Children's Foundation of Guelph and Wellington

08/28/2026

Our Free to Grow program nurtures the physical, social, emotional, and mental well-being of children and youth by funding recreational and life-skill development opportunities, such as sports, camps, swimming lessons, driver's education, and more. 🌞

This summer, thanks to the continued support of folks like you, hundreds of kids have had the opportunity to learn new skills, be active, gain confidence, develop friendships, and engage in their community. Thank you for helping provide these opportunities. ❤️

Interested in learning more about our Free to Grow program? Visit our website at childrensfoundation.org/free-to-grow ⚽

08/28/2026

We're grateful to be part of this annual event, alongside some incredible organizations in the community!

The Wellington Catholic District School Board’s 24th Annual Bishop's Dinner for Community Needs is back again this October! 🍾

The event will be held at the Italian Canadian Club on Thursday, October 8, 2026. Purchase your tickets for good food, connection and for the support of our Guelph and Wellington Community! 🤩

Over the past two decades, this signature event has raised over $850,000 to help support children’s educational programming, access to food to those in need in our community, mental health programs, environmental stewardship initiatives, and much more. They have heard directly from organizations and those they serve, how this funding has made a significant difference in their lives and in our community.💙

This year they are committed to investments for four organization recipients in Guelph and Wellington:
⭐Children's Foundation of Guelph and Wellington
⭐Youth Wellness Hubs Ontario Wellington-Guelph
⭐Immigrant Services-Guelph Wellington
⭐St. Vincent De Paul Society (Outreach and Food Programs)

To purchase tickets, visit: canadahelps.org/en/charities/guelph-community-foundation/events/24th-annual-bishops-dinner-for-community-needs/ 👈

Please note: All ticket purchases will generate a taxable donation receipt.

08/21/2026

We're proud to welcome Frontiers Design/Build as our 𝐀𝐦𝐛𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐒𝐩𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐨𝐫 for this year's 𝐎𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐔𝐩𝐨𝐧 𝐚 𝐓𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐆𝐚𝐥𝐚 ✨🪸

Their support will allow us to immerse guests in an unforgettable journey under the sea this October, and of course, will also help continue to build brighter futures for local children and youth! 🌞

Want to journey under the sea with us on October 24th? There is still time to secure your tickets for this magical evening! Grab your tickets now: trellis.org/gala2026

08/20/2026

We have some exciting Community Fundraisers coming up in the next while! Check out some of the ways you can support locally:

🌞 Briar's Movie Night in the Park - Come out to Bissell Park in Elora ⭐THIS SATURDAY⭐ (August 22nd) for a fundraiser in support of our Keep Kids Fed at School program! Bring the family out for a night of fun, and watch 'How to Train Your Dragon' and support local!

🌞 Got Duck Guelph Tickets - Grab your duck race tickets and head out to Ribfest on Sunday, August 30th to see if your duck crosses the finish line first! There are over $22,000 in prizes up for grabs! Purchase here 👉 https://gotduck.ca/

🌞 Play it Forward Pickleball Tournament - Herr Wealth Advisory presents the 1st Annual Play it Forward Charity Pickleball Tournament on Saturday, September 19th. All proceeds will support our Free to Grow program. Register your team today 👉 https://trellis.org/playitforward2026

🌞 'The Launch' Event - Hosted by One Tooth Activewear Guelph, this event will celebrate and launch their next chapter. Funds raised from this red carpet evening will be donated to the Children's Foundation and CMHA Waterloo Wellington. Grab your early bird tickets now 👉 https://shoponetoothguelph.com/collections/otg-events/products/the-launch-presented-by-one-tooth-guelph-event-ticket

To learn more about these amazing events or learn more about how you can host your own, visit our link in bio and look for "Community Fundraising"

08/17/2026

Earlier this summer the 16th Annual Brad Clemes Memorial Golf Tournament was hosted, raising funds for the Children’s Foundation, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Guelph, and for a Scholarship created in Brad’s memory at Centennial CVI. ❤️

We are honoured to be part of such an important day celebrating the life of Brad, and to use the funds towards our Free to Grow program so that children and youth have the opportunity to participate in sports, recreation, camps and so much more!

Thank you to Brent and Jill, their family, friends, and everyone involved with the Brad Clemes Memorial Golf Tournament for supporting local children and youth! ⛳🌞

08/14/2026

Kinda chic to build a community where every child and youth has the opportunity to participate, learn, and grow to build a brighter future ✨🌞

08/13/2026

Our 2026 𝐎𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐔𝐩𝐨𝐧 𝐚 𝐓𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐆𝐚𝐥𝐚 is once again proudly presented by Elinesky Schuett Private Wealth Management of RBC Dominion Securities Inc. This year marks their 8th year as the Presenting Sponsor of this annual event, and we are grateful for the magic they continue to bring to this event and to our community each year!

The funds raised at our Gala help ensure that every child and youth has the opportunity to participate, learn, and grow - so that 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒊𝒓 𝒅𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒎𝒔 𝒅𝒐𝒏'𝒕 𝒋𝒖𝒔𝒕 𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒚 𝒅𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒎𝒔.

Thank you to the team at Elinesky Schuett Private Wealth for believing in our vision and continuing to invest the dreams of local children and youth.💛

Want to be part of the 𝒎𝒂𝒈𝒊𝒄 on October 24th? There is still time to secure your tickets for this enchanting evening! Grab your tickets now: trellis.org/gala2026

08/13/2026

Grab your tickets now for the annual Duck Race happening on August 30th at Riverside Park during Ribfest Guelph 🦆

With over $22,000 in prizes up for grabs, and proceeds helping to tackle children's food insecurity right here in Guelph, it's a quack-tacular way to support local!

Head over to www.gotduck.ca today to grab your tickets!

There's still time to get your ducks in a row! 🦆

The duck race will take place on Sunday, August 30th at Riverside Park. Get your tickets now for a chance to win $500/month in groceries for a year and other great prizes!

Proceeds from the duck race tickets will support the Children's Foundation's Keep Kids Fed at Home program, helping bridge the weekend hunger gap for local students 🍊

Get your duck race tickets today at gotduck.ca

08/12/2026

This past June, our Board of Directors gathered for our Annual General Meeting, where we said farewell to departing board members, including Scott McRoberts, who served as our Board Chair from 2024 to 2026. Scott served three terms on our board, starting in 2020, and was a key player in creating our current strategic plan, as well as in our 2024 unification with Food4Kids Guelph. We are grateful for the many years of support that Scott has given to our team and our community! 🌞💕

Our Board of Directors also bid farewell to Nicole Carter, Jay Hall, Karan Mann, and Suzannah Patmios this year. Their years of service and dedication have strengthened the Children's Foundation's team and community, and we are incredibly grateful for all of their support. ✨

08/12/2026

Happy International Youth Day! ✨

This year's theme is "Different Contexts, Common Aspirations", recognizing that while young people's lives are shaped by different national and local realities, their aspirations are remarkably similar - they all seek dignity, opportunity, meaningful participation, decent work, quality education, and a sustainable future.

We recognize the importance of celebrating and investing in our youth. The more we empower their ideas and give them opportunities to participate, learn, and grow within their community, the more we will see their ideas and leadership grow and evolve.

We continue to empower youth through our programs by providing them access to nutritious food while at school, providing funding for recreational and life-skill building activities such as driver's education and sports, and giving them a sense of belonging and hope during the holiday season. ❤️✨