, Lennox & Addington

Total Revenues up to $1 million

• Aurora Cultural Centre (legal name Church Street School Cultural Centre)
• Hemophilia Ontario
• The Canadian Canoe Museum

"We have been involved with the Voluntary Sector Reporting Awards since the outset and it has been exciting to watch them grow in importance and influence. We think the VSRAs are making a vital difference by promoting best practice financial reporting in the charitable sector. This year's nominees are some of the best ever," noted Brian Leader, FCPA, FCA, Vice-President of Learning at the Chartered Professional Accountants of Ontario.

ABOUT THE VSRAS

About the CPA-Queen's Centre for Governance at Queen's School of Business
The CPA-Queen's Centre for Governance (http://business.queensu.ca/centres/centre-for-governance/index.php) goal is to raise the bar on Canadian governance research with respect to transparency and financial accountability and convey that research's implications to academics, students and the public at large. Situated at Queen's School of Business, www.business.queensu.ca  one of the world's premier business schools, the Centre conducts cutting edge basic and applied research on governance dealing with such issues as fraud prevention and detection and improving the quality of Canadian securities' regulation. 

About the Chartered Professional Accountants of Ontario
CPA Ontario protects the public interest by ensuring its members meet the highest standards for integrity and expertise. CPA Ontario serves and supports its more than 80,000 members and approximately 20,000 students in their qualification and professional development in a wide range of senior positions in public accounting, business, finance, government, not-for-profits and academe. Certified General Accountants (CGAs), Certified Management Accountants (CMAs) and Chartered Accountants (CAs) are now unified under the Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA) designation. Chartered Professional Accountants are valued by organizations of all types and sizes for their financial expertise, strategic thinking, business insight, management skills and leadership. For information on the profession, visit cpaontario.ca. To become a CPA in Ontario, visit gocpaontario.ca.

About Grant Thornton
Grant Thornton LLP is a leading Canadian accounting and advisory firm providing audit, tax and advisory services to private and public organizations. We help dynamic organizations unlock their potential for growth by providing meaningful, actionable advice through a broad range of services. Our charities and not-for-profit organizations (NPOs) sector group is one way we serve the communities in which we live and work. Our skilled team brings extensive knowledge of charities and NPOs to every engagement as we work to help you reach your goals.

SOURCE: Chartered Professional Accountants of Ontario

More information about the VSRAs is available online at the CPA-Queen's Centre for Governance website - www.annualreportaward.ca