PRESIDENT’S REPORT

September, 2024

“We are thankful for including our school to this Community Support Program.  Please include us on the list for this school year.

 Our previous recipients and their families expressed so much gratitude for this financial support extended to them."

~ Comments Just Received From a Participating School

It's hard to believe, at least for me, but the Community Support for Students Program has embarked on its fifth year of making Compass Awards to students at Toronto high schools! We have contacted all of the schools that participated in the program for 2023/2024 and, as usual, have been getting back very positive responses from the schools - as can be seen from the comments at the top of this report. In fact, this particular high school asked whether there might be a spot for one more Compass Award recipient from the school for 2024/2025, meaning that we would make three Compass Awards, rather than two, at this school.

Of course,  we don't like to say no when we are presented with requests or opportunities to increase the number of Compass Awards made by the program. But we also have to be careful not to over-extend beyond the program's financial means. As you know, the CSSP supported 23 students at 11 Toronto high schools last year. This is the result of the program's steady and measured growth over the last four years. And there is no doubt that we can continue the growth of the CSSP if only we have the funding to do so. The reality, though, is that, as the number of students supported by the program has increased, so too has the need for additional sources of funding to allow the program to continue on an upward trajectory.

Needless to say, it is front of mind for both Tracy and me that the continued growth of the CSSP has reached a critical juncture insofar as funding is concerned. Tracy has been actively at work developing fundraising initiatives and here is what she has to say:

We have asked the schools for an introduction to their Parent Councils, we have a meeting with BMO's Head of Community Giving, we got coaching from the head of advancement from the McMichael Gallery and we even explored the logistics of a Value Village FUNDrive (that won’t work).

1) Do you have anyone in your network who can help us?

2) Could they join the board?

3) Are you involved in any organization that donates to worthy causes?

4) Do you have any other ideas?

We can do this together. All ideas welcome.