2020 Grant Recipients
Single Year Grantees
Canadian Centre for Alternatives to Animal Methods (University of Windsor), $10,000
Through the “21st Century Dissection for the 21st Century Classroom” initiative of the Canadian Centre for Alternatives to Animal Methods located at the University of Windsor, we are promoting the replacement of century-old animal dissection with 21st century technologies that offer equivalent or superior educational merit—to advance teaching and learning while respecting and saving animal lives.
Children’s Health Foundation, Kids on the Block Puppet Show, $10,000
Kids on the Block from TVCC provides shows with life-sized puppets to educate youth audiences about disabilities, abilities and inclusion. Through engaging storytelling, the puppeteers help break down barriers to create a community where children with disabilities feel seen, understood, and included. Due to COVID, Kids on the Block has embraced the digital world and is now available virtually to daycares, schools, sporting groups and community organizations in London and region.
Choices for Youth, $10,000
Meaningful employment is a key part of helping young people succeed and build independence. Whether they want to work at a CFY social enterprise, or within the private job market, they receive support, resources, and the training they need to meet their goals. For many at-risk youth, barriers like education level, mental health and addictions issues, a lack of prior employment experience, or involvement in the criminal justice system can often stand in the way of finding success in employment. Through Employment Support, Education and Training, Social Enterprise initiatives, we are bringing to life a dedicated strategy focused on empowerment, building new skills, and accessing sustainable employment.
Culture for Kids in the Arts, Artasia, $10,000
Artasia Glocal is a multi-year program vision to connect young people from marginalized neighbourhoods around the world through arts and technology. An arts education initiative activated during the summer for 600 child and youth in 21 locations across the region, children and youth from diverse low- income, marginalized, and immigrant communities gain access to technological tools and knowledge through a series of visual and digital media workshops.
Elephant Thoughts Educational Outreach, CYC Entrepreneurial Program, $9,900
This donation was originally designed to create the Collingwood Youth Centre (CYC) Entrepreneurial Program; training and inspiring a minimum of 60 young entrepreneurs. Due to COVID-19, youth working with local engineers- designed and disseminated over 3000 PPE shields to the Collingwood Hospital, seniors homes, doctor’s offices and grocery stores.
Girls E-Mentorship, The GEM Program, $10,000
GEM individually matches high school girls with mentors for a 9-month program running concurrently with the academic year. GEM mentors are carefully chosen for their professional success, their ability to connect and their commitment to improving the lives of GEM mentees. Participants are matched with mentors on the basis of their career aspirations, interests and personality. Mentors support GEM girls as they learn new skills, such as goal setting, time-management, confidence building, stress management, and knowledge sharing for interviews, university applications, and more.
Jessie's June Callwood Centre for Young Women, Community Education Program, $10,000
The Peer-to-Peer Community Education Mentoring Program reaches over 4,600 middle and high school students across GTA annually. The program trains current and past Jessie’s participants to speak at schools, colleges and universities and media about risks of teen pregnancy and challenges marginalized teen moms face.
Environmental Youth Alliance, $10,000
The Environmental Youth Alliance’s Nature Stewards Program provides opportunities for Indigenous, racialized and marginalized youth to engage in experiential nature-based learning in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside. Through hands-on environmental education that also supports youths’ mental health and wellbeing, youth with limited access to nature will learn to grow native plants, restore habitat in the city for birds and pollinators, connect with nature and Indigenous knowledge, and develop skills and confidence.
Kids Now, $10,000
Kids Now is a free after-school leadership program for grade 7 & 8 students which has shifted online due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Participants are self-selected and commit to 1.5 hours per week for 12 weeks and learn critical life skills with a trained and caring mentor in groups of ten. The program provides kids with critical tools to make smart choices.
Lakeshore Arts Committee, Q Summit, $10,000
QSummit is an community arts program delivered by queer artists that use spoken word to engage LGBTQIA2+ identifying youth and allies in Etobicoke, Ontario, to explore their identity and develop their self-expression, focusing on topics of social justice and advocacy. The program was delivered virtually this year due to COVID-19.
A Letter to My Queer Younger Self is a poem created by Q Summit participants in collaborations with their mentors and facilitators.
Ottawa Humane Society, LEAD Program, $7,250
The Leadership Education for Adolescents and Dogs (LEAD) program is a specialized program that serves the needs of both challenging shelter dogs and at-risk youth residing in detention centres and mental health centres in Ottawa. Youth gain skills and experience in leadership, perseverance, positive motivation, animal welfare, and compassion by overcoming obstacles in training these shelter dogs.
Project Canoe, $9,500
Project Canoe’s winter leadership program is a 10-week hybrid program delivery that combines virtual and in-person programming. Youth meet on Zoom on a weekly basis for collaborative workshops focused on leadership and facilitation skills, mental health support strategies, and environmental education. The program also involves biweekly in-person, physically distant sessions in High Park where youth will take part in cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, shelter and fire building, guided hikes, and more.
Riverwood Conservancy, $10,000
The Indigenous Spirit Journey at Riverwood Conservancy builds social and emotional skills in marginalized youth by interweaving Elder-led teachings, hands-on learning, and therapeutic experiences of nature at Riverwood’s 150-acre urban oasis. The program is offered by The Riverwood Conservancy in partnership with the Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board and University of Toronto Mississauga.
Sudbury Manitoulin Children’s Foundation, Send a Kid to Camp Program, $5,500
The "Send-A-Kid to Camp" Program offers a variety of summer camping opportunities for hundreds of children at risk each summer between the ages of 5 - 14. With COVID-19 restrictions only allowing day camp operations, we created our own Hybrid Camps (“Camp In A Box”) Sports Camp and New Heights Riding Camp. These camps combined both on site and virtual aspects so that we can split the days and offer day camp opportunities to more children in smaller groups.
Rose of Sharon-York Region, $10,000
Rose of Sharon Services for Young Mothers’ free Parenting and Personal Development Program offers hope, support and education to vulnerable prenatal and parenting young women (14-29 years) and their children (0-6 years) living in York Region. The youth-based programs empower young mothers to embrace their strengths, build parenting skills and increase their personal capacity to overcome barriers. Offered online and on-site in a welcoming, safe inclusive space - young moms set goals and work toward building the future they envision for themselves and their children.
The Harvest Kitchen program at Frontlines Toronto builds culinary knowledge, confidence, and employability for underserved youth and adults in Toronto’s Weston neighbourhood. Using fresh, rescued ingredients provided by Second Harvest, learners hone their skills under the guidance of a Chef Trainer. The food they prepare is shared with other social services agencies, helping address food insecurity.
Multi-Year Grantees
These six organizations received their 2nd year of multi-year funding in 2020:
Art City in St. James Town
Excellence in Literacy Foundation
FLAP
London Children's Museum
Scarborough Women's Centre
Ottawa Network for Education
For details about the specific programs we’ve funded, click here.
These nine organizations received their 3rd (and final) year of multi-year funding in 2020:
Art Heart
Arts Etobicoke
Frontier College
Ontario Turtle Conservation Centre
Rainbow Songs Foundation
Regent Park School of Music
Regional HIV/AIDS Connection (Open Closet)
Youth Assisting Youth
Youth Without Shelter
For details about the specific programs we’ve funded, click here.