‘Now More than Ever’ Campaign Supports Students During COVID-19 – Surpassing $400,000 Goal
The Learning Foundation exists to fundraise for programs and services that help students overcome barriers and succeed in school.
The pandemic brought annual fundraising events such as the Food for Learning Auction and the Student Emergency Fund Golf Tournament to an unexpected halt. This loss of annual revenue, combined with increased student needs, specifically for food, compromised The Learning Foundation’s ability to support all students needing aid.
In response to this funding challenge, the Directors of The Learning Foundation made the difficult decision to temporarily pause some programs, and to focus on providing students with food support, and with additional essential items such as clothing and personal hygiene items during the ten months school year.
In October of last year, The Foundation identified areas of need and launched an ambitious Superheroes of Hope ‘Now More than Ever’ campaign. The campaign goal was to raise $400,000 to help support the Food for Learning, Student Emergency Fund and Food for Home programs.
Today, the members of the Now More than Ever Campaign Committee share the amazing news that the campaign goal has been reached, and for the Food for Learning and Food for Home programs, the fundraising goals have been surpassed!
The Foundation would like to extend its heartfelt gratitude on behalf of the students they support. Thank you to everyone, the individuals, community groups, businesses and partner agencies that made a donation to the campaign.
There were also unexpected benefits from the campaign. As an Elementary School Principal shared, “One of the effects of Covid-19 I think is that our staff got outside of their classrooms/homes and saw students in their homes and met with families when they were most vulnerable.
The rewards of being able to offer the grocery cards but also to connect on a human level was immeasurable and my staff would definitely say that this opened their eyes in a way that our typical supports at school hadn’t previously.”
The Foundation is hopeful that its fundraising efforts will continue to be successful in this year’s Food for Learning Spring Event and Student Emergency Fund Golf Tournament.
All contributors are Foundation Superheroes, joining Penny, Harry and Erica in providing equity, fighting poverty and helping the hungry!
Maribeth deSnoo, Executive Director
613-966-1170, ext. 62205 mdesnoo@hpedsb.on.ca
Sherry Rivers, Food for Learning, Special Events & Grants Coordinator
613-966-1170, ext. 62378 srivers@hpedsb.on.ca