Close 2 Home Caledon obtains charitable status; plans upcoming fundraiser Fashion Blooms

By Riley Murphy

Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

After running their non-profit organization for over a year, Close 2 Home Caledon Founders Liana Cancian, Elena Rosati, and Blanca Polanco knew they had to take it to the next level.

They recently obtained charitable status for Close 2 Home Caledon and can now begin officially fundraising for their organization, beginning with their upcoming event, Fashion Blooms.

Close 2 Home Caledon was founded in 2024 by Cancian, Rosati, and Polanco, who all have experienced the challenges of limited housing options in Caledon and insufficient government support for children with special needs. 

“There is a massive need for this type of home in Caledon. Currently, something of this capacity, It's very scarce. The waitlist for these special needs adults once they leave university to live in a fully supportive home, is about 15 to 20 years long, that's through the Region of Peel,” says Cancian.

She shares that many of these individuals end up living with their parents, who are facing challenges such as aging and financial constraints.

“Not enough funding is allocated to them for them to be able to make these decisions for their kids as to where they're going to go. If a house does come up and is available for them, there's no guarantee that it's going to be local in the community,” she adds.

Cancian says they're looking for a fully supported home that could house four to five individuals.

“We need to create a home for these individuals in the community that knows them and loves them and has been with them their whole life – their family and friends,” she says.

Upon recently receiving charitable status, Cancian says they were thrilled.

“It makes us a bit more official, and it makes us seem relevant to the community.”

When it came to hosting their first fundraiser, Fashion Blooms, Close 2 Home Caledon is all about keeping it local and community-supported.

Cancian says they were originally viewing venues for the event, not in Caledon, to provide them with a bit more space, but she says, “We just kept saying, let's stay focused on the goal. We really want to support the locals.”

The fundraiser will be held at the Caesar's Centre in Bolton.

The event will be an afternoon of fashion, shopping, cocktails, and canapes, featuring a runway show, various vendors and entertainment, a silent auction, and much more.

Cancian says that when they were deciding on the theme of their first fundraiser, they realized a majority of those sitting on their committee were women.

“We just thought, why don't we do it as a nice, fun ladies' afternoon event?”

“We all agreed that a fashion event would be fun and a great way to start to open up the spring,” she adds.

Alongside their fashion runway show, more than 20 local vendors will be selling beauty, health, wellness, and fashion products.

“We want to be able to support local businesses, support the local vendors. All of our donations are donated from local companies and businesses,” says Cancian.

“We really want to promote local. We want these businesses to be able to survive and be sustainable and have all of these wonderful people go back and continue to keep them in business.”

The fundraiser will take place on April 19th, and Cancian says they're looking forward to gathering everyone together for the first time.

“I'm looking forward to meeting everybody who has been supporting us all along, thanking everybody for their support, and to have everybody educated on what it is that we are doing,” she says.

This event for their organization is about putting Close 2 Home Caledon on the map, and Cancian adds it is an opportunity not only to announce to the community who they are, but to educate and describe the need that exists here in Caledon.

At the event, they will be having conversations about the housing crisis, how Close 2 Home Caledon plans to use the money they raise, and their future plans.

“Just to kind of keep everybody in the loop that this house will come eventually, and if anybody knows anybody that is in the market for housing we would be their contact people,” says Cancian. “Just putting it in everybody's mind that there is this out there, that the need is there and this is up and coming.”

For those looking to become a vendor, donate a silent auction item, or become a sponsor, can reach out at close2homecaledon@gmail.com

Early-bird tickets for the event go on sale on February 1st and can be purchased online at www.close2homecaledon.ca.

Those looking to attend and support the event can expect an afternoon of fashion and fundraising, and Close 2 Home Caledon hopes you come dressed in your best florals!