Sera

Giving back

Providing essential funding to former foster youth during COVID-19

Feb 5, 2021
Children’s Aid Foundation of Canada is a national organization that provides a variety of services for children and youth in and from the child welfare system. Through various supports and programs, it focuses on removing barriers to academic success while helping youth secure the employment and financial resources they need to support themselves. 
With COVID-19 restrictions, many of these youth who were already struggling and precariously employed, lost their jobs and had difficulties accessing CERB because of length or type of employment. The $200,000 grant from the TELUS Friendly Future Foundation enabled Children’s Aid Foundation of Canada to provide grants for many of these now unemployed youth, helping ensure that they can provide for themselves when food insecurity is at an all-time high.
“All of you are truly amazing to support us youth during this hard time. Having no family around, nobody to ask help from or to ask for financial support was scary. It made me cry receiving the grant. Thank you, thank you.” -Sarah*
“The COVID-19 pandemic has placed a tremendous strain on young people who’ve aged out of the child welfare system,” says Children’s Aid Foundation of Canada President and CEO, Valerie McMurtry. “Without a permanent family or a social network to support them, they are incredibly vulnerable. We are so grateful for the leadership and generosity of the TELUS Friendly Future Foundation, whose gift has allowed us to help youth in this time of need with emergency support that will help address food insecurity, as well as support their mental and physical health needs.”
The TELUS Friendly Future Foundation has also partnered with the
TELUS Mobility for Good
program – which provides youth who have aged out of care with a free phone and plan – to help Children’s Aid Foundation of Canada connect with youth who have aged out of the foster care system, ensuring that they too receive the additional assistance they require.
(*identity protected for privacy)