This past April, I stepped out of my role as Chief Impact Officer at Children’s Aid Foundation of Canada and into the role of President & CEO. It was a decision that was both professional and personal: my mother spent time in foster care.
Her experiences shaped my unwavering belief that every young person deserves stability, belonging, and real opportunity. Today, this belief has never been stronger as the Foundation drives greater impact and better outcomes for youth in and from care across Canada.
The challenges faced by young people involved with child welfare remain wide-ranging, deeply complex, and felt in every area of their lives, from education to employment, mental health to stable relationships, housing and beyond.
We know they need help right now. We also know that addressing urgent needs provides critical insights that we can leverage to build better systems and transform outcomes for future generations.
That’s why Children’s Aid Foundation of Canada is doing both. Powered by the support of our donors, we are addressing the immediate needs of young people today, while bringing together philanthropists, governments, sector partners, and young people to design and scale innovative solutions that create lasting change.
To truly change the future, we must build an ecosystem where no child’s future is limited by their involvement in the child welfare system.
This year’s report reflects the remarkable momentum we’re making toward this vision, spurred by the strength and stability achieved through the leadership of my long-time predecessor, Valerie McMurtry.
In it, you will find program updates and stories from across the four key focus areas established in our landmark 2025–2030 strategic plan, Generation Impact. You will read about our growing influence among government, academic, and sector leaders, and how we are helping connect evidence, lived expertise, and cross-sector partnerships to improve outcomes for children and youth in and from care. And you will read about the generosity of individual donors, foundations, corporations, and community members whose investments enable us to meet urgent needs today while building more coordinated systems of support for tomorrow.
None of this work happens alone. Only together can we achieve the full power of our shared goal: a future where every young person in Canada who has experienced child welfare has the opportunity, strength, and resilience to create a lifetime of their own unstoppable success.
To everyone by our side on this journey, past, present, and future, thank you. We can’t do it without you.
Jeffrey Schiffer, PhD
President & CEO
Children’s Aid Foundation of Canada
Message from the Board Chair
True change is only possible through collaboration. And at Children’s Aid Foundation of Canada, that action starts with the leadership and generosity of our incredible community of donors, volunteers, Board members, committee members, lived experts, and everyone who makes our work possible.
As we navigated through the first full year of our new strategic plan, Generation Impact, and wrapped up the Stand Up for Kids: Futures Transformed Campaign, the immense dedication of our Board of Directors and Campaign Cabinet members shone brightly. Through their leadership, and the particularly tireless efforts of our Campaign Co-Chairs, Bill Butt and Dougal Macdonald, we surpassed our $75 million campaign goal to raise nearly $103 million through the generosity of 18,459 donors from across Canada. This is a remarkable, historic result that speaks directly to the power of philanthropy, compassion, and leadership.
Our network of lived experts and volunteers, committee leaders, and senior volunteers also stepped forward with incredible generosity of time and energy to drive critical progress for young people in and from care. This includes the outcomes-focused work of our National Impact Advisory Committee (NIAC), a multidisciplinary advisory body that played a crucial role in the development of the Foundation’s new Impact Framework, showcased in this report through the four areas of focus you will read about.
Every step of the way, this work is fueled by our unwavering donors and supporters. This year, alongside our enduring gratitude for our Teddy Bear Guardians, post-secondary education endowment supporters, and corporate partners, we celebrated several landmark gifts, including a $10 million endowment from the Joyce Family Foundation to establish the Ron Joyce Education Excellence Awards and $7.5 million from the Northpine Foundation to test and scale innovative solutions that lead to better outcomes for children and youth.
We also welcomed long-time child welfare leader Jeffrey Schiffer into the role of President & CEO. As we navigate the incredible opportunities ahead under Jeffrey’s leadership, we are extending our deepest gratitude and wishing the very best to Valerie McMurtry, who recently retired after 12 remarkable years at the helm of the Foundation.
To everyone involved with Children’s Aid Foundation of Canada: thank you. Every moment of leadership, advocacy, partnership, volunteerism, and philanthropy moves us closer to a world where every young person involved with child welfare has the resources and opportunity to unlock their greatest potential. This work would simply not be possible without you.
With gratitude,
Dan Barclay
Board Chair
Children’s Aid Foundation of Canada
In April 2026, Valerie McMurtry retired as the long-time President & CEO of Children’s Aid Foundation of Canada. Her leadership over the past 12 years was transformative, from expanding the Foundation’s national reach and influence to deepening partnerships and inspiring philanthropists across Canada to invest in the futures of children and youth involved with child welfare.
During Valerie’s tenure, the Foundation raised more than $170 million through consecutive national fundraising campaigns, including the record-setting $103 million Futures Transformed Campaign. Her passion and leadership helped create a stronger, more resilient organization that will drive change for generations of young people involved with child welfare.
As we build on Valerie’s remarkable legacy, we extend our deepest gratitude for her unwavering dedication and the compassion and vision she brought to this work every day.
Beyond the milestones and achievements, Valerie’s leadership was defined by her presence, showing up for young people, partners, donors, and our community time and again. From the Five 14 Talks and Stand Up for Kids to the Children’s Aid Foundation of Canada Gala – Teddy Bear Affair, Holiday Season Celebration, Recognition Night, the Joe Carter Classic, and the events and strategic moments in between, she brought warmth, conviction, and an unrelenting belief in the potential of children and youth. These moments reflect a leader whose commitment to this mission extended beyond strategy and into the relationships and experiences that shaped this community.
