Our impact
Every camp creates lasting change for children and families in Toronto's highest need communities. Here is what support provides, and what it costs.
Where your money goes
$860 puts one Toronto child through a camp. $380 of that is the equipment, coaching, dryland and on-ice volunteers. $500 covers a full set of equipment the camper keeps permanently. Our annual target is $15,000 to $20,000 for equipment and ice.
An adoption of $380 covers a full gear set. A full adoption of $860 covers a child's complete camp experience.
Why this matters
Research from the Aspen Institute finds children from low income families are far less likely to play organised sport than higher income peers. The UNICEF report Getting into the Game links sport participation to improved academic performance, mental health and social development.
have to say
out loud
More applications than spots
This is the sentence we would rather not have to write.
We received more than one hundred applications for our last cycle. We had spots for sixty.
That is not a statistic about demand. It is roughly forty children whose families filled in a form, hoped, and were told no. We do not run first come first served, so the ones we turn away are not the least deserving. They are the ones we ran out of ice for.
Every one thousand and sixty dollars is one fewer of those.
Every empty seat is a real application from a real family, in a city where the cost of the game is the only reason it was turned down. That gap is the entire reason this page has a donate button on it.
rounded
Every piece of equipment that went home
Fifteen thousand dollars is a number. This is what it actually looks like.
- 60Helmets
- 60Pairs of skates
- 60Sticks
- 60Pairs of gloves
- 60Shoulder pads
- 60Elbow pads
- 60Shin guards
- 60Hockey pants
- 60Jerseys
540 individual pieces of equipment have gone home with a child and have not come back. That is what $15,000+ looks like when you count it rather than round it.
What these numbers mean, precisely. The 540 pieces above are roughly forty complete equipment sets, plus a jersey for all sixty campers. They are not sixty full sets. A camper who already owned skates that fitted was given everything else, and returning campers were topped up rather than reissued. Every child who came to a camp left with everything they needed to play. Not every child needed all ten items.
The first morning and the last afternoon
Same camp, same rink, four days apart. Drag the handle.
Drag the handle. Same camp, same rink, four days apart.
say
Five out of five on Google
“My son attended the Open Ice Initiative several days and loved the experience. He was excited to go each day, enjoyed the drills, and spoke often about the coaches. The program helped him become much more confident on the ice, and he even asked to practice more outside of camp. All equipment was provided and was excellent quality, which would have cost our family around $1,000 on our own.”
“My child attended for multiple days and had a very positive experience. He was excited to attend each day and felt welcomed and supported by the staff. The program helped him learn how to skate and build confidence on the ice. As a parent, this experience would have cost our family well over $1,500 to $2,000 to provide on our own.”
“Our eldest daughter attended, along with her siblings, and the experience was incredible. All of her hockey gear was fully provided, so we didn't have to worry about anything. Her skating, confidence, and overall comfort on the ice grew so much.”
“An outstanding program that removes barriers and gives kids a real opportunity to play hockey. From providing equipment to creating a welcoming environment, the impact is amazing.”
“The children were so excited after being at camp. They were beginners at ice skating and they found the staff to be so patient and helpful. The staff and management were great with the children.”
“The week-long hockey training was an outstanding experience for my two children. They absolutely loved every day and gained confidence, skills, and a true passion for the game. The fact that this program covers the expenses is deeply meaningful.”
What the media and the community said
“You didn't just give them skates. You gave them a chance to believe they are the same as other children.”
“Mama, I'm not a beginner anymore. I'm a player.”
“Andrew's initiative to bring people together and give them access to ice time, equipment, coaching, and professionals is something that's truly special. I trust this camp will be something that you remember forever.”
“My favourite thing about hockey is not being good at hockey, it's spending time together with friends. By the end of the week, you're going to spend a bunch of time together, make some memories, and hopefully that's something you can continue going forward.”
“A camp that cuts through by giving kids a chance to play a game that might have been out of reach.”