Grant Requests

Community

Dare To Be Youth Charity
DTBY aims to inspire youth to make their mark. We provide youth with high-impact programming to help them navigate life's noise and challenges with a vision of a future where all youth are resilient and empowered to make an authentic impact.

Dare to be Youth Charity (DTBY) empowers high school students and young people (14-24) in the Halton Region.

We believe in the power of community as a critical component of thriving and wellness, connecting youth, facilitating opportunities for dialogue, and helping them build the skills to thrive.

Through our program offerings, DTBY inspires, mentors, and creates the capacity of tomorrow's leaders. DTBY programs are designed to help youth thrive by developing resilient life skills and improving their overall wellness. Over the past three years, DTBY has supported hundreds of students from Oakville, primarily through our Youth Inspire Community Day and Leader Within programs.

Requested
10,000.00
Funded
650.00
 
ErinoakKids Centre for Treatment and Development
The mission of ErinoakKids is to help children and youth with physical, developmental and communication disabilities achieve optimal levels of independence, learning, health and well-being.

ErinoakKids serves children who have physical and developmental differences, autism, communication disorders, blindness/low vision and hearing loss. Serving Halton, Peel and Dufferin County, our mission is to help our clients achieve optimal levels of independence, learning, health and well-being.

ErinoakKids works from a family-centred philosophy, and our focus is on the strengths and resilience of our clients and their families. We have close connections throughout our community, and partner with school boards, other service providers, and hospitals in the delivery of care, including SickKids and Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital in Toronto.

Requested
25,000.00
Funded
650.00
 
Oakville & Milton Humane Society
We are dedicated to protecting and making life better for animals and connecting the communities that care about them in Oakville and Milton.

The Oakville & Milton Humane Society was founded to provide care and shelter to homeless, stray, and abused animals. We receive no level of government funding for our programs and services, and instead rely on the generosity of community members, corporate donors and our fundraising efforts.

Serving the community for almost 90 years, we remain steadfast to improving the lives of animals. Today we offer a variety of services for both people and pets including pet adoptions, surrender services, lost and found services, animal control and bylaw for the City of Oakville, education programs, outreach services including a pet food bank, a thrift store and more.

Requested
25,000.00
Funded
12,155.00
 
Oakville Public Library
Oakville New Library

Oakville Public Library strives to fulfill our mission of cultivating discovery and creativity in every phase of life.

Our vision is to inspire Oakville, and create an inclusive, barrier-free environment where all members of the community can access physical and digital resources and services. We are focused on exceptional customer service to meet the needs of all customers while ensuring literacy and learning is available to everyone.

Requested
25,000.00
Funded
1,675.00
 
Oakville Wind Orchestra
We aspire to enrich our communities through the power of music, and make Oakville a great place to live, work, and visit for all. Founded in 1866, the Oakville Wind Orchestra is one of Canada's oldest performing arts groups.

We are a community group comprised of volunteers. We are built around the values of diversity and inclusion. It underpins our every decision, guides our interactions with stakeholders, and informs our musical programming and event location choices when organizing live music events.

We aim to provide an outstanding musical organization and environment for Oakville area musicians. Our musical organization shares this passion and preservation of the arts with the community through musical presentations and collaborations with like minded groups.

Requested
5,000.00
Funded
650.00
 
STRIDE (Supported Training and Rehabilitation in Diverse Environments)
Our Mission: Stride is committed to providing person centered support to empower people living with mental health and/or addiction challenges to gain and maintain meaningful employment.

Stride is a specialized mental health and addiction agency serving Halton, Peel and surrounding areas. We exist because work changes lives and people living in our community are best served by us because we understand their unique needs.

Stride works to support members of our community experiencing barriers to employment caused by their mental health or addiction issues. We help individuals gain and maintain meaningful employment through individualized programs, resources and connections to supportive employers in our community.

Our employment support programs offer a variety of job readiness services to individuals who are ready to either develop their careers in new areas or return to a field in which they've had previous experience.

Requested
20,000.00
Funded
650.00
 
Thrive Counselling Services
At Thrive Counselling, we have a vision of strong people, strong families and strong communities. Our mission is to partner with communities and clients to manage life's challenges,

Thrive is a family service agency providing counselling and social services as well as a community leader in addressing gender-based violence. Our focus is on both women and children who have experienced abuse or violence as well as working to change the behaviours of those who are abusive and violent to break these recurring cycles.

In addition, we provide comprehensive individual, couple and family counselling to address relationship and family issues, mental health concerns including depression, anxiety and trauma, and stressors including grief, loss, separation and caregiving. With community growth and post-pandemic impacts on mental health and families, the need for our services has never been higher.

Requested
25,000.00
Funded
650.00
 
The Willow Foundation
To provide support and life enrichment programming to older adults.

The Willow Foundation is dedicated to improving the health and wellness of seniors and adults with disabilities residing in Halton Region. We provide programs such as music, art and VR Therapy, live entertainment, hands on experiences, day trips, educational programs, social events and many more.

This gives seniors and adults with disabilities the options to join, thus enhancing their lives by participating in these events otherwise not available to them. This is available to all the participants of the Halton Region's adult day programs and residents of three long term care facilities and four Assisted Living Facilities.

Requested
25,000.00
Funded
650.00
 
YMCA of Oakville
The YMCA of Oakville provides programs for Families

The YMCA of Oakville removes financial barriers to ensure children, youth and adults learn, grow, lead and live their best lives through participation in a wide variety of programs and services, such as learning to swim, attending summer camp or a skills-based sports program.

Last year the Y provided financial assistance to 1 in 7 to access these programs and the community outreach activities continue to be offered for free. A donation to the YMCA of Oakville will enable equity-deserving children, youth and adults to stay healthy in spirit, mind and body through financial assistance while gaining the skills and opportunities they need to thrive.

