FR“Now I can face the world with so much confidence!
No fear.It takes a community to raise children”
Teddy Bear Fund-supported Kuponya program
2025-2026 Teddy BearFund Report
See Your ImpactA Message of Gratitude
Changing the future for children involved with the child welfare system doesn’t just mean addressing their immediate NEEDS. And it doesn’t just mean investing in long-term solutions.
It means being there for both. Because young people need help right now, and they also need access to the resources, supports, and conditions that will help them thrive tomorrow.
This is exactly what the Teddy Bear Fund is making possible thanks to your support.
Fueled by the generosity of a growing community of donors, the Teddy Bear Fund is a cornerstone of Children’s Aid Foundation of Canada’s national impact strategy and a lifeline of hope for children and families experiencing vulnerability. It’s there to meet urgent needs and provide basic necessities, while also investing in collaborative, innovative solutions that create better outcomes for children involved with the child welfare system. Crucially, it’s also building an endowment that will help ensure support is there for generations to come.
With a focus on funding evidence-informed approaches, early intervention initiatives, and prevention efforts, the Teddy Bear Fund advances key priorities across the Foundation’s four focus areas of education, employment, mental health and well-being, and strong families and lifelong connections. Every step of the way, the Teddy Bear Fund has been there — helping children and families thrive, improving outcomes, and creating a better, stronger future for everyone in Canada.
Last year, our growing community of donors — including 52 Teddy Bear Guardians, leading philanthropists who have each contributed $100,000 or more — directly impacted the lives of 1,662 children, youth, and families across Canada. We are also proud and grateful to recognize the 25 donors who have created their own Teddy Bear Endowment Fund to build a world where no child’s future is limited by their involvement with the child welfare system.
As we embark on the next chapter of growth and impact for the Teddy Bear Fund and the children and families it supports, we are guided by an ambitious vision: to grow our community to 100 Teddy Bear Guardians and our Endowment to $20 million in capital. Together, these milestones will help ensure even more children and families can access the opportunities, support, and stability they need for generations to come. We are honoured to share a look at the wide-reaching impact of your support in 2025–2026.
By providing care and hope when it’s needed most, you are helping build a future where every child has the opportunity to thrive.
Thank you for being there when it matters most.
As you read through this report, please know that none of this work would be possible without you. On behalf of all of us at Children’s Aid Foundation of Canada: thank you.
Sincerely,
Jeffrey Schiffer, PhD
President and CEO
Children’s Aid Foundation of Canada
Your Impact in 2025-2026
Last year, your generosity helped meet the needs of 1,662 children, youth, and families involved with the child welfare system – all while working towards stronger long-term outcomes for generations to come. Take a look at your impact by the numbers!
Grants Made Possible by Teddy Bear Fund Donors
Below are highlights of the strategic programs and services supported through the Teddy Bear Fund in 2025-2026, in partnership with Children’s Aid Society of Toronto (CAST).
We help children and youth build strong relationships with family, kin, and caring adults, creating lasting connections and a sense of belonging.
- Donations Program – Volunteer Services: Addresses urgent needs and improves well-being of children, youth, and families through the provision of food and gift card vouchers.
- Yonge Street Mission Partnership: Delivered through CAST, this program strengthens family resilience through wraparound supports such as daycare, food, tutoring, and parenting classes to prevent children from coming into care.
- Caring Dads: Strengthens parent-child relationships and prevents intimate partner violence from recurring through an evidence-based intervention that helps fathers with a history of domestic violence build skills in child-centred parenting.
- Mothers in Mind: Strengthens family relationships and child well-being through a trauma-informed, therapeutic mother-child play group for mothers who have experienced trauma or domestic violence.
- Engaging Fathers: Strengthens parenting skills and family relationships through a culturally inclusive skill building program for Black fathers.
- Kuponya: Strengthens parent-child relationships through culturally responsive and trauma- informed approaches.
- TIDES (Together, Inclusive Diverse Equitable Service): Helps families remain safely together through supports for children who have intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) and/or autism spectrum disorder (ASD) with support from Surrey Place.
We support young people from care to stay in school, graduate, and pursue post-secondary education, building the confidence, skills, and stability to shape their own futures.
- Freshmancares/Dare to Dream: Enables educational success and post-secondary participation through dynamic supports for students connected to CAST.
We help children and youth from care access timely, appropriate mental health supports and experiences that build resilience, confidence, identity, and meaningful connections.
