Helping to build happy, healthy kids in Muskoka!
Message from the Executive Director
June
Hello everyone!
The blackflies and mosquitoes have arrived and so too have some hot days to bring the hope of another summer in Muskoka. We hope you and your family are well and finding some outlets to stay busy, positive and healthy.
We at the Children’s Foundation continue to work hard during this health crisis to ensure that the needs of some of our highest risk kids are met. It has looked a little different for us these past 3 months. While we haven’t been able to fill grants for soccer, baseball, dance, music or other activities or lessons, we have been able to support applications for things that support healthy active living at home such as bikes, trampolines and climbing sets as well as more critical needs such as beds and food and donations to our local food banks.
While overnight camps have been prohibited from operating during the summer of 2020, we anxiously await word from the government regarding day camps and summer recreational programs. We have been in touch with our local town recreation departments and day camp providers and are ready to support applications on short notice if and when they are approved to operate. Please continue to check our social media feeds and our website for updates.
At this point, the Children’s Foundation, as with many other charitable organizations across Muskoka, face a serious funding shortfall. We certainly see a time in the not too distant future when sports and recreation organizations will be gearing up for new seasons and we want to be there to ensure children who wouldn’t otherwise be able to participate due to financial barriers are able to do so. If you, your organization or business is able to support the Children’s Foundation during 2020, it would make a tremendous difference in the lives of the children of Muskoka. Please visit us at childrenofmuskoka.com or canadahelps.org to help us in this work.
On behalf of the Board of the Foundation, we wish you a healthy, happy June. Stay tuned for further updates in the coming days and weeks.
Take good care,
Dave Lyons.
20th Annual Children's Foundation Gala
Please join us for an evening of fine dining, dancing and live music all in support of Muskoka's kids. To purchase tickets for our largest fundraiser of the year, click on the 'purchase tickets' button below.
After you have purchased your tickets, you will receive a confirmation email with instructions outlining how to select your table/seats. If you have any difficulties or questions please contact our executive director Dave Lyons at davelyons.cfm@gamil.com.
Rotary Club of North Muskoka Donates $750 to the George Corn Memorial Fund for Hockey
A big thanks to the Rotary Club of North Muskoka who so kindly donated $750 to our George Corn Memorial Fund for Hockey. That's nearly 2 more children that we can support with funding for registration and equipment to be healthy and active in hockey next year! The GCMF partners and the CFM are so grateful for your support.
Tiggs Donates $280 From the Sale of Christmas Hats to the CFM
January, 2020
Over the Christmas holiday, Tiggs for Him and Her sold these incredible Fun Hats to support the children of Muskoka. They raised $280 which has been donated to our general children's fund. We at the foundation thanks Tiggs for their ongoing support and hope the people of Muskoka who received the hats love them as much as Tiggs did selling them!
BMLSS HUB Class Donates $1000
January, 2020
The HUB class at BMLSS raised a $1000 at their garage sale and silent auction in the fall. They have generously donated that money to the Children's Foundation of Muskoka to help support kids. What an amazing group of high school student, we can't thank them enough for their generosity!
Thank you to everyone for supporting the 19th Annual Gala
Exciting plans are already in the works for next year’s fundraisers - stay tuned for further details! Thanks again to everyone for your contributions and support. If you were unable to attend but would still like to support this great cause, that would be wonderful!! Please go to the ‘Donate’ button in the top right corner of our website and follow the links.
Muskoka Fall In-Water Boat Show @ SWS Boatworks on Lake Rosseau
September 21, 2019
Thanks to Val and Geordie Newlands of SWS Marina for their contribution to the CFM through a silent auction and the proceeds from the BBQ. What a great day and a great community partner!
Our Mission:
To help create an equitable Muskoka where all children have access to the opportunities and supports they need to be happy, healthy, and feel sense of belonging.
The Children's Foundation of Muskoka is an independent, non-profit organization formed in 1989 by volunteers in Muskoka. CFM raises funds in our local community, in partnership with individuals, businesses, and service organizations. We are also a community partner with Canadian Tire's Jump Start Program.
Through our community partnerships, we are able to help children and families in practical ways when no other help is available. We provide funds to meet the recreational, cultural, and emotional needs of the children we serve. Our grants provide children in Muskoka the opportunities to grow and develop.
As a Foundation, we believe:
- in the creation of a community where equality of opportunity is offered to all children;
- that we must be proactive in enabling the community to respond to the needs of children;
- in helping children and families in situations where other resources are not available;
- that all grant decisions that are made will be based exclusively on the needs of the children involved;
- that we must encourage the deployment of volunteers and 'Friends of the Foundation' to assist our efforts.