Requested
25,000.00
Funded
650.00
 

Arts, Culture and Heritage

Canadian Caribbean Association of Halton
CCAH promotes awareness that unity in diversity, full and active participation, unbiased inclusion, and the capacity to value differences equally are essential to the social, cultural, and economic growth of Halton Region.

CCAH programs, services, events and initiatives are grounded in their core values - The Four Pillars: Education, Culture, Community and Harmony.

CCAH provides cultural education that develops understandings and knowledge of:

• Other cultures, including but not limited to programs on culture, history, art, literature and music of Black and Caribbean cultures

• Discrimination and the impact of racism on the community.

CCAH promotes inclusion, mutual respect, acceptance, and harmony among community members.

CCAH increases communication by breaking down barriers and building bridges of understanding between ethnocultural groups, institutions, and the community. CCAH provides resources for public education programs.

Requested
25,000.00
Funded
6,870.00
 
The Oakville Choral Society Inc
Oakville Choral is a non-profit cultural organization whose aim is the promotion of choral singing and music appreciation in the community.

Oakville Choral is the longest running choir in Oakville. We are committed to an inclusive philosophy and expanding our program to members far beyond our immediate community. Our Spring 2025 Season's theme Voices of our Land will explore natural beauty of landscapes through the Canadian music of Indigenous composers, young composers, French Canadian repertoire, and folk songs.

We will be taught linguistics, cultural history and background, new music techniques to enrich our choral experience, expand the repertoire we are learning, allow experimentation and continued growth of our singing abilities, and deepen our understanding of the history and context of the music for singers and our audience.

Requested
8,000.00
Funded
1,350.00
 
Oakville Galleries
Oakville Galleries is driven by a belief in the singular power of art and artists to deepen our understanding of ourselves and our communities and move us toward a better world.

Oakville Galleries is an award-winning museum for contemporary art. It focuses on exhibiting contemporary artists from across Canada and around the world and providing quality public programs and arts education to the local community.

Over the past 30 years, Oakville Gallery has built a collection of over 10,000 works by contemporary Canadian artists, which is shared in public buildings throughout Oakville. Guided by professional studio artists and seasoned educators, the education programs at the gallery encompass a wide range of hands-on activities, each designed to make art accessible to every community member.

Requested
20,000.00
Funded
2,650.00
 
Oakville Symphony
The Oakville Symphony inspires a passion for music, establishes a nurturing space for musicians, and contributes to the cultural enrichment of our diverse community. We strive to foster a vibrant and inclusive environment that is welcoming for all.

The Oakville Symphony is a vibrant community orchestra that has been enriching the lives through music for over 50 years. We present a wide range of inspiring performances and outreach initiatives that engage and unite audiences of all ages.

With a strong commitment to artistic excellence and community connection, the symphony nurtures both emerging talent and seasoned musicians, providing a platform for growth and creativity. The Oakville Symphony brings the transformative power of live orchestral music to Oakville, fostering a deeper appreciation for the arts and ensuring that this cherished cultural tradition continues to thrive for generations to come.

Requested
13,500.00
Funded
8,795.00
 
Oakville Symphony Youth Orchestra
The Oakville Symphony Youth Orchestra is a diverse community welcoming children and youth to a progressive orchestral experience that ignites, encourages and enriches a life-long love of music.

We have inspired over 4,000 young musicians to achieve excellence through a love of music, while also helping them develop skills of self-esteem, discipline, teamwork, leadership and performance. We have four separate music ensembles including three orchestras and one youth band ensemble.

From our 2023-2024 Graduates, "This program isn't just an orchestra—it's a way to forge lifetime connections, build relationships and bonds that will last a lifetime. You will laugh together, learn together, make mistakes together and finish triumphant concerts together. Together, you will grow in this community which is full of unforgettable experiences, cherished memories, and eternal bonds."

Requested
25,000.00
Funded
11,900.00
 

Children, Youth and Family Services

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Grand Erie, Halton and Hamilton
Enable life-changing mentoring relationships to ignite the power and potential of young people.

BBBS mentoring establishes a consistent, supportive relationship between a young person and an adult mentor(s). It also allows development of stronger social connections that create a sense of belonging while empowering youth to be leaders and advocates for diversity and inclusion. Youth feel empowered, more confidence and develop resiliency.

Parent Testimonial - "I liked that my daughter got to hangout with positive role models from the Black community and talk about things like food, hair care and Black history with others who understands our unique experiences. There was a good balance of fun and education. The Black community is relatively small where we live, so these opportunities are important".

Requested
22,000.00
Funded
2,750.00
 
Children's Aid of Halton
We protect children and youth, strengthen their well-being and support lifelong, enduring relationships

When a teen or young adult has experienced abuse or neglect and been placed in foster care, they are already vulnerable. Making the transition to adulthood is particularly tough for these youth, and it's even tougher today with the pandemic and rising inflation.

A number of community organizations in Halton Region have come together to help support youth through the Youth Collective Impact program, helping youth to access a variety of resources - such as mental health services, job preparation, housing assistance or applying for post-secondary education. An important part of this unique program is being matched with a trained mentor who can help guide the youth in navigating the system and forging a positive future.

Requested
25,000.00
Funded
13,353.17
 
Community Living Oakville
Community Living Oakville's Mission is to encourage and support each person to live active, rewarding and fulfilling lives in the community, by providing quality services, supports and opportunities that are determined by their dreams and goals.

Community Living Oakville (CLO) has held a longstanding reputation within Oakville and the Halton region for 70 years. Our agency supports over 300 people with developmental disabilities in supported living, community participation supports and employment services, to develop skills towards independence and participate in meaningful opportunities; striving for community inclusion.