- Child & Youth Services Holiday Party: Fosters belonging, connection, and well-being through a holiday celebration for children and youth served by CAST.
- Equity Events and Programs: Supports inclusion, belonging, and well-being through events and programs that promote equity and inclusion.
- Family Services Camp: Strengthens mental health, well-being, and resilience through day and overnight camping for children and youth in need.
- Indigenous Spirit Fund: Supports the well-being and cultural connection of children and youth through services delivered by Native Child & Family Services of Toronto (NCFST).
We equip young people from care with the skills, resources, and networks to secure meaningful employment and build long-term stability and independence.
- Pape Adolescent Resource Centre (PARC): Supports the successful transition from care to independence through one-to-one supports for young people, including housing, employment, mental health counselling, and life skills development.
- Youth Engagement — Youth Consultant Council & Youth CAN: Elevates the voices of youth in and from care through opportunities to provide feedback on CAST’s programs and services and participate in leadership and advocacy initiatives, including the annual Ontario Association of Children’s Aid Societies (OACAS) YouthCAN conference.
- Child Welfare Institute (CWI): Improves outcomes for children, youth, and families through research, evaluation, and collaboration with academic and community partners to advance evidence-informed practice.
Your Impact in Action
As a generous supporter of the Teddy Bear Fund, you fuel programs and services that address immediate needs while driving long-term change for children and youth involved with the child welfare system.
We’re proud to highlight four impactful initiatives directly supported by your generosity in 2025-2026, each aligned with a key focus area from our national impact strategy.
Focus Area: Strong Families and Lifelong Connections
Kuponya: Empowering Black families
Black children and families are significantly overrepresented in the child welfare system in Canada due to systemic racism and discrimination, intergenerational trauma, barriers to accessing support, and other factors. They are also twice as likely to be referred to and investigated by child welfare compared to white families.
“The group reminded me I’m not alone. I left each session feeling lighter, stronger, and more equipped as a parent. The tools shared were meaningful and easy to apply, even in tough moments.”
Recognizing these critical challenges, the Children’s Aid Society of Toronto (CAST) and Caribbean African Canadian Social Services (CAFCAN) created Kuponya — a culturally responsive, trauma-informed program specifically designed to support the unique needs of Black parents and caregivers.
Meaning “to heal,” and grounded in an anti-Black racism framework, Kuponya creates safe and supportive spaces where parents and caregivers can explore how trauma impacts their emotions, relationships, and parenting.
Through programs like Trauma 101 and Parenting Through Trauma, participants learn practical coping strategies, strengthen their understanding of trauma responses, and develop tools to support both their own well-being and that of their children. Families also have access to a Community Resource Liaison Worker, who helps them access culturally appropriate clinical services, community supports, and resources.
Parents and caregivers participating in Kuponya consistently report feeling supported, validated, and empowered — an impact that’s helping to break the cycle of intergenerational trauma and support thriving families.
Your generosity directly supported the delivery of four virtual group programs in 2025-2026, including two Trauma 101 groups and two Parenting Through Trauma groups. Thanks to your investment:
- 91 families participated in Kuponya
- 37 children and youth were directly supported
- 261 children and youth were indirectly reached through strengthened families
Focus Area: Mental Health and Well-Being
On the Land Campus: Connecting Indigenous children and families to the land
For Indigenous communities, connection to the land is deeply woven into culture, identity, healing, and well-being. But for Indigenous children, youth, and families living in urban centres, accessing culturally safe land-based spaces can be a tremendous challenge — particularly for those experiencing poverty, instability, and other barriers.
To help address this need, Native Child and Family Services of Toronto (NCFST) hosts year-round On the Land Camps on their camp property near Clarendon Station, Ontario.
Bringing together Indigenous children, youth, and families, including children in care, On the Land Camps offer seasonal programming that blends recreation with culture, ceremony, and traditional knowledge. Campers can engage in teaching circles, sweat lodge ceremonies, traditional storytelling, medicine making, crafts, drumming, nature walks, land-based activities led by Elders and cultural knowledge keepers, and more.
“Camp is like my home away from home, a place where I can truly be myself. I love everything about it, from the sweats and the laughs I get to share with others, to swimming in the lake and breathing in the fresh, clean air. Every year when I come back, it’s like all my worries fade away, and I’m just happy to be there.”
