Describe your charity/non-profit/volunteer work in a few sentences.

The Embark Student Foundation was established to make education planning and saving more accessible for all. We want to make the path to and through post-secondary school easier and more affordable for Canadians.

To achieve this, we recognize extraordinary students every year, giving them scholarships as part of the Embark Student Awards Program. We also donate millions to innovative programs that are meant to improve the student experience through the Embark Student Foundation Major Grants Program.

On a broader level, Embark helps families comfortably plan and save for their child’s future, with tailored registered education savings plans and digital tools that help them track and map their savings goals anytime, anywhere.

What problem does it aim to solve?

It’s no secret – a post-secondary education can be expensive. Right now in Ontario, many students can expect to pay upwards of $30,000 for four years worth of university tuition, without factoring in things like textbooks, rent and other living expenses. This is causing many students and families to take on significant debt.

Outside of this, the whole process of planning and saving for education can be extremely opaque. It’s hard to know what your options are, how much you’ll need, where to start or even how to get everything you’re entitled to.

That’s where we come in. By providing families with the resources and saving tools they need to navigate the entire process, and by funding vital programs that support access and student life, we can ensure kids have the best chance to succeed without having to take on significant debt.

When did you start/join it?

I’ve been with the organization for over a year.

What made you want to get involved?

It was an easy decision. I’ve spent my entire career coming up with new technologies and ways to help Canadians get more for their money. The idea of using my experience to help democratize education and make it more accessible and affordable for Canadians everywhere is something that, to me, is extremely important and will lead to a much brighter future.

What was the situation like when you started?

The cost of education was, and still is, very high. Coupled with that, there was a lot of economic uncertainty out there that placed significant strain on households. For instance, last year our research showed that while 89 per cent of parents polled wanted their children to pursue a post-secondary education, 87 per cent believed it was becoming increasingly unaffordable.

How has it changed since?

We’re making things better. Just this year, we released a variety of new tools and programs to truly help families and students throughout their post-secondary journeys. The Embark Student Foundation Major Grants Program, for example, gave $2.7 million to post-secondary institutions to support innovative programs, services and initiatives that have a positive impact on student experiences in Canada. This includes Toronto Metropolitan University’s entrepreneurial incubation program, DMZ, which received $500,000 to expand, enabling a broader range of students, particularly from underrepresented communities, to participate.

From a proprietary standpoint, we’ve also made significant strides in planning and saving for education digital. We’ve built digital insight tools that help you forecast how much your child will need for their education based on your collective goals, and soon, students will be able to use our platform to identify programs that’ll help lead them to professions they’re interested in.

What more needs to be done?

There’s a lot that still needs to be done. With costs continuing to rise, we need to come together to help Canadians better afford an education and take hold of their future.

How can our readers help?

Whether you’re a parent, friend or student, just starting the conversation about the cost of education and saving for school can have a very real effect on helping people avoid debt and access the education needed to pursue their dreams.

This doesn’t have to happen right when someone is about to go to school either. When it comes to personal finance, timing is everything. The more time you have, the better you can comfortably save and the more time your money has to grow.

Do you have any events coming up?

Keep up-to-date with us by visiting our website.

Where can we follow you?

Website | Instagram | Facebook | TikTok | LinkedIn | YouTube

PAY IT FORWARD: What is an awesome local charity that you love?

An awesome charity you should check out is Open Medicine Foundation Canada. There are also many mentorship programs around that inspire growth, innovation and entrepreneurship, like JA Canada.

The post Charitable Choices: Andrew Lo of the Embark Student Foundation appeared first on Toronto Guardian.

Describe your charity/non-profit/volunteer work in a few sentences.

The Korean Canadian Scholarship Foundation (KCSF) is a community leader that provides scholarships to Korean Canadians or individuals who feel connected to the Korean community. Although we acknowledge academic excellence, the scoring for scholarships is based on an essay describing their volunteerism, as well as references provided. KCSF also creates programs/camps to help mentor, as well as address social issues that impact youth and young professionals.

