How We Help

The Kawartha-Haliburton Children's Foundation has created the following funds to respond to the special needs of these children by providing enriching, positive experiences which give them the tools to help them overcome a lifetime of abuse and neglect.

Summer Camp Fund

Every child who is involved with the KHCAS has the opportunity to attend summer camp. The camp experience is positive and teaches the children new skills, allows them to meet new friends, discover nature and just feel good about themselves. They are integrated into a number of local camps where they can get caught up in the joy and excitement and feel like a “normal” kid for a week. This experience helps to build their self-esteem and gives them confidence to achieve their goals and dreams.  Over the last thirteen years the Foundation has sent over 2,000 children of abuse to summer camp. The cost to send one child to camp for one week is $425.00. We also have children with seemingly insurmountable behavioural problems that have been able to attend camp and also children with severe physical disabilities that attend “special needs camps”. The cost for these special camps ranges from $750.00 - $1,000.00 a week.

Child Development Fund

This fund has a great deal of flexibility and can cover a variety of expenditures such as belonging to a sports league, taking music or dance lessons, attending recreational and cultural events, or costs related to school graduation or travel costs for special events with extended family members.

Margaret Davies Bursary Fund

The Margaret Davies Bursary Fund was formed in recognition of Mrs. Davies who founded the Foundation and for her many years of support to the Foundation.

The Bursary Fund provides funds for present or former Crown Wards who continue with post-secondary education. Bursaries are awarded in the amount of $1,500.00 per student, per semester. This fund gives the youths the opportunity to further their education and gives them hope for their futures, and helps them to develop into happy, productive citizens.

Music

Every child who is involved with the Society has been encouraged to pursue their interest in music, as it is recognized for its therapeutic value, and involvement in this pursuit can only increase self-esteem and give a lifetime gift.

Dental Fund

Each year the Foundation allocates funds to pay for orthodontic services. The children in the care of the CAS often suffer from low self-esteem, and this is further heightened if there is an obvious dental problem. This fund was established in order to improve dental health and thus, self-esteem.

Youth in Care

The Children's Aid Society has established a Life Skills program for youth between the ages of 13 - 18 in order to prepare them for independence. Activities of this group include learning basic skills such as money management, cooking, grocery shopping and perhaps most importantly peer support and peer interaction. The Foundation is committed to providing ongoing activities including cultural and social outings for the Youth-In-Care group.

Santa’s Sleigh

This annual Christmas giving program is primarily supported by the Peterborough and Kawartha’s Association of Realtors Inc., and is enhanced by private and corporate donations received during the holiday season. In 2006 there were over 1,900 gifts received for the children.

Abuse Prevention Fund

This program is geared towards young, single parents and focuses on child management skills along with coping with the stresses of child-rearing and financial hardships of single parenting. Funding provides for all materials and will offer baby-sitting and transportation assistance in order for these young parents to attend the program. The peer support and skills training will be invaluable resources to them for many years.

Educational Assistance Fund

The Children’s Aid Society often is involved with children who require educational assistance due to developmental handicaps that set them at a disadvantage in the regular school system. The Foundation has been able to assist with aiding these children in such ways as the purchase of specialized computer hardware and software, and in special circumstances, funding for tuition in a private school setting. In addition, funds have been provided for special educational programs for students involved in such areas as performing arts.