TORONTO (February 10, 2022) – The Slaight Family Foundation recently announced it will donate $15 million to 12 organizations across Canada focused on supporting some of the unique challenges faced by women and girls. This initiative will fund programs that reduce gender-based violence, support those in emergency situations and increase opportunities for education and jobs, with a special focus on Indigenous, Black, racialized, refugee and immigrant women and girls. Of this $15 million initiative, YWCA Canada received $2 million to launch Canada’s first national emergency survivor support fund.
“The pandemic has added to the many challenges faced by women and girls across Canada, and particularly in Indigenous, racialized and refugee communities,” said Gary Slaight, President & CEO, The Slaight Family Foundation. “This initiative is about helping people escape difficult circumstances, providing supports for mental and physical health, and overcoming barriers so that women and girls across Canada can live their lives unburdened by unfair, unhealthy or unsafe circumstances.”
“We’re full of gratitude to The Slaight Family Foundation for making this incredible $15 million commitment to women and girls. YWCA Canada is proud to be one of the 12 organizations chosen for this transformational initiative. The Slaight Family Foundation’s $2 million gift to YWCA Canada will allow us to act on the number one demand voiced by women and gender-diverse people experiencing intimate partner and domestic abuse – financial support to help them escape and rebuild their lives.” said Raine Liliefeldt the Interim CEO / Director of Member Services at YWCA Canada.
The other organizations receiving funding from this initiative are Canadian Women’s Foundation, Children’s Aid Foundation of Canada, Covenant House, Girls E Mentorship (GEM), New Circles, Northern Ontario School of Medicine, Ontario Native Women’s Association, University Health Network’s National Eating Disorder Information Centre, Women’s College Hospital Foundation, Women’s Shelter’s Canada, and Women’s Health in Women’s Hands.
Their projects include:
- Scholarships for BIPOC women in medicine
- Grants for programs working to end gender-based violence, including for Indigenous women
- Helping women facing homelessness and other socio-economic barriers to success
- Career mentorship and leadership skills development
- Health programs tailored specifically to racialized women, new immigrants and refugees
- The expansion of the national eating disorder emergency chat line
About The Slaight Family Foundation
Since 2013, The Slaight Family Foundation has funded several strategic initiatives to multiple organizations. These initiatives started with gifts to five Toronto hospitals to support priority healthcare issues, followed by programs to address global humanitarianism, the healthy development of children and youth across Canada, support for Indigenous issues and a seniors’ initiative to help keep seniors in their homes and communities. Most recently, last year’s initiative prioritized supporting mental health due to challenges exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Slaight Family Foundation was established in 2008 by John Allan Slaight. Allan Slaight is known as Canada’s broadcast pioneer, a leader in the music industry and a prominent Canadian philanthropist. Through his generosity, the Foundation proactively supports charitable initiatives in the areas of healthcare, at-risk youth international development, social services and culture.
Media Contact for YWCA Canada:
Aniska Ali
Director of Philanthropy
aali@ywcacanada.ca
437 213 4479
Media Contact for The Slaight Family Foundation:
Jeri Brown
416-455-7188