Click the photos below to see Valerie’s impact in action
We are grateful to our Board of Directors and Campaign Cabinet for their leadership, stewardship, and dedication to our mission. Through their guidance and commitment, they help strengthen our impact and create more opportunities for children and youth involved with child welfare across Canada.
Board of Directors
Giorgia Anton
Managing Director and Head, Payments, CIBC Capital Markets
Daniel Barclay
Board Chair, Corporate Director
William (Bill) Butt
Corporate Director
Carrie Cook
Global Head, Investment and Corporate Banking, BMO Capital Markets
Kris Depencier
Secretary, EVP Regional Banking – Personal RBC
Anca Drexler
Chief Investment Officer, Building Ontario Fund
Dr. Barbara Fallon
AVP Research, University of Toronto
Pierre Frappier
President and CEO, AMJ
John Gossling
Treasurer, CEO and CFO (Interim), Corus Entertainment
Barry Hildred
Principal, Level 2 Advisors Inc.
Nadia King
Chief Financial Officer, PwC Canada
Amanda Lang
Host, Taking Stock; Business Journalist
Giorgia Anton
Managing Director and Head, Payments, CIBC
Daniel Barclay
Board Chair, Corporate Director
Jeff Bowman
Partner, Deloitte Canada
Carrie Cook
Global Head, Investment & Corporate Banking, BMO
Richard D. Falconer
Senior Advisor, Lazard Canada Inc.
Pierre Frappier
President and CEO, AMJ
Sean Gilbert
Managing Director, CIBC World Markets
John Gossling
Board Treasurer, Corus Entertainment
Clay Horner
Mergers & Acquisition and Strategic Advisor
Shael Kalef
Managing Director, BMO Capital Markets
Vineet Malhotra
CEO, Monie Payments
Ben Mandell
Managing Director, RBC Capital Markets
Ben Metzler
Managing Director & Head of P&C, BMO Capital
Adam Sinclair
Managing Director, BMO Capital Markets
Jaime Watt
Executive Chairman, Navigator Ltd.
Danny Wright
Winnipeg Managing Partner, PwC Canada
Event Highlights: Our Year in Photos
These moments reflect a year of connection, conversation, camaraderie, and impact. Across our events, young people, supporters, partners, and communities came together to champion opportunity and help advance better outcomes for children and youth involved with child welfare.
The Children’s Aid Foundation of Canada Gala – Teddy Bear Affair, Toronto’s longest-running black-tie event, brings leaders and philanthropists together to support children and youth involved with child welfare.
Michael H. McCain, Gala Co-Chair; Her Worship Olivia Chow, Mayor of Toronto; Valerie McMurtry, former President and CEO, CAFC; Geoff Beattie, Gala Co-Chair, and Dan Barclay, Board Chair at the Teddy Bear Affair.
Picture perfect at the Teddy Bear Affair photo booth.
Our first Stand Up for Kids luncheon at the Royal York brought together lived expertise and philanthropic leadership to celebrate impact, share insights, and advance better outcomes for children and youth from care.
Stand Up for Kids panelists John Phillips, Founder & Funder, Northpine Foundation; Valerie McMurtry; Carina Chan, Partner, Family Law Lawyer and Mediator, Burrison Hudani Doris LLP; Lisa Tomlinson, CEO, the Children’s Aid Society of Toronto; with moderator and former host of CBC Radio’s The Current, Anna Maria Tremonti.
The Teddy Bear Adventure engages young professionals in building connections and community while driving meaningful impact. Through workplace fundraising events and shared experiences, they help raise critical funds and support for children and youth involved in care.
The Teddy Bear Adventure committee at Nostalgia Night at RBC Waterpark Place.
Valerie McMurtry and Dan Barclay, with Youth Ambassadors from l – r: Kardell, Tom, Samidha, Bill, Michelle, Keziah, and Breanna at the Post-Secondary Education Event where young people, donors and Board members gather to celebrate post-secondary journeys and the opportunities they make possible.
The annual Joe Carter Classic charity golf tournament pairs golfers with celebrities from sports and entertainment, raising funds to support the education and development of Canadian youth through the Joe Carter Scholarship Fund and Family Support Fund.
Celebrity golfers at Joe Carter Classic Skins Games sponsored by Calloway, AMJ, and TD.
The Holiday Season Celebration (HSC) is our longest-running enrichment initiative, providing children and families in Toronto with an afternoon of food, fun, community connection, and holiday spirit for more than 40 years.
This year’s HSC Committee:
Back row from left to right: Louisa Neidermann, Jaiden Kravice, Livia Ursu, Bryn MacEachern, Jennifer Bonilla Lozano, Julie Di Lorenzo, Graciela Pelayo, Michelle Mitchell, Marcos Tinoco, and Lauren Kotzer
Front row from left to right: Hannah Monnette, Co-Chairs Francis Cheng and Wayne Yeung, Katharine Chen (CAFC staff), Edwin Cabrera, Jess Brayne (CAFC staff)
Children’s Aid Foundation of Canada was proud to participate in the 41st annual CIBC Miracle Day, supporting young people in and from care through a longstanding initiative that has raised more than $30 million globally for children’s charities since 1984.
In the photo from left to right: Valerie McMurtry, Michelle, Youth Ambassador, and Georgia Anton, Board member
Our work is made possible with the support of our generous donors: people, companies, foundations, and communities who care deeply about the well-being of children and youth involved with the child welfare system.
This year, we are proud to highlight the life-changing support of donors powering transformational change for young people across Canada.
