Mission: We raise funds and build partnerships to help vulnerable children, youth, and families in Durham Region. Working closely with Durham Children’s Aid Society, we provide support and access to education, camps, and healing programs that honour diversity and strengthen families, giving every child the opportunity to thrive.

Vision: A community in which every child, youth, and family thrives in happiness, surrounded by opportunity and unwavering support.

Core Belief: We believe that every child deserves hope, love, and a future full of promise. Our work is grounded in the belief that strong communities create strong futures. Together with our community, we open doors to possibility because together, we thrive.

1. Basic & Emergency Support Fund

This fund supports immediate needs and promotes family stability by providing essentials and crisis response services. It helps ensure access to clothing and hygiene products, daycare and school supplies through initiatives like Operation Backpack, holiday giving and seasonal programs such as Holiday Hope, emergency food and shelter, transportation and one-time financial assistance, and start-up or ongoing supports for kinship and foster families. Additional help is available through initiatives like the Clothing Program and Care Closet.

We gratefully accept new clothing donations throughout the year to help stock our Clothing Program. These contributions ensure that children and youth have access to high-quality essentials that promote dignity, comfort, and confidence.

Learn More or Donate Items

2. Education & Empowerment Fund

This fund invests in the long-term success of children and youth by promoting education, personal growth, and independence. It provides educational bursaries for youth in care and post-care, tutoring and access to technology, support for school-related expenses, summer camps and recreation programs such as the Ski Club, life skills and leadership development, and transition supports to help youth build stable, independent futures.

If you’d like to donate or partner with us to create a bursary for youth, please contact Leslie McLean.

Connect About Bursary Opportunities

3. Trauma-Informed Care & Safety Fund

This fund strengthens safety and healing for children, youth, and caregivers who have experienced or are at risk of trauma. It focuses on prevention and intervention related to human trafficking and gender-based violence, offering trauma-informed counseling, therapeutic supports, safe housing, caregiver education, and advocacy and navigation for survivors.

Nominate a Volunteer or Community Partner for a 2025 Durham Children’s Aid Foundation Award

We’re now accepting nominations for the 2025 Durham Children’s Aid Foundation Awards, celebrating the people and partners who make our work possible. The Sharon Clark Volunteer of the Year Award honours an outstanding volunteer whose compassion and dedication reflect the legacy of Sharon’s Kids and our Holiday Hope program, while the Heart of the Community Awards recognize donors, companies, and community groups whose generosity strengthens the mission of the Durham Children’s Aid Foundation. Nominations are due October 17, 2025, and can be emailed to Jacqueline.Vieira@durhamcaf.ca.

View the Sharon Clark & Heart of the Community Awards Details (PDF)