The Children’s Aid Foundation of Ottawa (CAFO) is dedicated to enriching the lives of children, youth, and families supported by The Children’s Aid Society of Ottawa (CASO). The generous support of business executives in Ottawa helps inspire children and youth supported by CASO to become who they dream to be.
The support of donors has never been more important. Covid-19 has created additional stress for families supported by CASO. Many parents continue to struggle to keep their children engaged in school and active at home while working hard to provide for their families.
Youth are finding it more challenging to pay for the education they need to pursue their professional goals. Ottawa youth supported by CASO can access the Dare to Dream Bursary which helps them develop the knowledge and skills needed to pursue the careers they want.
Over the past 20 years, more than $2-million has been raised to provided nearly 1,000 bursaries to youth in care.
At a glance:
Year founded: 1988
Total revenue for last fiscal year: $1,488,373
Twitter: @CAFOttawa
Facebook: /CAFOttawa
Instagram: @CAFOttawa
Top funding sources:
- Individual donations: 62%
- Granting Foundations/Other Charities: 23%
- Corporate donations: 15%
Geographic region of focus: City of Ottawa
How you can help
Give
Donations and sponsorships to the Children’s Aid Foundation of Ottawa provide much needed support to ensure a safe home for families. The Covid-19 pandemic provided perspective into which areas need more support. We continue to adapt available programs based on these growing needs.
Dare to Dream Bursary: Helps current and former youth in care access a post-secondary education by providing funds towards tuition fees to attend college, university, vocational, or trade school.
Camp for Kids: Camps give children the opportunity to make connections with new friends, their culture, and their community. Some of these connections are lost when families are focusing on overcoming issues like mental health challenges, addictions, and poverty. Camp for Kids provides children in Ottawa the opportunity to create positive memories and lasting friendships.
Cookie Jar: Many families supported by The Children’s Aid Society of Ottawa face complex challenges and have difficulty affording essential items to provide a safe environment for their children. The Cookie Jar provides children with items like a clean bed to sleep in, a new stroller to travel in, or the opportunity to participate in extra-curricular activities.
G.P.S. Connect: Youth transitioning out of foster care are partnered with a mentor in the youth’s life. Their mentor guides the youth through a nerve-wracking and difficult time in their life as they learn about independent living, healthy lifestyles, financial literacy, education, employment, and mental health and well-being.
Events and fundraising
Salut!
Each May, the Children’s Aid Foundation of Ottawa hosts a wine-paired gourmet dinner at Algonquin College’s Restaurant International that is attended by over 100 senior business executives to raise funds for bursaries, camps, etc. During the Covid-19 pandemic, guests had their meals and wine delivered to their homes to experience the first ever Salut! at Home.
Golf tournament
The annual golf tournament is held each September where more than 100 business executives across Ottawa join forces to raise funds to help children and youth supported by The Children’s Aid Society of Ottawa.
World trivia night
1,500 people come together at the EY Centre each November to play live trivia and raise essential funds for children and youth in Ottawa. For the past two years, players were quizzed safely from their homes due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Full details at WorldTriviaNight.com.
Board members and executives
Walter Noble
Executive Director
Rob De Toni
Chair of Board of Directors
Anna Lynch
Vice-Chair
Vice-President, Analytics
GHGSat Inc.
John P. Haralovich
Treasurer
Partner & Senior Vice-President
MNP LLP
Shail Paliwal
Secretary
Co-Founder & CEO
3Leaf
Michael Beaucage
Director of Sales and Marketing
Design Filtration Microzone Inc.
Laura-Lee Brenneman
Director, Growth & Transition Capital
Business Development Bank of Canada
Darlene H. Carreau
Chief Administrator
Courts Administration Service
Government of Canada
Jayna Carter
Ex Officio*
Manager, QA & Organizational Development
Children’s Aid Society of Ottawa
Jim Carty
Real Estate Broker
Zinati Realty
Carole Chouinard
Partner
Gowling WLG
Dan Fallon
Consultant
Employment and Social Development Canada
Philip Lapin
Partner
Smart & Bigger
Jessica Robson
Manager, Cash Management
TD Commercial Banking
Mairi Thomson
Director of Marketing
Relogix
Fundraising priorities
- Dare to Dream Bursary
- (40-50 youth supported annually)
- Camp for Kids (200 children annually)
- Cookie Jar (300 children annually)
- G.P.S. Connect (20 youth annually)
Get in touch