The Joyce Family Foundation establishes $10 million endowment to break down barriers to education
To mark its 30th anniversary, The Joyce Family Foundation made a transformational $10 million endowment investment to establish the Ron Joyce Education Excellence Awards at Children’s Aid Foundation of Canada. Over time, this landmark gift will enable thousands of youth from Canada’s child welfare system to access renewable post-secondary education scholarships and pursue their dreams. It creates lasting pathways to confidence, independence, and opportunity for youth from care across Canada for generations to come.
This unprecedented act of leadership reflects The Joyce Family Foundation’s deep commitment to young people whose aspirations may soar beyond their means. It also extends renowned Canadian entrepreneur and philanthropist Ron Joyce’s enduring legacy of generosity, vision, and belief in the potential of young people. Watch the video to learn more about Mr. Joyce’s legacy.
Venturing into a new era of impact with Northpine Foundation
Last year, we launched a stream of ventures in partnership with the Northpine Foundation that aim to help children persist through high school and successfully enroll in and complete post-secondary education.
With eight active ventures representing $7.5 million in investments from Northpine Foundation, this approach represents a different kind of philanthropic partnership, one that uses outcomes-based funding to test, prove, and scale innovative solutions.
This partnership reflects Northpine Foundation’s trust in our expertise and confidence in our ability to lead, learn, and accelerate measurable change for children and youth connected to care.
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This partnership is grounded in shared values and a commitment to improving outcomes for youth from care. Children’s Aid Foundation of Canada brings deep expertise, a national reputation, and trusted relationships. Together, we’re building the insight and evidence needed to better understand how lasting change happens. We believe in supporting organizations that create meaningful change, and it’s been encouraging to see what becomes possible when partnerships, evidence, and ambition come together.
— Doug Allison, CEO, Northpine Foundation
Being there for kids in care, today and tomorrow
The donor-supported Teddy Bear Fund is at the heart of our work to ensure that children and youth in and from care across Canada have what they need, when they need it most.
Powering the delivery of our national impact priorities, the Teddy Bear Fund provides the resources, people, programs, and support to make the greatest difference in the lives of children and youth in and from care. It creates impact today while building an endowment that ensures support will be there tomorrow and always.
This work is made possible by our community of Teddy Bear Guardians, philanthropic leaders whose generosity helps ensure support is timely, dependable, and enduring. Together, they are helping to address immediate needs today and create a lasting legacy of care for generations to come.
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My connection to Children’s Aid Foundation of Canada has grown over many years, beginning with supporting scholarships and seeing the impact that access to education and care can have on children and families. It’s something that matters deeply to me, especially supporting young people who face significant barriers. The Teddy Bear Fund is a meaningful way to build on that commitment; it’s an investment that helps ensure these opportunities continue and that more children have the chance to reach their full potential.
— Jamie Johnson, Teddy Bear Guardian
Thank you to our community of Guardians who have committed a minimum of $100,00 to the Teddy Bear Fund. Donors with a heart are the earliest adopters of the Teddy Bear Fund.
Anonymous (1) ♥
Giorgia Anton
Daniel & Kathryn Barclay ♥
Eric Bélanger & Marie Claude Prud’homme ♥
Lynn & Brent Belzberg ♥
Eric Blanchard & Olivia Holland ♥
Sheila Block ♥
BMO Exchange Traded Funds
Michael Bowick & Joanne Peters ♥
Bill Butt & Susan Quigley ♥
The Catherine and Maxwell Meighen Foundation
Marshall Cohen ♥
In Memory of Judith Loeb Cohen ♥
Tracy Cooper & John Friedrichsen ♥
Rishi Dani In Memory of Anil Dani
Maureen & Victor Dodig ♥
Don, Jane and Durno Family
Dottori-Attanasio Family
The K. Michael Edwards Family ♥
Christian & Florence Exshaw ♥
Lynn Factor & Sheldon Inwentash ♥
Richard (Dick) & Darleen Falconer ♥
The Four Oaks Foundation ♥
Jennifer Steel & Adam Givertz
Linda & Bob Goldberger ♥
The Gopaul Family
In Memory of Muriel L. Gorrie ♥
Donald Guloien & Irene Boychuk ♥
Pruyn & Kelly Haskins ♥
Clay & Robin Horner
Jamie Johnson
Shael & Jennifer Kalef
Christina Kramer ♥
Amanda Lang & Geoff Beattie
Fred & Donna Leslie ♥
Dougal & Barbara Macdonald ♥
Vineet & Trish Malhotra ♥
John & Gillian McArthur ♥
In Honour of Valerie McMurtry
Leigh Merlo & Bill Bamber ♥
Noella & Chris Milne
Rory & Julie Mitz ♥
John & Michelle Ovens ♥
The Pilosof Family & RP Investment Advisors ♥
Grant & Mona Rasmussen ♥
Cookie & Stephen Sandler ♥
Lindsay Scott & Patrick Breithaupt
Adam & Allison Sinclair ♥
Howard Sokolowski & Linda Frum
Dr. Susan Storey & Michael Breen
In Memory of Pinkle Sturgeon ♥
The William Birchall Foundation ♥
The following donors have chosen to establish an endowment fund with their gift.
