Organization/Business: Thames Valley Education Foundation
Short Bio or Organizational Mission: To provide enhanced learning opportunities for Thames Valley students by fostering support from all sectors of society.
What do you want people to know about how you or your organization is creating change in our community?
Established in 2001, The Thames Valley Education Foundation (TVEF) is a registered charitable organization affiliated with the Thames Valley District School Board. TVEF exists to build partnerships with the community that enhance opportunities in our schools and enrich public education.
Funding for the Foundation comes from local businesses, grants, community organizations and concerned citizens who wish to support our District's tradition of excellence.
What are you working on that you would like to share with the community?
Making a best first day for every child.
In 2001, Natalie Trimble and Chantal McLaughlin, two working moms, started Supplies for Schools in their basement. Their goal: provide backpacks and school supplies for students in need so that every kid can start school ready to learn. Today, the program has grown into a community-wide school supplies drive coordinated by three community partners – United Way Elgin Middlesex, Thames Valley Education Foundation and The Salvation Army. Collected backpacks and school supplies are given to local schools for distribution to students in need.
Though summer has only just begun, the Thames Valley Education Foundation (TVEF), United Way, and The Salvation Army are hard at work preparing to support students this September through Best First Day. Last year, the annual community-wide drive was able to deliver nearly 3,200 backpacks full of supplies to students of all ages in need across the entire Thames Valley
district, in addition to Indigenous communities, the London District Catholic School Board, and several community agencies. Amid the financial strain many families are facing with COVID-19, there is an anticipated increased need among students for school supplies.
The digital shopping experience is available again this year and you can shop from the comfort of your home by clicking here.
Of course, we will continue to accept donations of physical backpacks and supplies through workplace collections and at our drop off locations but we will be wrapping up the collection on September 2, to ensure we get supplies to students before they go back to school.
Any additional information and our drop off locations can be found on our website www.bestfirstday.ca.
Please share with us why you are a Pillar Nonprofit Network Member. What have you gained from being a Pillar Member?
TVEF is a Pillar Nonprofit Network member because of the educational support and community support they provide. We value innovation, embracing diversity, and celebrating achievement and are glad to have Pillar's support.
Follow us on Twitter and Instagram @TVeducationFdn.
Contact Name: Lindsay Walker
Contact Email: lindsay.walker@tvdsb.ca
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