2024 HDR Foundation Grants

A Better Life Foundation provides daily meals, training and education to a downtown Vancouver population that experiences many complex challenges, including drug abuse, homelessness, unemployment and housing issues. This CA$5,000 grant will support the Plenty of Plates initiative, where HDR volunteers will participate in a community event to prep, cook and serve 80 community members home-cooked meals. The remaining funds will contribute toward the daily meals program, which reaches over 1,800 community members throughout the year.

Employee sponsors: Jacob Darowski and John Benner | Vancouver, BC

This CA$7,000 HDR Canada Fund grant matched employee donations toward the Canadian Red Cross Alberta wildfire relief efforts. The funds contributed to those impacted in Jasper and surrounding communities with immediate and ongoing relief, including financial assistance, support to evacuees and the communities hosting them, recovery and resilience efforts in response to the wildfires, as well as supporting community preparedness and risk reduction for future all-hazard disaster events. While the grant matched individual employee donations, the Alberta Provincial Government and Canadian Federal Government tripled the donation, which brought the total result of this effort to CA$41,215 to support the Canadian Red Cross.

Employee sponsor: Brandon Thurber | Calgary, AB

Taking a stand to help build strength and stability, Habitat for Humanity Greater Toronto Area believes everyone should have a healthy, affordable place to call home. This CA$5,000 grant will provide the tools, personal protective equipment and training for Toronto employees volunteering to build a new home at the Normandy Build Site. With an affordable home, families have more resources to spend on food, medicine, childcare, education and other essentials. 

Employee sponsor: Shalevia Briscoe | Toronto, ON

The Happy Herd is a farm animal sanctuary for abused or at-risk farm animals. This CA$4,890 grant will replace their sanctuary’s deteriorating shelter with a newer, more functional structure. An estimated 2,300 community members visit or volunteer at Happy Herd each year, offering learning opportunities and a place where individuals can relieve stress and experience compassion and empathy.

Employee sponsor: Lori-Ann Wilson | Vancouver, BC 

The mission of Made by Momma is to provide wholesome nourishment and nurturing care to mothers and young children facing crisis. This CA$5,000 grant will fund two HDR group cooking events to provide meals to mothers and young children in crisis, in addition to diapers, baby wipes, baby formula, and birthday gifts for kids and teenagers. Giving mothers the time they need to rest, recover and focus on their families creates a nurturing environment during challenging times. 

Employee sponsor: Sheila De Torres | Calgary, AB 

The Ottawa-Carleton District School Board strives to enrich the learning experience of children by supporting initiatives that go beyond core educational funding. This CA$10,000 grant will be used to purchase a new play structure for children ages 6-12 attending W.E. Gowling Public School, replacing the previous playground that was removed due to age. Approximately 450 students will benefit directly from the new play equipment, allowing children to maximize their time outdoors and develop social, cognitive, problem-solving, and physical skills. 

Employee sponsor: Anna Preiss | Ottawa, ON

The Richmond Hill Community Food Bank provides emergency food assistance to those in need. This CA$5,000 will provide 100 Thanksgiving meal kits to the local community, transforming the holiday experience for families facing food insecurity. Volunteers from the Young Professionals Employee Network Group will help pick up ingredients and assemble the meal kits.

Employee sponsors: Ashina Sureshkumar, Jacob Phillips, Dawn Padiernos | Richmond Hill, ON

This CA$5,000 grant to Victoria Community Food Hub Society will fund specialized high-pressure canning equipment that is specific to local Indigenous fishing and canning practices, which will create a cascading effect of Indigenous food literacy in the community. This will expand the food hub’s ability to host workshops, exposing Indigenous youth to careers in the food industry. Volunteers organized by HDR’s Young Professionals Employee Network Group will take part in a workshop to build upon their relationship with the organization. 

Employee sponsor: Andrea Middleton | Victoria, BC

The Women's Centre of York Region offers unique programming and services that address a range of circumstances for women who need positive change. This CA$3,231 grant will fund new furniture, supplies and self-care material, creating a therapeutic and inviting environment for the Violence Against Women counseling program. The improvements will help clients feel at home and comfortable during their session, creating the trust necessary for healing and a journey toward recovery. 