Anonymous (1) ♥
Eric Bélanger & Marie Claude Prud’homme ♥
Eric Blanchard & Olivia Holland ♥
Sheila Block ♥
Michael Bowick & Joanne Peters ♥
Marshall Cohen ♥
Maureen & Victor Dodig ♥
Don, Jane and Durno Family
Christian & Florence Exshaw ♥
Lynn Factor & Sheldon Inwentash ♥
Richard (Dick) & Darleen Falconer ♥
Linda & Bob Goldberger ♥
Jamie Johnson
Christina Kramer ♥
Fred & Donna Leslie ♥
Vineet & Trish Malhotra ♥
John & Gillian McArthur ♥
Valerie McMurtry
Leigh Merlo & Bill Bamber ♥
Noella & Chris Milne
Rory & Julie Mitz ♥
John & Michelle Ovens ♥
Grant & Mona Rasmussen ♥
Cookie & Stephen Sandler ♥
Dr. Susan Storey & Michael Breen
The Moment I Knew Campaign
On Giving Tuesday 2025, we launched an end-of-year fundraising campaign called The Moment I Knew. This campaign explored the invisible yet heavy burdens carried by children, youth, and families involved with child welfare and how the right support can help lift that weight.
The campaign was powered by our community, from individuals and corporate partners hosting their own fundraisers to Rogers, Bell Media, and Corus amplifying awareness across the country. Longtime supporter Laura Dottori-Attanasio and the Dottori-Attanasio Family matched all gifts up to $100,000, inspiring almost 800 donors and helping raise an incredible $580,000 to invest in brighter futures for young people across the country.
On December 17, the Foundation’s then President & CEO, Valerie McMurtry, joined Youth Ambassador Brittany on Global TV’s The Morning Show to promote the campaign, highlight key barriers faced by youth in care, and showcase the impact of Foundation-funded programs.
RBC Foundation steps forward to help build brighter futures
Youth Works, a national employment readiness program dedicated to youth in and from care, is helping young people receive career training, mentorship, job placements, and individualized supports as they build pathways toward long-term stability and independence.
Last year, it supported 624 young people in communities across Canada, and 88% reported feeling more optimistic about their future after participating in employment readiness programs. In addition to this direct contribution, through its long-standing support of Teddy Bear Affair, RBC Foundation also helped unite a national community of supporters.
We are deeply grateful for the support of RBC Foundation for helping create access to the resources and opportunities young people in and from care need to thrive.
Spotlight: The Children’s Aid Society of Toronto (CAST)
For more than 45 years, the Children’s Aid Society of Toronto (CAST) has been our most important strategic partner and a cornerstone of our history.
Children’s Aid Society of Toronto leadership and Board members from left to right: Gerald Mak, CAST Board Member; Salim Somani, CAST Board Chair; Lisa Tomlinson, Chief Executive Officer; Altaf Kassam, Director, Child Welfare Institute and Information Management; Colin Hill, Chief Human Resources Officer; and Keshwer Patel, Chief Financial Officer, Children’s Aid Society of Toronto.
Children’s Aid Society of Toronto leadership and Board members from left to right: Gerald Mak, CAST Board Member; Salim Somani, CAST Board Chair; Lisa Tomlinson, Chief Executive Officer; Altaf Kassam, Director, Child Welfare Institute and Information Management; Colin Hill, Chief Human Resources Officer; and Keshwer Patel, Chief Financial Officer, Children’s Aid Society of Toronto.
Founded by CAST in 1979, Children’s Aid Foundation of Canada began with a simple but powerful mission: to ensure children and youth involved with child welfare have access to opportunities and supports that extend beyond what government funding can provide. Today, while our work has grown to reach children, youth, and families across Canada, our partnership with CAST remains as strong and vital as ever.
In 2025–26, CAFC provided $2,282,735 in funding to support children, youth, and families involved with CAST. This included the annual Teddy Bear Grant of $1,250,000, as well as an additional $1,032,735 that supported 15 programs and funds across our four areas of focus, reaching more than 2,500 children, youth, and families. These investments helped expand access to resources and opportunities that contribute to improved child and youth well-being, stronger relationships, educational success, and long-term stability.
Beyond direct program funding, our partnership creates opportunities to advance learning and innovation in child welfare. Together, we are helping to identify emerging challenges, explore promising approaches, and build evidence about what works to improve outcomes for children, youth, and families. This knowledge not only informs our own investments but also contributes to broader efforts to strengthen supports and services across the sector.
As we look ahead, we are proud to celebrate the partnership that launched our organization and grateful for the leadership, trust, and shared vision that continue to drive our work forward.
Several of the stories featured in the following section illustrate the impact of this enduring partnership and the difference we are making together for children, youth, and families.
In 2025, with the launch our 2025–2030 Strategic Plan, Generation Impact, we introduced the Foundation’s first-ever Impact Framework, a roadmap that is now guiding our efforts to deliver meaningful, lasting benefits for children, youth, and families involved with the child welfare system.
The Impact Framework focuses our work on four key areas where we know we can make the greatest difference: education, employment, mental health and well-being, and strong families and lifelong connections.
Together, these priorities reflect our commitment to meeting immediate needs while helping build more coordinated systems of support that improve long-term outcomes for children and youth in and from care.
Here, we’re pleased to highlight key updates from across our four areas of focus in 2025–2026 that showcase this work in action.
Education
Education has the power to change the trajectory of young people’s lives and break the cycle of poverty. Last year, with the support of our community of donors, partners, and lived experts, we invested $3,910,485 in 12 education programs spanning from elementary school through to post-secondary.
Together, these programs supported 2,539young people on their pathway to high school completion and 620 youth on their pathway to post-secondary education.