With cultural teachings woven into daily camp experiences, participants strengthen their connection to identity, community, and Indigenous ways of knowing while building confidence, meaningful relationships, resilience, and leadership skills — creating a ripple effect of positive impact in their lives, families, and communities.
Last year, through your generous support of the Teddy Bear Fund, you helped 317 children and youth attend On the Land Camps in the spring, summer, fall, and winter of 2025-2026.
Throughout the year, campers participated in hiking, canoeing, swimming, campfires, maple syrup harvesting, seasonal teachings, arts and crafts, and team-building games as they fostered stronger connections with the land, with their cultural identity, and with their communities.
Focus Area: Education
Freshmancares: Hope, comfort, and support for post-secondary students
For young people involved with the child welfare system, the transition to college or university can come with a lot of added stress. Compared to their peers, many youth from care are navigating financial pressure and big life changes with limited family support — experiences that are exacerbated by the lasting impacts of a disrupted or unstable childhood.
With support from the Teddy Bear Fund, Freshmancares is helping to ease this transition, provide much-needed support, and remind young people that they are not alone.
Through Freshmancares, students receive specially curated care packages and personalized messages from their support workers at critical milestones in the post-secondary experience: the start of the school year, the first-semester exam period, and end-of-year final exams.
These touchpoints help strengthen relationships between youth and their support workers, create opportunities to identify emerging needs, and let young people know that someone is thinking of them, empowering confidence and well-being as they pursue their dreams.
“It means a lot to me personally. Having received these gifts, which have been customized, makes me feel very seen, loved, and appreciated. It makes me feel very good knowing someone has put in the effort to think of me and congratulate me on my accomplishments even if it doesn’t seem like a huge feat.”
Through your support of the Teddy Bear Fund, you helped Freshmancares provide customized care packages to 76 first-year students throughout the year. In March, the program expanded to send packages to all post-secondary students connected to the program, delivering comfort, hope, and encouragement during a traditionally challenging time of year.
Each package included travel mugs, journals, practical gifts, treats, and handwritten notes. Support workers reported that students were surprised and deeply appreciative to receive a package specially created for them. Thank you for making this heartfelt impact possible!
Focus Area: Employment
Employment readiness workshops at PARC
Children and youth involved with child welfare face profound barriers to stable, long-term employment. These challenges are often compounded by disrupted education and lack of access to skill building, job readiness opportunities, and professional networks.
To help address this critical gap, the Pape Adolescent Resource Centre (PARC) — an initiative providing support, resources, and programming for youth in the process of transitioning out of care — offers a wide range of workshops designed to help young people successfully secure jobs and launch their careers.
“This experience gave me a stronger sense of purpose and direction. I feel more prepared to contribute to my community and to advocate for better outcomes for youth.”
In 2025-2026, PARC worked in collaboration with Youth Employment Services (YES) to deliver workshops on resume building, interview preparation, professional presentation, interview skills, and more. Together with the YMCA, a multi-service organization, the PARC team also delivered the Youth for Entrepreneurship Career Paths workshops, which engage young people between the ages of 16 and 26 in interactive sessions on business planning, idea development, and exploring entrepreneurial pathways.
In addition to these initiatives, PARC offered the Believe Become You workshop, a unique opportunity for young people to explore their identities, goals, and aspirations through interactive activities that strengthen confidence, self-awareness, and future planning skills.
With every workshop, young people with lived experience of child welfare are better equipped to move forward with confidence toward the lives they imagine — creating a future of their own unstoppable success.
In 2025-2026, your generosity helped 371 young people develop the skills they need to secure a job and establish long-term stability, including 60 who gained employment during the year and 311 who are actively working toward employment.
Teddy Bear Guardian Spotlight: Jamie Johnson
Building a legacy of impact for generations to come.
For Jamie Johnson, Co-Founder and Chairman of Signal Hill Equity Partners, becoming a Teddy Bear Guardian was a meaningful evolution of his long-time support of the Foundation — one that deeply reflects his desire to create impact for young people involved with the child welfare system today while building a lasting legacy for the future.
A father of three and dedicated champion of young people, Jamie has always been passionate about supporting people and communities experiencing barriers to stability and well-being. That’s why, in 2013, he established the James C. Johnson Scholarship as a brand-new donor to the Foundation, driven by a desire to be there for young people facing obstacles to higher education.
As he witnessed the success of the students supported by his scholarship year after year, he started to rally his friends, family, and colleagues at Signal Hill Equity Partners, including launching Signal Hill Rocks — an annual event that raised thousands of dollars in support of the Foundation.