Employee sponsor: Shamila Somasundram | Richmond Hill, ON

Bluegrass Care Navigators aims to help families with the highest level of care while facing extreme health challenges and end-of-life situations. This $18,000 grant will fund the purchase of two mobile stairlifts and four portable wheelchair stairlifts to allow easier transport into residences lacking elevator access. Through this addition, senior adults enrolled in the Bluegrass PACE program can live safely in their homes while receiving the palliative care they need.

Employee sponsor: Mark Day | Lexington, KY

Canine Companions works to educate clients on everything they need to know about working with and caring for their new service dog. This $16,700 grant will fund improvements to Gittinger Hall, where over 200 individuals stay annually for Canine Companions' two-week team training program. The improvements will support a program reaching over 670 active-service dog teams working with Canine Companions.

Employee sponsor: Raffaella Geremia | Bellevue, WA

In Uganda, over 64% of people do not have access to a sanitary toilet, and nearly 50% lack adequate handwashing facilities. Drink Local Drink Tap is dedicated to solving global water equity through education, advocacy, and community-centered water, sanitation and hygiene projects. This $30,000 grant will fund the building of sanitation and hygiene facilities for over 1,300 students and teachers at Lwero Primary School in Uganda.

Employee sponsor: Adam Arnold | Cleveland, OH

Heartland Equine Therapeutic Riding Academy aims to improve the quality of life both physically and emotionally of adults and children of all ability levels through equine-assisted activities. Through a $6,225 grant, HETRA will provide three brand-new shelters and pens for the miniature therapy equines. These additions will help to optimize the health and longevity of HETRA’s equines, allowing them to serve participants to the best of their ability for years to come. 

Employee sponsor: Teresa Konda | Omaha, NE

Kansas City Community Gardens' mission is to empower and inspire low-income households, community groups and schools in the Kansas City area to grow their own vegetables and fruit. With a $23,168 grant, KCGG will transform their facility into a multipurpose space to support community education and greenhouse and nursery operations. As KCCG’s client base has grown significantly in recent years, the space has been used more and more as a place where volunteers can carry out tasks that support the greenhouse and nursery program.

Employee sponsor: Iain Blair | Kansas City, MO

Magenta Theater brings the Vancouver community together for various engaging events and activities fueled by passion and creativity. This $15,231 grant will improve accessibility for the hearing-impaired population visiting Magenta Theater. This project includes the replacement and optimization of the sound board to be compatible with assisted listening technology and the purchase and installation of assisted listening infrared devices for patrons.

Employee sponsor: Luke Dowell | Vancouver, WA

For Chicagoland youth who desire and deserve more, MetroSquash combines academic support, competitive squash and enrichment opportunities to empower students to realize their potential and make their mark. Through a $22,000 grant, MetroSquash will purchase squash equipment and uniforms for 250 students in their program over the years to come. The students will experience the pride of wearing competition uniforms and brand-new equipment, helping to foster their sense of unity and confidence.

Employee sponsor: Thomas Hein | Rosemont, IL

For over 50 years, New Morning Youth & Family Services has provided a 12-bed emergency shelter and safety net of services for more than 150 youth (ages 6-18) and their families annually. With a $30,000 grant, New Morning will purchase a new van to transport youth to school, jobs, outings, extracurricular activities, and medical and mental health appointments. Having a new van is estimated to impact more than 1,650 youth in New Morning’s care over the vehicle's life.

Employee sponsor: Elizabeth Dawson | Folsom, CA

Sky High Farm works to ensure that everyone has access to the resources they need to sustain themselves, including high-quality, culturally appropriate food. This $28,894 grant will fund the long-awaited purchase of a livestock trailer, serving as a critical piece of lasting infrastructure. This trailer will help center the deployment of regenerative farming practices to support donations of nutrient-dense protein sources.