Highlights of key education outcomes achieved include:
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The classroom feels like a safe place. It’s very different compared to my old high school.
— Student participating in Connecting Futures
Spotlight: Connecting Futures
Connecting Futures is an alternative day school program for youth in and from care who are no longer attending or engaged in school. Among the first ventures to be supported by Northpine Foundation, Connecting Futures brings together the Thames Valley District School Board, a community-based organization called Youth Opportunities Unlimited, the Children’s Aid Society of London Middlesex, and municipal partners.
Delivered in community spaces rather than traditional school settings, the program supports young people to reconnect with education, build stability, stay on track academically, and earn the credits they need to graduate and pursue post-secondary education. To date, 25 students have enrolled in the program, five more than targeted in the first year.
The program delivery partners have shared that every student participating in Connecting Futures has re-engaged with school after leaving high school early, and seven students have already earned the credits they need to apply for post-secondary programs.
In addition to supporting school success, the team has also been able to connect students with the wraparound resources they need to thrive in other areas of their lives, such as access to physical and mental health care, nutritious food, connections to community services, and more.
Employment
As Canada faces growing productivity pressures, skills shortages, and economic uncertainty, many talented young people continue to encounter significant barriers to education and employment. This is especially true for youth with lived experience in the child welfare system, who are often struggling with the impacts of childhood trauma, lack of financial or emotional support, and other critical challenges. They urgently need our collective support as they navigate their entry into employment.
Last year, with the support of our community of donors, partners, and lived experts, we invested $1,316,601 to empower 624 young people with the critical skills, resources, and networks needed to secure a job, build a meaningful career, and establish long-term stability and success.
Highlights of key employment outcomes achieved include:
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It made me feel great, made me way more motivated to work, made me more motivated to finish school, it made me feel proud about earning money.
— Young person who participated in Youth Works in Manitoba in 2025
Spotlight: Building pathways to sustainable employment with Youth Works
Thanks to generous investments from RBC Foundation, Minto, and State Street Foundation, the Foundation’s Youth Works program helped 624 young people in communities across Canada develop the readiness skills needed to secure employment and build meaningful careers.
Critical to supporting young people from care as they transition into independence, Youth Works creates access to employability skill-building, internships and job placements, and employment training supports. Among young people who participated in Youth Works last year, 79% expressed increased confidence in their employability skills and preparedness while 88% said they felt more optimistic about their future.
Since 2017, Youth Works has reached over 4,000youth across Canada through six program delivery partners. This past year, one of those partners, Child and Family Services of Western Manitoba, shared that three employers participating in their Youth Works summer placement program retained young people beyond the placement, creating pathways to sustained, long-term employment for youth from care.
Mental Health & Well-Being
Youth in care are nearly four times more likely to experience mental illness compared to the general youth population. Access to timely, appropriate support is a powerful way to help them achieve stability and thrive.
Last year, with the support of our community of donors, partners, and lived experts, we invested $2,137,565 in 17 programs that helped 8,361 children and youth in and from care access timely mental health supports they need, build the tools and confidence to manage their well-being, and strengthen meaningful connections to peers and community.
Highlights of key mental health and well-being outcomes achieved include:
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I’m writing to express my sincere gratitude for the incredible impact your camp has had on my child this past summer. The experience has been nothing short of transformative… One of the most noticeable changes has been in their self-confidence. Through team activities, dance classes, and meaningful connections with peers, they began to truly believe in themselves. They felt seen, supported, and celebrated for who they are.
— Parent of a young person who attended camp with support from the Teddy Bear Fund
Spotlight: Helping children and youth access the magic of camp
Thanks to the support of our Teddy Bear Fund donors, 433 children and youth served by the Children’s Aid Society of Toronto and Native Child and Family Services of Toronto had the opportunity to attend summer and March Break camps over the past year.
Creating access to camp for families facing financial barriers, these transformative experiences aim to help children develop confidence, social connections, and new skills in a safe, fun, and positive environment. Young people attended a wide range of programs matched to their unique needs and interests, including specific camps for Black youth, camps for 2SLGBTQ+ children and youth, camps for children with autism and special needs, and more.
Spotlight: Empowering Black youth to discover and celebrate their identity
Soul Journey is an initiative delivered by the Children’s Aid Society of Toronto that helps Black youth between the ages of 14 and 18 deepen their understanding of Black history and culture through mentorship and visits to historic landmarks that celebrate Black resilience and achievement. With the support of CIBC Foundation in the past year, Soul Journey reached 19young people through regular sessions held over the course of ten months.
Creating access to transformative spaces where Black youth can discover, explore, and celebrate their identity, Soul Journey works to empower participants to deepen their self-awareness and community connections while developing the skills and tools to navigate their personal and academic goals.
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It was deeply rewarding to witness friendships forged and the sense of community taking shape among the youth. I was moved by their level of engagement, how captivated they were with the learning and how well they soaked up the experience, the thoughtful questions they raised, the profound reflections they shared on Black history and legacy. Most powerful was seeing these lessons connected to their own identities, and how clearly they recognized the resilience and strengths that come with Blackness.
— Soul Journey program facilitator
Strong Families & Lifelong Connections
Trauma, instability, and family separation can make it hard for young people involved with child welfare to build trust and healthy relationships, leading to long-term challenges in all areas of life.
Last year, with the support of our community of donors, partners, and lived experts, we invested $3,010,306 in 10 programs that helped 1,755 children, youth, and families experience stable and supportive family care, ensuring young people have safe relationships and places they can count on unconditionally.