While our organization is ministry funded, the support received only covers basic essentials. CLO strongly believes in the importance of advocacy for those that are vulnerable or underrepresented and we empower the people we support to advocate for their rights of equality and inclusion within our local community.

Requested
25,000.00
Funded
10,775.00
 
Darling Home for Kids
The Darling Home for Kids provides respite, residential and hospice palliative services to medically complex children (0-18) and their families. Our vision is a world where no child is too complex to receive the love, care and support they need.

The Darling Home for Kids is the only place of its kind in Canada providing a continuum of care in respite, residential and hospice palliative services to children with complex medical needs. For many families, we are their Home away from home.

In our Respite Program, children stay with us for a day, a weekend, or a week, while their caregivers get a break to rest and recharge. In our Residential Program, children live at our Home full time and receive comprehensive care. Lastly, some children leave the world far too soon and in those moments our Hospice Palliative Program helps fill those final days with peace and comfort.

Requested
25,000.00
Funded
3,750.00
 
Front Line Outreach
To serve, and help others serve, the disadvantaged with dignity, generosity, humility and compassion

Front Line Outreach serves low income families including children, youth and seniors who live in subsidized housing. Programs include Camp Dakota- a summer day camp, outreach BBQ's in partnership local churches, child & youth programs and a number of food bank/drop in locations. The purpose is to build relationships that build bridges between people that lead to opportuities for the disadvantaged.

Many of the youth from low income communities attend our Leaders In Training program who then become inspired to complete post secondary education leading to good jobs that pay well. This proves to break the cycle of poverty.

"I was inspired to become a teacher" - a youth who started with the day camp then on to university.

Requested
25,000.00
Funded
8,190.00
 
HIPPY Halton
HIPPY Halton's Home Visitors empower vulnerable and newcomer mothers to prepare their pre-school children for success in school; because all children deserve an opportunity to learn and to thrive.

HIPPY Halton hires and trains home visitors to connect with and teach parents of vulnerable children aged 18 months to 5 years vital preschool skills.

Home Visitors, who are HIPPY mothers, visit the families in their homes once a week for one hour over 30 weeks. They use role-play to provide explicit instruction so parents can teach their children vital pre-reading, pre-writing, and pre-math skills needed for success in kindergarten.

HIPPY also supports families by addressing parenting challenges through group meetings, where they can build a strong social support system. Parents also improve their English skills and their understanding of their community and its services. HIPPY Halton creates opportunities for families to thrive.

Requested
15,000.00
Funded
2,700.00
 
The Lighthouse Program for Grieving Children
To help children, youth and their families who are grieving a death, find a sense of belonging, connection and understanding from others experiencing similar loss.

The Lighthouse for Grieving Children provides free peer support for grieving children, teens, young adults, and their families. We offer open-ended, on-going grief support groups to help families re-adjust after the death of a parent or sibling.

At the Lighthouse, they meet others like them, no longer feeling "abnormal"; children feel permitted to grieve and ask questions, find resources in themselves and through new friendships, to adjust to their "new normal" and recover, living life post-death to their full potential.

As one child stated "I'm not alone when talking about my feelings and that everyone can feel sad, mad and frustrated."

Requested
25,000.00
Funded
14,025.00
 
Safetynet Children and Youth Services
We aim to stop the cycle of poverty. We offer clothing, furniture & essentials, as well as tutoring and music lessons to vulnerable populations. We help refugees, asylum seekers and those below the poverty line to build brighter futures with dignity.

We support financially disadvantaged families by providing essential items like gently used clothing, housewares, furniture, toiletries, and diapers, alleviating their financial burden so they can focus on other needs. Our goal is to break the cycle of poverty by offering free tutoring and music lessons, delivering both immediate relief and long-term support for a brighter future.

We serve a diverse range of people, including refugees, asylum seekers, and those in the community facing economic hardships. For example, a single mother from Halton received clothes and essentials from us, allowing her to use her funds for food and housing. Today, she is self-sufficient, runs her own business, and gives her time to volunteer at Safetynet.

Requested
20,000.00
Funded
6,230.00
 
Start2Finish Canada
Start2Finish's mission is to break the cycle of child poverty by providing ongoing educational support to Canada's at-risk children throughout their school years, nurturing mind, body and social health so they are empowered to succeed.

Every child deserves the chance to succeed. The COVID-19 pandemic may be "over", but children from low-income and equity-deserving communities are still paying the price both mentally and academically. Start2Finish Canada has a mandate–and the expertise–to bridge these gaps before it's too late.

Start2Finish was born out of the vision of BIPOC founder Brian Warren. As a CFL Grey Cup Champion and inner-city teacher, he witnessed the devastating impact poverty has on kids' health/learning. With a vision to eradicate the effects of child poverty and the conviction that no child has ever gone off the rails when someone has genuinely cared for them, Brian determined he would advocate for those who can't advocate for themselves.

Requested
20,000.00
Funded
1,550.00
 

Education

Centre for Diverse Learners
Our mission is to support and empower diverse learners through advocacy, education, and services. We aim to build a world where individuals with diverse learning needs are included, empowered, and celebrated.

We know that neurodiverse students can and do succeed when provided with the support they need. Our programs provide this critical support. Students in our math program gain 8 months' worth of knowledge and skills in just 8 weeks. Our literacy program is just as effective and based on the most current research.

A parent told us, "The transformation in his ability to read sentences is truly remarkable, and it's all thanks to the amazing efforts and dedication of his teacher. Joshua couldn't pronounce his ABCs or demonstrate letter recognition just a year ago, and now, he's reading sentences with confidence." The need for our essential services has continued to expand each year, and we need support to help support more students like Joshua.