Soon, inspired by the growing impact he was helping to create, Jamie developed a long-term vision for his philanthropy: to ensure generations of youth in and from care would have access to the support they need to thrive.
As he learned more about the Teddy Bear Fund, Jamie was drawn to its focus on responding to urgent needs while creating sustainable, long-term impact for children and families involved with child welfare. Recognizing that the Fund aligned closely with his own philanthropic values and vision for the future, he made a significant gift that achieved both of his goals. His contribution provided immediate support to the Teddy Bear Fund, while also establishing two endowments — one in his name and one in honour of Valerie McMurtry, the Foundation’s former President and CEO, who retired in March 2026.
“I wanted to recognize Valerie’s remarkable tenure and help carry her legacy into the future with this endowment,” says Jamie. “Like Valerie, I believe we all have a role to play in creating a more equitable and inclusive society. When children and youth involved in child welfare have a fair chance to thrive, we all benefit.”
Jamie’s endowments, which will help ensure the Teddy Bear Fund can continue to support the changing needs of young people long into the future, are a tangible expression of his ever-growing passion for the Foundation’s work.
“Over the years, I have been deeply inspired by the stories of young people in and from care supported by the Foundation,” says Jamie.
“Being a Guardian means I can help ensure more children and youth have access to support when they need it most, while creating a lasting legacy that will benefit kids for generations to come.”
We extend our deepest gratitude to Jamie for being there for kids and families involved with the child welfare system. Thank you for stepping forward with vision, generosity, and compassion to create a future where every child has the opportunity to thrive.
Celebrating Teddy Bear Guardians
Teddy Bear Guardians are a circle of generous individuals who have each contributed $100,000 or more in support of the Teddy Bear Fund.
We are proud to recognize and celebrate their deep commitment to providing hope, comfort, and support for young people involved with the child welfare system so they can create futures of their own unstoppable success.
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
Dottori-Attanasio Family
Don, Jane and Durno Family
The K. Michael Edwards Family 🩵
Christian & Florence Exshaw 🩵
Lynn Factor & Sheldon Inwentash 🩵
Richard (Dick) & Darleen Falconer 🩵
The Four Oaks Foundation 🩵
Adam Givertz & Jennifer Steel
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 🩵
Fred & Donna Leslie 🩵
Dougal & Barbara Macdonald 🩵
Vineet & Trish Malhotra 🩵
John & Gillian McArthur
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 🩵
Adam & Allison Sinclair 🩵
Howard Sokolowski & Linda Frum
Dr. Susan Storey & Michael Breen
In Memory of Pinkle Sturgeon 🩵
The William Birchall Foundation 🩵
Learn more about the Teddy Bear Guardians
“Children and young adults in care are entitled to lives that are full, healthy, educated, and supported.
I have seen first-hand how much is involved in raising a child, particularly when there are complex needs. It is demanding on the child and the family and the need for support continues for years. Knowing this, it requires me to step up, see the need, and the fund as I am able.”
Teddy Bear Fund Guardian and Former Board Chair
Teddy Bear Fund Endowment
We extend our deepest gratitude to donors who have chosen to establish a Teddy Bear Fund Endowment. Their generosity is creating lasting change for children and families involved with the child welfare system, ensuring transformative support is available for generations to come.
In 2025-2026, the Teddy Bear Fund Endowment grew to $11.25 million, up from $10.6 million the previous year. The Teddy Bear Fund Endowment now includes 25 individual named endowments, reflecting the vision and generosity of philanthropists who are deeply committed to being there for children and youth involved with the child welfare system long into the future.
We continue to focus on growing the capital value of the fund while increasing spending capacity in step with future needs. To ensure we can continue to distribute funds in years when investment markets are underperforming, we reinvest any earnings beyond the annual spending allocation in years of strong performance.
The Teddy Bear Fund Endowment’s annual disbursement rate in 2025-2026 was 5% and will remain the same for 2026-2027. The Foundation’s Endowment Fund Policy also allows for 1% recapitalization and a 1% administration fee, which are included in the disbursement amount outlined in the report.*
With an annual disbursement rate of 5%, the Teddy Bear Fund Endowment provided $282,000 in impact grants in 2025-2026.