Highlights of key outcomes achieved in the area of strong families and lifelong connections include:
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Participants often enter the program experiencing isolation yet leave with a strengthened network of social and emotional support. This transformation is reflective of Indigenous ways of being, healing and parenting. Emphasizing relationality, collective care, community connection and the importance of shared experiences.
— Safe at Home group facilitator with Native Child and Family Services of Toronto
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My relationship with my children’s mother was always full of conflict. I would raise my voice, and it made everything worse. In this program, I learned to manage my anger and communicate respectfully. Now, we talk about our kids calmly, and they notice the difference.
— Participant in Caring Dads, a component of the Safe at Home program
Spotlight: Adapting Safe at Home for Indigenous families and communities
With funding from The Waltons Trust, The Moffat Family Fund, The Slaight Family Foundation, and other donors and partners, the Foundation’s Safe at Home program continues to play a vital role in strengthening families experiencing intimate partner violence in Ontario and Manitoba. By providing targeted interventions to parents, Safe at Home aims to reduce the likelihood of the recurrence of abuse and strives to help children grow up in safe, nurturing, and caring homes. It has now reached 893 parents and caregivers since 2020, benefiting 973 children.
A key strength of Safe at Home is its ongoing collaborations with Indigenous partners who adapt the model to reflect cultural practices. For example, Native Child and Family Services of Toronto delivers its Ninoshe (aunties) program, providing caregivers with in-home parenting support visits. And Sagkeeng Child and Family Services in Manitoba began offering men’s wellness retreats and family incentives to deepen engagement with men in their community.
Both approaches have already made a significant difference for families participating in Safe at Home, underscoring the critical importance of adapting interventions to meet the unique needs of Indigenous people and communities. Learnings are being shared with all Safe at Home partners to advance knowledge of promising practices and strengthen the impact of this innovative program.
Spotlight: Providing targeted financial support to help children remain in kin care
With a commitment from Intact Insurance, in 2025 the Foundation’s Kin Family Support Fund helped 172children, youth, and families access the support and resources they need to ensure young people can remain in the care of relatives when they are unable to live with their parents.
Known as “kin care,” this model of care is an alternative to foster care or group homes. It has been shown to greatly improve young people’s overall well-being by helping children stay connected with their families and identities while benefitting from greater stability and permanence.
The Kin Family Support Fund helps prevent children from entering foster care or group homes by providing flexible financial support to relatives and caregivers that covers the essential costs of raising a child.
In 2025 – 2026, the Kin Family Support Fund helped a family in Toronto experiencing significant challenges. Two siblings were removed from their mother’s care due to severe neglect and were living with their paternal grandmother. But with both siblings diagnosed with ADHD, and one with autism, their grandmother was struggling to provide the support they needed.
Funding from the Kin Family Support Fund allowed her to register both children in specialized tutoring that has improved their well-being at home and at school, underscoring the critical role of targeted, flexible financial support.
Thirty years after launching with just nine students in Toronto, the Foundation’s flagship Post-Secondary Education Program has grown into a national initiative supporting hundreds of youth each year. During the 2025-2026 academic year, we awarded $2.23 million in scholarships, bursaries, and graduation awards to 542 students across Canada. And demand is constantly rising: between the 2021-2022 and 2025-2026 academic years, applications increased by an incredible 48%.
Recognizing that our awards alone are not enough to address the complex barriers young people face when it comes to accessing and completing post-secondary education, we have developed a comprehensive program model that aims to increase enrollment, retention, and graduation. The program model offers a range of resources designed to meet students where they are, including renewable awards and wraparound supports such as coaching, mentorship, and funding for urgent education-related needs.
As we continue evolving our program to reach more young people in the most impactful ways possible, the generosity of our donor community fuels both our efforts and the ambitions of students across the country. Read more about the impact of our PSE Program and how it’s evolving in the 2024–2025 Post-Secondary Education Yearbook.
Spotlight: Smart Start
A review of the Foundation’s scholarship recipient data between 2015 and 2024 found that just over 200 students left before completing their post-secondary education and 84% of those early exits happened within the first year.
To help scholarship recipients stay in school through their first two years of PSE, the Smart Start venture, funded by the Northpine Foundation, directly addresses the most common barriers faced by students. Through Smart Start, students are provided with scholarships, assistance with education-related expenses, access to a post-secondary coach, and peer mentoring to empower PSE completion. In the first year, 35 students were engaged in this transformative program with a 100% retention rate, as all participants remain enrolled in their studies.
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Coaching offers students a consistent, trusted space where they can bounce ideas, navigate the complexities of post-secondary systems, and feel genuinely supported. For many, having someone in their corner who believes in them can make all the difference in their confidence, persistence, and overall success. I’ve heard from many students (and a few parents) that they have benefited from having someone who reaches out to them regularly, just to say hi or send reminders, and from participating in the group mentorship activities.
— Anne Coulter, PSE Coach with Smart Start
Our National Network of Partners
Last year, we partnered with 93 agencies and community-based organizations across 10 provinces and territories to support 14,579 children, youth, and families. Thank you for helping make this impact possible.
Everything we do at the Foundation is grounded in the lived experiences, voices, and guidance of young people with experience of the child welfare system.
Last year, members of the Foundation’s Young People’s Advisory Council and our community of youth ambassadors and volunteers contributed significantly to strategic advising, storytelling, fundraising, public engagement, and awareness-raising. Supporting campaigns, key initiatives, and events spanning from the Children’s Aid Foundation of Canada Gala – Teddy Bear Affair to venture design, these young people played a crucial role in uplifting the work and national impact of Children’s Aid Foundation of Canada.
