About Us

Purpose

 

Breakwater Foundation supports young women who have experienced homelessness with resources that foster a sense of belonging.

Mission

 

We enact our purpose by providing tools that facilitate equitable social and economic inclusion.

Specifically, we provide:

Vision

 

Through the Breakwater Clinic and Breakwater Foundation Scholars program, we envision a world where young women can move from surviving to thriving. 

Core Values

 

  • We believe in relationship-based philanthropy – journeying alongside the young women we serve. This means keeping our programs at a scale that permits focus, higher input, and higher impact.

  • We believe that equity in health and well-being is most effectively addressed by tackling social and economic factors.

  • We believe that meaning and purpose are crucial components of societal inclusion.

 

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Founders

Naomi Thulien is a nurse practitioner and researcher with a PhD from the University of Toronto; she works exclusively with young people who have experienced homelessness. Ryan Thulien is a certified public accountant and a partner at a national professional services firm. Naomi and Ryan live and work in Toronto, Canada. They have three children.