Employee sponsor: Christopher LaTuso | White Plains, NY

Anglicare Victoria is dedicated to transforming futures by preventing, protecting and empowering disadvantaged Victorian kids through alternative housing and out-of-home care services. The AU$5,000 grant will go towards “Dream Day” outings at the Melbourne Zoo and Werribee Open Range Zoo to connect children in foster care with wildlife and nature experiences they normally do not have access to.

Employee sponsor: Huey Moo

Community Canteen aims to serve quality, nutritious meals to the homeless population of Brisbane. This AU$5,000 grant will continue the work of Community Canteen to make a change in their community by providing fresh, delicious meals to anyone in need. Not only does Community Canteen work to tackle food insecurity through practical sustenance, but it also helps people to improve their well-being and outlook on life.

Employee sponsor: Tina O’Connell

This AU$5,000 grant will support the development of Dementia Australia by growing their D-ESC Program, a virtual reality training for behavioral emergencies. There are more than 421,000 individuals living with dementia in Australia, and the demand for this program has been highlighted by recommendations from the Australian Royal Commission. The funds will be utilized for D-ESC training expenses and to raise awareness within the community.

Employee sponsors: Amy Brannan, Cherie Voon and Amy Papas

The Indigenous Literacy Foundation works with 349 remote Indigenous Communities across Australia by advocating for equity of access to culturally appropriate literacy materials. This AU$5,000 grant will enhance the ILF Book Supply program by distributing brand new, culturally relevant books to various Indigenous Communities. Providing children with the opportunity to see themselves and their culture reflected in stories furthers their education through literacy and helps build a sense of belonging and pride for their culture. 

Employee sponsor: Simone Benvenuti

Kit Bags for Kids works to serve underprivileged children across Australia by providing them with the highest quality secondhand, surplus or unwanted sporting goods and equipment. This AU$5,000 grant will be utilized to further store equipment collected from the community to expand operations and serve a greater population. Through local garage storage, Kit Bags for Kids can store up to 3,000 items for future distribution. 

Employee sponsor: Mark Gazy

Queensland Koala Crusaders is dedicated to improving koala conservation through building and improving habitat, providing education and advocating in the Queensland community. This AU$5,000 grant will allow the Koala Crusaders to partner with University of the Sunshine Coast and researcher Dr. Romane Cristescu to host a community koala workshop, fund a koala survey using detection dogs, and create volunteer opportunities for habitat planting. This project will teach community members how to spot koalas in need of rescue and further their understanding of the benefits of habitat expansion.

Employee sponsor: Mark Fairweather

Pushing Barriers aims to provide school-aged children from refugee backgrounds access to community sports. This AU$5,000 grant will fund materials such as uniforms, boots, equipment, and club memberships, enabling refugee children to actively participate in sports. The initiative ignites possibilities and creates healthy communities for the youth by lowering youth crime and providing a positive and productive outlet for refugee children. 

Employee sponsor: Peter Nel

Sisters Inside advocates for the human rights of incarcerated or recently released women and girls by providing services that address their needs. This AU$5,000 grant will fund materials to maintain a connection between criminalized mothers and their children. The funds will cover communication between incarcerated mothers and their families, as well as allow women and children access to emergency housing, food, transportation, personal hygiene projects and medicine. 

Employee sponsor: Ashley Clark

A £1,500 grant to Ayshire East Foodbank will help provide a three-day food supply to community members experiencing emergency situations.

A £1,500 grant to the Apsley Community Food Bank at St. Mary’s Church will provide non-perishable goods and refreshments for anyone (of any creed or none) seeking food.

A £1,500 grant to Croydon Nightwatch will provide food and supplies for people experiencing homelessness in Croydon.

A £1,500 grant to the Southwark Foodbank will provide emergency food supplies for local people in crisis.

AHSTW Community Schools, based in Avoca, Iowa, is dedicated to fostering a dynamic learning community that equips students for success in an ever-changing world. This $27,500 grant will procure push-button door locks for all classroom doors, enhancing school safety during lockdown situations. Research demonstrates that locked doors can be one of the biggest defenses against a school shooting. 