Highlights:
Building Visibility, Credibility, and Influence
This year, the Foundation’s voice reached further than ever before. Through over 35 strategic engagements with governments, policymakers, and sector leaders, spanning individual meetings, conference presentations, and roundtable discussions, we helped elevate the experiences of young people in and from government care in conversations shaping policy and practice across Canada.
A key milestone was the release of a Senate Committee report on youth aging out of care, which reflected evidence shared by Foundation leaders and reinforced the urgent need for equitable supports for young people transitioning to adulthood. At the same time, we deepened relationships with federal decision-makers, expanded engagement in Manitoba, and advanced discussions in Ontario around education-to-employment pathways.
Riley Langford, Senior Policy & Appointments Advisor / MPP Liaison, and the Hon. Nolan Quinn, Minister of Colleges, Universities, Research Excellence and Security.
As governments and partners increasingly seek our expertise, the Foundation is helping build momentum for lasting systems change, ensuring the voices, needs, and potential of young people remain at the centre of decisions that affect their futures.
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Christina Loc further added that without support systems, family or parents to help out, ‘many young people transition out of care into homelessness, with a perpetual looming fear that they will continue to return to poverty.’
— Excerpt from Nothing to Celebrate: The Crisis of Youth Aging out of Care report from the Standing Senate Committee on Human Rights
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The federal government has a role to play in leveling the playing field and ensuring that young people aging out of care have equitable access to the supports they require.
— Wendy Chan in excerpt from Nothing to Celebrate: The Crisis of Youth Aging out of Care report from the Standing Senate Committee on Human Rights
Donors who made a cash gift of $5,000+ between April 1, 2025 and March 31, 2026.
$2,000,000 – $5,000,000+
The Joyce Family Foundation
The Northpine Foundation
$1,000,000 – $1,999,999
Lisa A. Rogers, In Honour of Ted and Loretta Rogers
The Waltons Trust
$500,000 – $999,999
BMO Financial Group
$250,000 – $499,999
AMJ
CIBC Foundation
Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption
Jamie Johnson
RBC Foundation
Scotiabank
Sun Life
TD Bank Group
$100,000 – $249,999
Air Canada Foundation
The Azrieli Foundation
BridgeGreen Capital Inc.
CIBC One for Change Auction
Clay and Robin Horner
Dottori-Attanasio Family
Element Fleet
Joe Carter Classic
The Minto Greenberg Legacy Foundation
The Moffat Family Fund
Morgan Stanley
Northbridge Financial Corporation
R. Howard Webster Foundation
Tachane Foundation Inc.
$50,000 – $99,999
Anonymous
Anonymous
Daniel & Kathryn Barclay
Donald A. Guloien and Irene Boychuk
Christian and Florence Exshaw
Fidelity Investments Canada ULC
The Four Oaks Foundation
Google
Intact Financial Corporation
The J. Armand Bombardier Foundation
Lindy Green Family Foundation
The MacNaughtan Family
Marshall Cohen
Michelle and John Ovens
National Bank Financial Group
The Peter Gilgan Foundation
Scott McCain
Sheilagh and Peter Johnson
The Slaight Family Foundation
State Street Trust Company Canada
TELUS / TELUS Friendly Future Foundation
The William and Nona Heaslip Foundation
$25,000 – $49,999
Adam and Allison Sinclair
Alamos Gold Inc.
Anew Solutions
Anonymous
The Bay Street Children’s Foundation
Balsam Foundation
Ben Metzler and Dr. Diana Sun
Brookfield Management Services Limited
The Carlyle Group
Carrie Cook and Sean McIntyre
CI Financial
Connor, Clark & Lunn Foundation
Corsage Project
Crux Capital Corporation
In Honour of Dr. Chi Yau
Generation Capital
The Gopaul Family
Hodgson Family Foundation
Jennifer Steel & Adam Givertz
Linda Frum & Howard Sokolowski Charitable Foundation
Mattamy Asset Management Ltd.
McCall MacBain Foundation
McCarthy Tétrault LLP
The McCain Foundation
Mover’s Equipment and Supplies Ltd.
Paul Sabourin
The Polar Foundation
Skilled Trades College
Sofina Foods Inc.
The William Birchall Foundation
$10,000 – $24,999
1886141 Ontario Inc.
Algonquin Capital
Andrea Odette Federer
Anca Drexler & Saurabh Rastogi
Anonymous
Anonymous
Aon
ARGA Family Foundation
Arup
Barbara and Dougal Macdonald
Barry and Alison Hildred
Ben Mandell and Caroline Gibbings Mandell
Bill Butt and Susan Quigley
Birch Hill Equity Partners Management Inc.
Blackstone Inc.
BOMA Toronto
Cathy and Dave Cobey
CGI
Children’s Aid Society of Toronto Alumni
Chris and Noella Milne
DBRS Limited
Deloitte & Touche LLP
Dentons Canada LLP
Domenic Gesualdi
Don, Jane and Durno Family
Dori J. Segal
Enbridge Gas
Fasken Martineau DuMoulin LLP
Fitzrovia Real Estate Inc.