Requested
20,000.00
Funded
1,450.00
 
Halton Learning Foundation
To provide HDSB students with opportunities to reach their potential through financial support that removes educational barriers and increases equity.

When children lack basics like proper clothing, food, hygiene items, and school supplies, it has an impact on their ability to learn. Halton Learning Foundation provides immediate financial support to a growing number of vulnerable students and their families who are in crisis.

Annually, our Eliminating Barriers program provides thousands of HDSB students with emergency funds that help them continue coming to school, focus on their learning, and allow them to be included in school activities so they can fully participate in their education journey. Eliminating Barriers also provides students with funding for field trips and post-secondary education application fees.

Requested
15,000.00
Funded
8,100.00
 

Employment and Economic Growth

Amity Goodwill Industries
Changing Lives and communities through the power of work.

Work can change lives—providing shelter, food, better mental health, and self-confidence. It can uplift families and break cycles of poverty.

At Goodwill, we offer "a hand up" to those facing barriers to finding work like newcomers, racialized individuals, youth, and people with disabilities. We help newcomers with their resume and job search, support neurodiverse youth in securing their first job, train laid-off workers with new skills, and help job-seekers with anxiety prepare for interviews and settle into work.

With donor support, we can expand services to help more people, especially those most disadvantaged so they can enter or re-enter the workforce. This matters because when more people work and thrive, our community gets stronger.

Requested
16,250.00
Funded
2,100.00
 
Black Mentorship Inc
The mission of Black Mentorship Inc. (BMI) is to empower Black professionals by providing a unique mentoring and skill-building program that fosters personal and professional growth.

A core aspect of our work is pairing Black professionals with mentors who guide them in navigating challenging corporate landscape. Through mentoring relationships, participants gain confidence, develop leadership skills, and access opportunities that might otherwise have been out of reach.

Ayo, a young professional, was struggling to advance due to a lack of representation and support in her workplace. Through BMI's mentoring program, she was matched with an experienced mentor who provided guidance and helped her build a network of allies. Ayo's confidence grew, leading her to transition into a leadership role.

BMI is committed to creating lasting change by addressing systemic challenges and building a more inclusive and equitable future.

Requested
25,000.00
Funded
750.00
 
Home Suite Hope
Home Suite Hope unites a network of vital support services for our families on their journey from poverty to stability.

Home Suite Hope (HSH) unites a network of vital support services for single mothers and their children experiencing homelessness; encouraging and supporting them as they journey from poverty to stability.

HSH's Homeward Bound Halton (HBH) program is a four-year wraparound program that empowers and supports single parents who are homeless or precariously housed in accessing affordable housing, gaining an education, securing employment and developing financial literacy skills to transition out of poverty, live independently in a permanent home and thrive. HSH aims to transform the patterns of poverty to a legacy of empowered prosperity by offering a hand up to help single parent families become self sufficient.

Requested
25,000.00
Funded
18,100.00
 

Environment

Halton Region Conservation Foundation
Conservation Halton Foundation's mission is to support and advance Conservation Halton's environmental projects that protect our natural assets, connect people with nature and inspire change.

Our work includes building awareness and raising funds for environmental projects and programs in the Halton watershed. This work benefits the residents of Mississauga, Oakville, Milton, Burlington, Puslinch, Halton Hills and the surrounding area.

We work to improve natural areas by planting trees and shrubs to provide habitat and stabilize creekbanks. Our stewardship efforts aim to protect and restore environmentally significant natural areas and watercourses. Additionally, we support environmental education and hands-on learning programs like the Halton Children's Water Festival, the Crawford Lake Village, and the Mountsberg Raptors Centre.

Requested
24,840.00
Funded
2,500.00
 
Halton Environmental Network
Our mission is to empower our communities to accelerate meaningful climate action.

The Halton Environmental Network (HEN) works throughout Halton to:

• Advance education for the benefit of the public by providing workshops, seminars, panels and conferences on topics related to climate change, environmental issues, and sustainable food production in the community of Halton.

• Protect and preserve the environment for the benefit of the public by reducing pollution through programs aimed at reducing, reusing, and recycling and by establishing educational programs/workshops about waste reduction initiatives.

• Conduct research relating to the environment such as climate change mitigation and adaptation, greenhouse gas emissions in Halton Region, and to disseminate the results of such research to the public.

Requested
25,000.00
Funded
2,575.00
 
Oakvillegreen
Oakvillegreen aims to make Oakville a healthier, climate-resilient town with enhanced natural diversity and greener spaces, reconnecting people to nature, increasing awareness and encouraging action to protect and enhance Oakville's environment.

Looking to making a difference in your community to help protect and restore nature in Oakville? Oakvillegreen creates a hopeful future for Oakville where nature thrives.

We mobilize thousands of volunteers from all ages to plant native trees to add to the urban forest canopy and to create pollinator habitat and improve biodiversity. We offer engaging hands-on environmental educational programs to students and people of all ages.

In partnership with local organizations and businesses, we have planted nearly 40,000 native trees and shrubs, engaged 15,000 volunteers, and inspired over 31,000 students, demonstrating our impactful community involvement.

Requested
25,000.00
Funded
2,400.00
 

Food Security

Food4Kids Halton
To provide packages of healthy food for elementary school students with little or no access to food during the weekend and throughout the summer.

Food4Kids Halton provides healthy food packages for elementary-age kids with limited or no access to food each weekend. The food packages, assembled by volunteers, are delivered to schools each week to ensure children have nourishment over the weekend. School staff discreetly place the food bags into each child's backpack to ensure anonymity and to avoid stigma.