What problem does it aim to solve?

Although we acknowledge there can be systemic racism, KCSF tries to develop confidence, as well as personal development by introducing young Koreans to various high-profile members in our community for mentorship.

When did you start/join it?

I joined the board 4 years ago as a Director. I have been the Chair for the past year and 1/2.

What made you want to get involved?

My Father was a founding board member back in the late 70’s. I always felt that I wanted to give back. Since my Father passed away 2 years ago, I finally accepted the role as Chair.

What was the situation like when you started?

When I first started KCSF, the main focus was on scholarships and bursaries. We also had some programs on student development with student volunteers helping create our various programs.

What more needs to be done?

I would now like to reorganize the foundation focusing on fundraising and grants to help elevate and sustain the key program called LEAD (Leadership, Engagement, Advancement, Development) Program.

How can our readers help?

We need community support not only in setting up new scholarships but also in helping fund our LEAD program. Since we solely depend on fundraising, any support from the community is greatly appreciated.

Every year we hold a gala that helps with some of our operating budget. This year’s gala was held on Oct 28th, at the Carlu in Toronto.

Do you have any events coming up?

“Our Place and Beyond” (OPB) is a full-day conference for working professionals and students to be held on Saturday, November 25, 2023. This conference aims to strengthen the understanding of cultural identity, diversity, and intersectionality among Korean communities in Canada while building collective and sustainable strategies for combatting anti-Asian racism.

Also, The Korean Canadian Scholarship Foundation (KCSF) is delighted to declare that it is currently open to receive applications for the 2023-2024 Scholarships and Bursaries. The application deadline for this opportunity is November 30, 2023. KCSF remains steadfast in its dedication to assisting post-secondary students in reaching their educational and career goals, all while actively seeking to acknowledge and empower exceptional individuals within the community.

Where can we follow you?

Website

PAY IT FORWARD: What is an awesome local charity that you love?

I am currently on the campaign committee for La Tablee Des Chefs, which focuses on food insecurities. I love this organization because, during these times of high inflation and interest rates, many people are relying on food banks. We all need to try and give back to the community and help our fellow Canadians.

The post Charitable Choices: Peter Chang of the Korean Canadian Scholarship Foundation appeared first on Toronto Guardian.

Describe your charity/non-profit/volunteer work in a few sentences.

The Meagan Bebenek Foundation is driven by a vision of a world where no children and their families suffer from brain tumours. Our mission is to raise awareness and funds for pediatric brain tumour research, to foster hope and improve outcomes for affected children and their families.

From our annual walk on the Saturday of Mother’s Day weekend that culminates with thousands of participants joining hands to encircle the Hospital for Sick Children in the only human hug of its kind in the world, to our school program, international Neuro-oncology Fellowship and more, the Meagan Bebenek Foundation is making an indelible mark on pediatric health care.

What problem does it aim to solve?

Brain tumours are the leading cause of cancer-related deaths in children and young people under the age of 20. Despite Canada being a leader in pediatric brain tumour research, childhood cancer is consistently underfunded, accounting for only 5% of cancer research funding. Our goal is to translate research observations into tangible benefits for our children who are affected by brain tumours.

When did you start/join it?

I founded Meagan’s HUG in 2001 after losing my 5-year-old daughter Meagan to an inoperable brain tumour.

What made you want to get involved?

When I left the hospital after Meagan passed away, I knew I had to do something to help other children who faced serious health challenges. After delving into the research, speaking with doctors and learning more, specifically about the malignant brain tumour Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma – which is what Meagan was diagnosed with, I realized there was a lack of funding for research which drove me to further explore what could be done.

I also knew that no family should have to walk this path alone. So, from my dining room table, my dream of creating a human hug to spread a message of hope and help raise funds for research began to take shape and the Meagan Bebenek Foundation was born.

What was the situation like when you started?

At the time Meagan was diagnosed, we knew nothing about brain tumours and how they affected children, let alone that they were the leading cause of cancer-related death in children.