Gloria Cottam
Gordon & Cathryn Raman
Griggs Family Foundation at Toronto Foundation
iA Financial Group
Ian de Verteuil and Linda Glover
ivari
Jane Henderson
Janine Gliener
Jaspreet Singh
John J. and M. L. Meehan
Kim Snow
KPMG LLP
Kristina Depencier
The Canadian Red Cross Society
The Chene Foundation
The Connor-Uffelmann Foundation
The Co-operators Group Limited
The Counselling Foundation of Canada
The Gerald Schwartz & Heather Reisman Foundation
The Graham Burton Foundation
The Henry White Kinnear Foundation
The Langar Foundation
The M.E.H. Foundation
The Rotary Club of Toronto Charitable Foundation
The Tenaquip Foundation
Linda and Bob Goldberger
Loblaw Inc.
Marg & Dave McCann
Mark and Michele Hornick
Mike & Martha Pedersen
Molly and David Bloom
Move Complete Inc.
Nadia and Warren King
National Bank Financial Inc.
Northleaf Capital Partners
Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP
PayPal Giving Fund Canada
Polar Asset Management Partners
RBC Global Asset Management Inc.
Richard and Darleen Falconer
Rishi Dani
Robert and Shelley Chausse
Rogers Communications Inc.
Ryan Voegeli
Sean Gilbert and Joy Polevoy
Shael & Jennifer Kalef
Shannon Lewis
Sheila R. Block
Starlight Group Property Holdings Inc.
Stephanie and Brian D’Costa
Steven Jensen
Tamra and Donny Cottam
Terri-Lee Weeks
Tobin Family Foundation
Turtle Creek Asset Management Inc.
UBS Securities Canada Inc.
Vineet and Trish Malhotra
Vivek Beri and Shi Chen
$5,000 – $9,999
Allan and Norine Rose
Amy Freedman
Andrew Hoffman and Leslie Giller
Anonymous
Anonymous
Anonymous
Anonymous
Anonymous
Anthony Weldon
Auctionjam Inc.
Beutel Goodman Private Client Group
BMW Group Financial Services Canada
Brent and Lynn Belzberg
Bryan Baker
David Brady and Robin Lampard
David Rawlings
Deborah Henderson
Denis Frappier
Dr. Beverley A. Lee Foundation
Dr. John Percy and Dr. Maire Percy
Eric and Rita Métivier
Eun Ju Lagonia
Freedom International Brokers Inc.
Fred Dalley
Geoffrey Wong
Greg Lemaich
IGM Financial
Ian Ford
In memory of Pinkle Sturgeon
Jack Thomas Fund at the Toronto Foundation
James Dodds
James Messenger
Janet Beadle and Don Scime
Jason Mackay
Jeffrey Bowman
Jim and Jennifer Ginis
Joep Van Gaal
John and Amanda Sherrington
John Bylaard
John Ferraro
John Friedrichsen and Tracy Cooper
Jones Lang Lasalle Real Estate Services Inc.
Karin Eisen
The Kunica Family
La Fondation Emmanuelle Gattuso
LiUNA Local 183
Linda and Steve Lowden Fund at the Toronto Foundation
Lisa Brooks
Lois Smith
Luc Mongeau and Rodney Craig
Manav Phull
Mark Herzog
Martina Borchardt and Martin Day Foundation
Maureen & Victor Dodig and Family
MCAP Inc.
McLean Smits Family Foundation
Medalist Capital
Meghan Wright
Michael Gallimore and Cecile Peterkin
Michael Partridge
Michel Fortier
Mike Frappier
Mike Keilhauer
Moody’s Corporation
New Orchard Foundation
Nicol Family Foundation
Pierre Frappier
Private Giving Foundation
Roman and Roma Dubczak
Rory and Julie Mitz
Ryan Manucha
Savi Sanghara
Sheryl and Eric Berke
State Street Foundation
Stephen L. and Cookie Sandler
Sujata Kulkarni
Tammy Ho
Tangerine Forward Banking
The Pilosof Family and RP Investment Advisors LP
Thomas McEwen
Toronto CREW
Toronto Star Fresh Air Fund
Torys LLP
Travelers Canada
UWC (Toronto) Foundation
Valerie McMurtry
Wilma Ditchfield
Williams-Sonoma Canada
Yong Yun
Your Moving Depot Inc.
This list recognizes donors who made leadership commitments of $100,000 or more in support of our National Campaign for Child Welfare between April 1, 2025 and March 31, 2026.
$10,000,000+
The Joyce Family Foundation
$5,000,000 – $9,999,999
The Northpine Foundation
$1,000,000 – $5,000,000
RBC Foundation
$250,000 – $499,999
Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption – Canada
Jamie Johnson
Tachane Foundation Inc.
$100,000 – $249,999
Adam and Allison Sinclair
Air Canada Foundation
Anonymous
The Azrieli Foundation
BMO Financial Group
CIBC One for Change Auction
Clay and Robin Horner
Don, Jane and Durno Family
Dottori-Attanasio Family
Dr. Susan Storey & Michael Breen
Giorgia Anton
Jennifer Steel & Adam Givertz
Joe Carter Classic
Morgan Stanley
Northbridge Financial Corporation
Rishi Dani
Bell Media
Corus Entertainment
Dekko Concrete
Globe & Mail
Madeline’s Boutique
Marie-Lysa Lemelin
National Post
Peppy Colours
Ride or Die CDN Productions Inc.
Rogers Media
Ron Moppett
Torys LLP
FREE, digital cookbook: More Than Meals: Stories and Recipes of Youth from Child Welfare
Created by youth with lived experience in care, More Than Meals is a cookbook that shares stories of strength, transition, and hope.