Our 6-week rotational menu features dietary options for Halal, Kosher, and allergies or food sensitivities. In 2023/24, Food4Kids served more than 1,100 children across Halton living with food insecurity and 382 of these children live in Oakville. We also support children and families throughout the summer months with grocery gift cards.

Requested
25,000.00
Funded
17,538.00
 
Halton Food For Thought
Halton Food for Thought connects students to healthy and nutritious food at school so they can reach their full potential.

Halton Food For Thought was started by a group of parents who worked together to help address student hunger.

Today, about one in three youth in Halton are growing up in food-insecure households. With rising food costs and over 10 Halton schools waiting to be added to our program, we need the help of caring community members like you to make sure we can continue to offer healthy and nutritious meals and snacks to Halton students at school, allowing them to participate more and do better at school.

One of our student volunteers recently let us know, "Our Student Nutrition Program makes our community stronger because when students' minds are nourished they can flourish in class." Help Fuel the Future with us!

Requested
25,000.00
Funded
11,900.00
 
Oakville Meals on Wheels
With the support of its volunteers, Oakville Meals on Wheels enables independent living by providing equitable access to nutritious meals and opportunities for social interaction while ensuring physical and emotional well-being.

Oakville Meals on Wheels (OMoW) has been proudly serving the Town of Oakville for over 45 years delivering nutritious meals and providing wellness checks to individuals in our community. We deliver meals (hot & frozen) that provide proper nutrition allowing seniors and those with disabilities or critical health issues to stay out of hospital and long-term care and live more independently in their homes where they prefer to be.

Our weekday delivery of a hot meal, along with a midday visit and wellness check provides peace of mind to families and caregivers of our clients. Last year OMoW worked with over 80 volunteers who donated an estimated 9,000 hours of their time to deliver an astounding 30,300 + meals to individuals in Oakville.

Requested
25,000.00
Funded
24,800.00
 
The Society of Saint Vincent de Paul - Halton Particular Council
The Society of Saint Vincent de Paul (SSVP) is a lay Catholic organization whose mission is to serve those in need with love, respect, justice, hope and joy, and to help shape a more just and compassionate society.

Our work at the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul (SSVP) is grounded in love of neighbour and justice. The five groups (known as conferences) in Oakville serve over 1,400 neighbours in need (~ 900 adults and 500 children).

We make no distinction of creed, ethnic or social background, health, gender or political opinions. No work of charity is foreign to SSVP: from grocery cards to Christmas giving, educational supports for our youth, furniture, medical aid, connecting neighbours to community and government resources and advocating for their rights.

We visit with our neighbours in their homes and we establish personal relationships by offering material assistance, as well as friendship and understanding. We serve in hope.

Requested
5,000.00
Funded
650.00
 

Health and Wellbeing

Distress Centre Halton
Distress Centre Halton supports people in our community to better cope with crisis, loneliness and emotional stress.

Now more than ever, connection and compassion are essential to our community's well-being. This year, Distress Centre Halton proudly celebrates our 50th anniversary - 50 years of being #HereToHear - providing free, caring, confidential phone support to people of all ages and backgrounds. With your help, we can continue to be #HereToHear for the over 33,000 calls we support each year.

Help us to continue to build the needed compassionate connection in our community.

"Every day I volunteer, I am reminded of the beauty of human connection and the healing power of compassion. Through this journey, I have learned that by lifting others, we lift ourselves, and in helping to heal their wounds, we also begin to heal our own" - A DCH volunteer

Requested
25,000.00
Funded
4,755.00
 
Lions Foundation of Canada Dog Guides
To empower Canadians living with disabilities to navigate their world with confidence and independence by providing Dog Guides at no cost to them and supporting each pair in their journey together.

Our mission goes beyond providing Dog Guides. LFCDG creates life-altering partnerships that empower Canadians living with disabilities to unlock a future filled with possibility. Our clients consistently tell us their Dog Guides are more than just a collection of skills. These canine companions become integral to their lives, opening doors to a future brimming with possibilities.

Imagine navigating the world with newfound confidence and independence. Dog Guides make this a reality, fostering social interaction, increased community participation and a profound sense of security.

LFCDG is leading the charge to unlock the potential of a Dog Guide. See the impact: a dog's potential unleashed, transforming the lives of countless Canadians.

Requested
25,000.00
Funded
13,170.00
 
SAVIS (Sexual Assault & Violence Intervention Services)
We foster a supportive environment for all survivors of sexual violence and human trafficking, including their families and caregivers. We offer continuum of free trauma-informed specialized services.

SAVIS of Halton provides free, confidential, and trauma-informed 24-hour support to all survivors of sexual violence. SAVIS advocates against violence in the community at large, and promotes prevention through community intervention and access to education.

Educating at this early age is key to providing youth with the information and skills needed to understand and prevent gender-based violence. In collaboration with our school boards we will ensure a safe place to those who will access our workshops, presentations and group activities. We will reach out to newcomer organizations offering workshops, presentations and group activities for youth.as they are at high risk of cyber luring/bulling due to social isolation.

Requested
25,000.00
Funded
3,000.00
 
Wellspring Birmingham Gilgan House
Wellspring provides supportive cancer care to improve the health and mental wellbeing of patients and their families. Wellspring's programs reduce pain, fatigue and anxiety, increase coping skills and improve quality of life after a cancer diagnosis.

Wellspring provides critical support to individuals and families facing the challenges of a cancer diagnosis through therapeutic cancer care programs that improve physical and mental health.

"Wellspring gave me my life back," says Jim, an Oakville resident who turned to Wellspring for support when he received his second Lymphoma diagnosis. When cancer treatment left him without the strength to do basic activities, Jim found support at Wellspring through hearing stories from other participants, learning helpful techniques to cope with his diagnosis, and benefitting from both the physical and mental aspects of the programs.