*Disbursements from Endowments (0.46) M
- Fund Balance: $11.25M
- Impact Grants in 2025-2026: $0.12M
- Teddy Bear Fund Endowment 2025-2026 Grantees: Children’s Aid Society of Toronto and Native Child and Family Services of Toronto
Annual Disbursement Rate for 2026-2027 is 5% and is expected to provide $472,000 from eligible Endowment Funds for impact.
Changes to Children’s Aid Foundation of Canada’s endowments are managed by its Investment Committee and overseen by the Board of Directors.
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 🩵
In Honour of 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
Thank you
There’s no doubt about it: the Teddy Bear Fund is igniting a bold new future for children, youth, and families involved with the child welfare system in Canada.
From meeting immediate needs to building a permanent resource of support for generations to come, the Fund is there for children when they need it most.
Today, tomorrow, and always.
As we celebrate its remarkable impact, we are also looking ahead to a future of unprecedented growth. Our commitment to children and youth involved with child welfare must be as sustainable as it is unwavering. The Teddy Bear Fund Endowment provides that foundation, helping ensure resources are there not only for the children and families we reach today, but for those who will need them in the years and decades to come. To realize the full potential and vision of the Teddy Bear Fund, we invite philanthropists across Canada to step forward as Teddy Bear Guardians, create or contribute to a Teddy Bear Fund Endowment, and spread the word.
Jeffrey Schiffer, PhD
President and CEO
Children’s Aid Foundation of Canada
2025-2026 Board of Directors and Campaign Cabinet
Giorgia Anton
Managing Director and Head, Equity Research
CIBC Capital Markets
Daniel Barclay, Chair
Corporate Director
William (Bill) Butt
Corporate Director
Carrie Cook
Global Head, Investment and Corporate Banking
BMO Capital Markets
Kris Depencier, Secretary
Executive Vice President, Regional Banking – Personal
Royal Bank of Canada
Anca Drexler
Chief Investment Officer
Building Ontario Fund
Barbara Fallon
Associate Vice President, Research University of Toronto and
Professor at the Faculty of Social Work
Pierre Frappier
President and Chief Executive Officer
AMJ
John Gossling, Treasurer
Chief Executive Officer and (Interim) Chief Financial Officer
Corus Entertainment
Barry Hildred
Principal
Level 2 Advisors Inc.
Nadia King
Chief Financial Officer
PwC Canada
Amanda Lang
Host, Taking Stock; Business Journalist
Dougal Macdonald
Corporate Director
Gordon Raman
Chief Legal Officer
ATS Automation
Lindsay Scott
Managing Director & Head, Canadian Diversified Industries Investment Banking
TD Securities
Nicole Stewart Kamanga
Barrister and Solicitor
Jaime Watt
Executive Chairman Navigator Ltd.
Terri-Lee Weeks
Executive Chairman
President and Chief Executive Officer
Tangerine
Giorgia Anton
Managing Director and Head, Equity Research
CIBC Capital Markets
Daniel Barclay
Chair, Children’s Aid Foundation of Canada Board of Directors
Corporate Director
Jeff Bowman
Partner, National Ecosystems and Alliances Leader
Deloitte Canada
William (Bill) Butt, Campaign Co-Chair
Corporate Director
Carrie Cook
Global Head, Investment and Corporate Banking
BMO Capital Markets
Richard D. Falconer
Senior Advisor
Lazard Canada Inc.
Pierre Frappier
President and Chief Executive Officer
AMJ
Sean Gilbert
Managing Director and Global Co-Head, Debt Capital Markets, Global Investment Banking
CIBC World Markets Inc.
John Gossling
Treasurer Chief Executive Officer and (Interim) Chief Financial Officer
Corus Entertainment
Clay Horner
Mergers & Acquisitions and Strategic Advisor
Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP
Shael Kalef
Managing Director, Global Markets
BMO Capital Markets
Dougal Macdonald, Campaign Co-Chair
Corporate Director
Vineet Malhotra
Founder and Chief Executive Officer
Monie Payments
Ben Metzler
Managing Director,
Head of Canadian Financial Institutions
UBS
Lindsay Scott
Managing Director & Head, Canadian Diversified Industries Investment Banking
TD Securities
Adam R. Sinclair
Managing Director, Investment Banking, Head of Financial Institutions
BMO Capital Markets
Jaime Watt
Executive Chairman
Navigator Ltd.
Danny Wright
Winnipeg Managing Partner and Tax Leader
PwC Canada
Download your 2025-26 Teddy Bear Fund Impact Report
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