Charities

TRAILS

Each year Trails accepts 10 boys and 10 girls, ages 12 to 16 from Toronto's inner city schools to join their four-year program. The program begins in the wilderness during the summer months, on their 142-acre private camp. The program continues year round with youth to develop the skills, knowledge and confidence to become contributing members of their communities. An optional fifth year, the Leader-in-Training Program provides an opportunity to further develop leadership and life skills.

CENTRE FOR ADDICTION AND MENTAL HEALTH

Understanding the unique needs of young people – and delivering timely, effective treatment that supports the whole family – is at the heart of the mission for the pioneering Child, Youth and Family Program at CAMH. With 45 full-time equivalent staff and 10 physicians, this specialized team leads the country in its integrated client-centered approach to children's mental health.

BLESSINGS IN A BACKPACK

Blessings in a Backpack is a unique results-oriented program designed to feed elementary school children who may not have any or enough food on the weekends.

Blessings was founded in the U.S. by Stan Curtis (of USA Harvest) and Hilary Duff. They recognize that underprivileged children who are fed through government programs at school during the week, have no food to eat at home on the weekends. So, Blessings arranges to have backpacks filled with food for the kids to take home on Friday evening. Then the kids bring the empty packs back on Monday morning, to be filled again for the next coming Friday.