Wellspring's programs are professionally-led, evidence-based and offered at no charge to all cancer patients in need.

Requested
25,000.00
Funded
13,880.00
 
The Women's Centre of Halton
The Women's Centre of Halton is dedicated to assisting women through times of crisis, distress and transition by providing support services and programs to effect positive change.

The Women's Centre of Halton is a dedicated space where women can learn, grow, and receive support. Our center is committed to empowering women in Halton to improve their quality of life, reach their full potential and improve their well-being. We often serve as a vital resource for women in crisis, distress or who are in transition and/or seeking a fresh start.

Our free services and programs which promote self-sufficiency and human dignity include peer support, life skills coaching, legal clinics, family court support drop-ins, trauma and abuse counseling, and employment coaching among many others. We also offer a variety of workshops that promote community building and personal development.

Requested
25,000.00
Funded
1,155.00
 

Housing and Shelter

Habitat for Humanity Halton-Mississauga-Dufferin
Our mission is to empower lower income, working families to build strength, stability and independence by providing affordable housing that enables financial equity and lasting change.

Everyone deserves a safe and decent place to call home.

A heartfelt message from a child whose family received a Habitat home: "Thank you for this opportunity to have a better life. We are so happy that we have a Habitat home. We don't have to worry about a lot of things now. My Dad could focus on his work and me and my sibling could focus on our studies. We have made wonderful memories in this amazing home."

Since 1999, Habitat for Humanity Halton-Mississauga-Dufferin has built 83 affordable units, providing a pathway to homeownership. We're grateful for the Oakville Community Foundation's support. Help us make homeownership a reality for more families through GIVEOakville. Together, we can build safe, affordable communities for all.

Requested
25,000.00
Funded
3,096.00
 
March of Dimes Canada Non-Profit Housing Corporation
March of Dimes Canada Non-Profit Housing Corporation offers Ontarians with physical disabilities a single solution for support, care, and accessible, affordable accommodation.

March of Dimes Canada Non-Profit Housing Corporation recognizes that people are happiest living in a place they can call their own home. We operate a non-profit apartment building in Oakville.

We have operate the Jean and Howard Caine Apartments, a 59-unit apartment building in Oakville, including 24 apartments in which residents receive 24-hour attendant care services. These apartments are also modified for safe and comfortable living by people with physical disabilities, including wheelchair accessible showers, lowered countertops and automatic doors. The entire building has fully accessible entrances, elevators, hallways and common areas.

Requested
25,000.00
Funded
920.00
 
Oasis Youth Care Programs
Oasis Youth Care exists to serve Black and racialized youth, by providing transitional housing and comprehensive wrap-around support services, so that youth can overcome barriers, build self-efficacy and successfully become independent adults.

Oasis Youth Care provides transitional housing, life skills training, and mentorship, to black and racialized vulnerable youth facing homelessness in the Halton region.

Our programs are delivered with cultural competence and a strength-based approach to empower youth to overcome barriers, build self-efficacy, and achieve their full potential.

85% of youth in our housing program achieve positive outcomes and significant life improvements measured by:

• Housing Stability following recurrent episodes of homelessness
• Increased Self-Esteem and Social Connectedness
• Reduced Involvement in Risky Behaviors
• Restoration of Family Relationships
• Greater Engagement in Socio-Economic Activities
• Move to permanent housing and independent living
Requested
25,000.00
Funded
3,100.00
 
Salvation Army Lighthouse Shelter
The Salvation Army exists to meet human needs and be a transforming influence in the communities of our world

The Halton Lighthouse is an emergency homeless shelter providing immediate access to emergency accommodations and basic needs for adults experiencing or at risk of homelessness in the Halton Region.

Individuals coming to the shelter are provided with housing focused services that aim to resolve their homelessness as soon as possible by right-matching clients to suitable, permanent housing with appropriate supports.

The Halton Lighthouse is committed to providing trauma-informed, culturally competent service that aims to reintegrate individuals into their communities surrounded by the supports needed to maintain their housing and prevent future episodes of homelessness.

Requested
25,000.00
Funded
23,530.00
 
Shifra Homes
Our mission at Shifra Homes is to ensure that we provide a safe haven for young, homeless, pregnant women and their babies.

You met me at my lowest, homeless, pregnant, and very vulnerable. You chose me. You gave me the opportunity to have a home for me and my baby. Every challenge and hardship I had going on in my life you helped me fix and solve. Nothing was ever too much for you.

Thank you for always giving me grace while I embarked on this pregnancy and motherhood journey, but especially on this healing journey. You saved me from a life I didn't know how to be free from. Thank you for always encouraging me in everything and seeing my potential. I am so grateful for Shifra Homes. I look up to you for your leadership, compassion, and perseverance.

Thank you for changing my life in a way that was too big and great for my imagination.

Requested
25,000.00
Funded
2,130.00
 

Mental Health and Addictions

Canadian Mental Health Association - Halton Region Branch
The Canadian Mental Health Association Halton's mission is to broaden access to mental health care. We envision responsive mental health care for everyone and live our values of being Connected, Approachable, Responsive, and Empowering.

The Canadian Mental Health Association Halton is an accredited, multi-service organization that supports individuals aged 16 and older as well as their families and caregivers. We offer a continuum of services ranging from information to peer support, group programs, clinical counselling, crisis support, and service coordination.

We support people with diverse needs, strengths, preferences, and service intensity requirements through accessible, person-centred care that helps improve wellness, connection, and quality of life.

Your support will help us to continue providing accessible services and expand our impact through enhanced group learning opportunities to support growth and recovery in our community.