Twenty years ago, information was not readily accessible, and we did not know others who were in the same situation – it was a very lonely experience. It was because of Meagan and the diagnosis that I knew something had to be done. I asked friends and family to help me with what would become the first Meagan Bebenek Foundation Walk and HUG event. Families like mine- they too were alone and being with others who know and understand your struggles breaks the isolation. We like to say “Together we HUG”- but we also say, “Together we are stronger”. That was something powerful that happened at the first foundation event in 2001.

Making a community of hope was new, and a big step forward. Finding a community to talk to, who understood the fears, the helpless feeling and who wanted to join with me and make things happen that could make the odds more favourable for our children was a breakthrough.

I think the other thing that was different in 2000/2001 was the silence around brain tumours and kids. It was a shock for us to learn about the seriousness and frequency of brain tumours. I knew that had to change.

Also, the Brain Tumour Research Centre right here in Toronto was relatively small with a handful of principal investigators, and now it is quite different. It has become one of the leading brain tumour research centres in the world with well over 100 professionals now working on this research.

How has it changed since?

The Meagan Bebenek Foundation is pleased to be celebrating its 22nd anniversary in 2023. We have raised almost $6 million dollars for pediatric brain tumour research and are recognized for our significant and ongoing support of the Brain Tumour Research Centre, the only facility in Canada with a program dedicated to pediatric brain tumour research.

The Foundation has made a mark on pediatric health care, improving outcomes, quality of life, and survival rates for children and young people with brain tumours. We fund seed research projects, purchase cutting-edge equipment and provide ongoing funding of the Toronto Brain Tumour Network tissue bank. This includes a recent world-first clinical trial that successfully delivered chemotherapy to a pediatric brain tumour patient using MRI-guided focused ultrasound with seed funding contributed from our foundation.

We have also made a global impact with the Neuro-oncology Fellowship Program. Each year the Meagan Bebenek Foundation fully funds the Fellowship where oncology doctors from anywhere in the world can come to Toronto to work with the “best of the best” on the clinical and research side. Many have stayed longer than a year, securing funds from other sources to help carry on their research work.

When each Fellow returns home, he/she shares the wealth of knowledge, ensuring that colleagues can learn from their experience and skills. I am most proud of this program – it is a jewel.

What more needs to be done?

This is a big question. We foster a world of culture and discovery…and more knowledge leads to a lot of great things that have provided answers and improved the outcomes. But it also leads to an understanding that there is much to be learned still, seeking better understanding so that every brain tumour, though perhaps a challenge, ultimately can be met with a resolution. I recall Dr. James Rutka, Director of the Brain Tumour Research Centre, saying he dreams of the day when he sits down with a family and can say, “Yes, your child has a brain tumour, and this is what we can do to fix it.”

Also, we can shape care here in Toronto, but what we can do is powerful, as we make a difference nationally and internationally. Living in this city we have access to some of the most advanced care and treatment in the world – but for a family travelling from more remote and distant locations, having an ill child can have a devastating impact.

The world needs hope – and community can achieve so much when we all join together. And we need to make brain tumours a thing of the past.

How can our readers help?

We invite your readers to visit us to learn more about the foundation, our brave Meagan Bebenek Foundation Heroes, our programs, volunteer opportunities and how to donate. We run programs all year-round including donation and community fundraising programs, our amazing school program Kids Helping Kids and annual events.

Do you have any events coming up?

We do! On Saturday, May 13, 2023, we will be hosting our signature walk and hug event to come together in a message of hope for a 5km walk through the streets of Toronto. The walk culminates at The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) where participants join hands in a human hug around the hospital. For more information on the event and to participate, visit our website.

Where can we follow you?

Website | Instagram | Twitter | Facebook

PAY IT FORWARD: What is an awesome local charity that you love?

I love Covenant House as they are doing such important work serving vulnerable youth who are homeless, trafficked or at risk.

The post Charitable Choices: Denise Bebenek, Founder of the Meagan Bebenek Foundation appeared first on Toronto Guardian.