Requested
25,000.00
Funded
20,100.00
 
Heartache2Hope
Heartache2Hope's vision is that no one touched by suicide grieves alone. Our mission is to promote healing after suicide loss and to facilitate greater awareness and understanding about suicide bereavement through education.

Heartache2Hope is dedicated to helping suicide loss grievers with the immediate impacts of trauma and their challenging grieving process. Our goal is to reduce the long-term adverse effects of suicide bereavement, strengthen resilience, and facilitate reengagement in life through a comprehensive program that includes professional & peer-led individual & group services.

We promote renewed psychological wellbeing through trauma and grief education, social connection, emotional support, teaching healthy coping strategies, and traumatic grief counselling & therapy across the lifespan.

By enabling grievers to again realize a positive future, we in turn create a stronger community. It is our vision that no one touched by suicide grieves alone.

Requested
25,000.00
Funded
1,625.00
 

Oakville Community Foundation

Oakville Community Foundation
Community Classroom

Community Classroom brings arts, culture, heritage and environmental programs to Oakville's publicly funded elementary students free of charge! Every year, students from junior kindergarten to Grade 8 have the opportunity to participate in a program so that no child is left behind.

Help the Oakville Community Foundation keep learning free, accessible and entertaining!

Requested
25,000.00
Funded
1,990.00
 
Oakville Community Foundation
Feed Oakville

No one in our community should go hungry. Being food insecure impacts other aspects of your life, including your long-term health and economic stability.

Support your neighbours by donating to Feed Oakville, a collaborative approach that provides support to local food security partners including Feed Halton, Food For Life and Kerr Street Mission. These partners will advise The Foundation on how to distribute funds raised to ensure the most vulnerable in our community receive support.

Requested
30,000.00
Funded
22,627.87
 
Oakville Community Foundation
Intimate Partner Violence Epidemic in Halton

The recent motions by Oakville and Halton Councils declaring Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) an epidemic in our community trigged The Foundation to invoke the Oakville Resiliency Fund. More than 3,500 calls for Intimate Partner Violence were made to Halton police last year, a 27% increase since 2016.

Following fundraising, in January 2024 all charities with a mandate to support IPV, including Halton Women's Place, The Women's Centre of Halton, SAVIS, and Thrive Counselling will be invited to the table to advise the Foundation on how to distribute the funds.

Requested
30,000.00
Funded
8,280.00
 
Oakville Community Foundation
Mental Health and Addictions

This collaboration of six community health partners (CMHA-Halton, Support House, ADAPT, Summit Housing & Outreach Programs, HOPE Place Centres, and STRIDE) has been brought together as an Alliance to provide sector-wide integration and support to address the complex mental health and addiction challenges faced by individuals. Alliance Halton partners will advise The Foundation on how to allocate funds raised through GIVEOakville.

Requested
30,000.00
Funded
7,050.00
 
Oakville Community Foundation
Oakville Resettlement Fund

The Oakville Resettlement Fund supports programs and services needed for the resettlement of refugee families in Oakville and Halton.

The Fund was established in 2017 during the Syrian Resettlement crisis, and has helped support the local needs of new immigrants and refugees, specifically Syrian and Afghan refugees and Ukrainian newcomers to Canada.

Requested
25,000.00
Funded
10,425.00
 
Oakville Community Foundation
Oakville Youth Education Award

Local Scholarships and Bursaries for Youth who wish to pursue post-secondary education

Requested
25,000.00
Funded
10,225.00
 
Oakville Community Foundation
Truth and Reconciliation

"Debwewin" refers to one of the Anishinabek seven grandfathers teaching for "truth." This project will raise questions about Oakville's Truth such as: "What happened to the local Treaty holders, Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation?" and "Why did Treaty 22, which included coverage of Oakville main waterways, Sixteen Mile and Bronte Creek, leave the Mississaguas homeless?

Requested
25,000.00
Funded
1,815.61
 
Oakville Community Foundation
Urban Forest Fund

We need your help to plant lots of trees in Oakville!

Trees absorb and sequester carbon, protect and enhance wildlife habitats, and also remove pollutants from the air, soil & groundwater. Oakville needs more trees! Every donation helps us build the local tree canopy.

Requested
25,000.00
Funded
2,000.00
 

Fully Funded Grant Requests

Arts, Culture and Heritage

ArtHouse for Children and Youth
Incorporated in 2009, ArtHouse is a Halton charitable organization that provides FREE arts-based programs for children and youth age 7-17 who have little or no access to fee-related activities.

"You may underestimate how important you are here. You are making this community safer - and you are making moms happy, and when they're happy, they may well be steering themselves away from negative activities." Andy Porecki – HCHC Property Manager

"ArtHouse made me feel what having friends is like." 11-Year old

ArtHouse offers safe and supportive spaces enabling its participants to experience the joyful expression of creativity and to cultivate life skills that influence confidence, resilience and better physical and mental health. Our goal is to furnish our children and youth with learning opportunities that will positively impact their educational achievements and social development, propelling them into a future full of hope.

Requested
25,000.00
Funded
25,000.00
Fully
Funded!
 

Food Security

Fare Share Food Bank
Fare Share Oakville exists to provide food to those in need in our community. We serve our clients with compassion and dignity while respecting their privacy and confidentiality. Sharing food and feeding hope – strengthening our community.

Fare Share Oakville collects and distributes food to individuals and families in need. Currently, we have 1,500 households (approx. 5,250 people) registered with us for support.

We offer the following testimonial. "Our family faced a sudden crisis when a natural disaster destroyed our home and disrupted our lives. We lost everything, including our source of income. In those trying times, the fair food program stepped in and provided us with food assistance. It was a ray of hope in the midst of chaos and despair. The kindness and compassion shown to us by the program organizers and volunteers have touched our hearts. We are forever indebted to them for their generosity and for helping us get back on our feet."

Requested
25,000.00
Funded
25,000.00
Fully
Funded!
 
Food For Life Canada
Rescuing Food. Impacting Lives.

Food for Life is Halton's food rescue charity! We believe that everyone deserves access to nourishing food, regardless of their circumstances. When people are hungry, nothing else matters. Everything starts with Food.

Each year, Food for Life rescues close to 5 million lbs of imperfect surplus yet nutritious and quality fresh healthy food. We then distribute this food through 90 food access points supporting 4000+ households each week across Halton Region.

Weekly access through FFL run programs or social service partner programs allows food to become a catalyst for positive change, whether promoting good health or providing economic relief.

To quote one of our neighbours: "Food for Life saved my life from starvation...quite honestly."

Requested
25,000.00
Funded
25,000.00
Fully
Funded!
 
Kerr Street Mission
KSM's mission is to provide care and a community of support for vulnerable families and individuals in Oakville by coming alongside them to improve their current and future well-being.

Kerr Street Mission is a hub of care in Oakville. We serve the most vulnerable in our community by providing help for the present and hope for the future through a variety of programs and support systems.

Our Food Market and Family Service programs provide essential services that help those in chronic and/or situational poverty.

Our Children and Youth Programs provide opportunities to foster the development of young people and give them a better chance of success in relationships, school, and careers.

At KSM we are continually developing innovative programs and seeking partnerships that will enable us to provide a high quality of care and support for our clients.

Requested
25,000.00
Funded
25,000.00
Fully
Funded!
 

Health and Wellbeing

Acclaim Health
Providing the care and support you need to live well at home.

Acclaim Health provides home care and community support services to over 20,000 people in Halton each year, most of whom are older adults. Our extraordinary care includes hospice palliative care, dementia care (including Patty's Place in Oakville), nursing, personal support, bereavement support and volunteer visiting to reduce social isolation. Simply put, we help people stay in their own homes for as long as possible.

Hear from one of our caregivers, Al, who speaks about what it meant to have his wife Joanne attend Patty’s Place here.

Requested
25,000.00
Funded
25,000.00
Fully
Funded!
 
CharterAbility
To offer a recreational experience, at no charge, to those who would otherwise never have the opportunity to experience the beauty of Oakville's Sixteen Mile Creek.

To take people with disabilities and people from care homes on a 50 minute ride up the Sixteen Mile Creek and back, out to the Lighthouse, and through the inner harbour. Our guests are thrilled to see, turtles, large and small, herons, ospreys, swans, kingfishers and occasionally water snakes. All are enchanted by the peace and quiet of this river in the middle of a town of over 200,000 people.

Requested
7,500.00
Funded
7,500.00
Fully
Funded!
 
Ian Anderson House Foundation
We offer care and support to residents and their families in Halton & Peel regions who are dealing with a life limiting diagnosis.

Ian Anderson House provides quality, end-of-life care to people in our community. We believe that everyone deserves to die with dignity, surrounded by love and cared for by professionally trained staff.

We support the family as a whole through this difficult time. While most people wish to die at home, that is often not possible, therefore we strive to keep the environment as homelike as possible, with all the comforts of home. True to hospice philosophy, care is provided without charge.

Requested
25,000.00
Funded
25,000.00
Fully
Funded!
 
Oak Park Neighbourhood Centre
Support, Connect, Engage: People Belong, Families are Strong, Neighbours Care, Everyone Shares

We are a welcoming community, supporting each other through diverse programs & resources to build friendships, strengthen our children & create healthy neighbourhoods. To relieve poverty, provide education, support, recreational & social opportunities for people of all abilities and ages in Halton- child, family, youth, adult & senior supports.

Our centre is a reflection of the needs, talents and gifts of our neighbours and friends so that it is relevant to the whole community. We believe in supporting the whole community together, regardless of income level, age, or background. We step up when people are struggling so they can get back on their feet with dignity.

Requested
6,000.00
Funded
6,000.00
Fully
Funded!
 
United Way Halton & Hamilton
United Way Halton & Hamilton (UWHH) brings people and resources together to serve the needs of those in crisis, tackle systemic barriers and create an equitable future of opportunity where everyone can thrive.

Fostering community resilience is at the heart of UWHH's mission. As the backbone of a vast network of support, UWHH drives meaningful impact through collective action, addressing the most pressing needs facing our communities.

UWHH's work starts with identifying critical needs in Oakville communities and mobilizing resources to address them.

To amplify our impact, we forge strategic partnerships with local agencies, government bodies, and community organizations, ensuring a unified approach to addressing complex social issues.

Beyond immediate solutions, UWHH is dedicated to facilitating long-term transformation by investing in capacity building, leadership development, and innovation within the social services sector.

Requested
25,000.00
Funded
25,000.00
Fully
Funded!
 

Housing and Shelter

Halton Women's Place
Halton Women's Place (HWP) will provide a safe haven, information, and education to support a future without abuse for women and their children.

HWP is the ONLY women's shelter in Halton providing emergency safe shelter and crisis services for physically, emotionally, financially and sexually abused women and their dependent children and is dedicated to ending violence against women and their children.

HWP:
• Makes emergency shelter and/or crisis services accessible to all abused women and their dependent children.
• Provides crisis services, counselling, and information to women and children living in the shelter and in the community at large.
• Informs and empowers abused women and their dependent children to make decisions about their safety, rights and options.
• Promote and provides public education to end violence against women and children.

Requested
25,000.00
Funded
25,000.00
Fully
Funded!