Employee sponsor: Angela Grote | Des Moines, IA

A $29,731 grant to Boys & Girls Clubs of the Coastal Bend will fund outdoor playground equipment for an early learning center, facilitating crucial developmental activities such as conflict resolution and teamwork. By bridging the gap between home and school, Boys & Girls Clubs of the Coastal Bend aims to reduce the risk of unsupervised and unsafe periods for children and teenagers outside of school hours.

Employee sponsor: Alexa Fulbright | Corpus Christi, TX

With the support of a $27,818 grant, Boys & Girls Clubs of Northeast Florida will renovate the Project Learn space, where kids take part in academic enhancement activities. The grant will fund new furniture, laptops and electronics, such as virtual reality equipment. Through its commitment to empowering young people in need, the club aims to cultivate responsible, caring citizens prepared for success.

Employee sponsor: Danyell Cooper | Jacksonville, FL

Camp Kita aims to foster hope and joy through shared experiences, ultimately contributing to generational transformation among children affected by suicide and suicide risk. This $30,000 grant will complete funding for a 572-square-foot, prefabricated building that is compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act. It will support the physical and behavioral health of individuals participating in services offered by The Kita Center.

Employee sponsor: Rebecca Stouges | Denver, CO

Friends of Des Moines Parks will launch a new inclusive youth sports program for athletes with disabilities with the support of a $15,200 grant. The funds will cover adaptive sports equipment, including specialized wheelchairs for participants of different abilities to be able to participate in baseball, softball, basketball, soccer and track. With a significant portion of Iowa's youth living with disabilities, this initiative aims to provide accessible and age-appropriate activities, fostering a healthier and more vibrant community for all.

Employee sponsor: Andy McCoy | Des Moines, IA

As a volunteer-led parent-teacher organization, Hansen Community Council provides critical support to Hansen Elementary School by planning, organizing and funding enrichment activities beyond what is provided by the school district. This $29,950 grant will support Hansen Community Council’s efforts to enhance inclusivity through the addition of a roller slide on the school’s playground, which is also open to the public during non-school hours. Wider than a typical slide to allow multiple children of all abilities to play simultaneously, the roller slide is specifically designed to meet the needs of children with disabilities like sensory processing disorders, neurodiversity (such as autism, ADHD and anxiety), and hearing loss (because the non-static slide does not interfere with cochlear implants).

Employee sponsor: Brett Stark | Olympia, WA

With this $29,995 grant, Idaho Shakespeare Festival will purchase a box truck to transport set pieces for its educational theater touring programs. Through these programs, professional actors transform cafeterias and gymnasiums across the state into temporary and magical theatrical plays full of haunted libraries, troubled kingdoms and the wonders of Shakespeare — inviting students into these imaginary worlds filled with characters that the students can connect with, be inspired by and to learn from. Each spring, two troupes of actors travel roughly 14,000 miles across the state and perform for approximately 50,000 K-12 students in urban, rural, remote and often underserved areas throughout Idaho.

Employee sponsor: Kâren Sander | Boise, ID

MTB Missoula aims to promote and create mountain biking opportunities in Missoula and the surrounding areas through trail building, stewardship, advocacy and outreach. This $30,000 grant will help the organization acquire a half-ton pickup truck and 20-bike capacity trailer to support its youth mountain bike outreach program and trail maintenance events. The program seeks to provide both the knowledge and equipment for under-resourced community members to enjoy mountain biking.

Employee sponsor: Jon Schick | Missoula, MT

The Rick Herrema Foundation, located just outside Fort Liberty, was founded in 2014 by Special Operations Force soldiers to honor the fort late Rick Herrema, a soldier who died in Operation Iraqi Freedom. RHF’s mission is to strengthen relationships and build community for the military family through fun, quality activities. This $30,000 grant will help to open up a new area of the park as part of a 3.2- mile nature trail that will feature wheelchair and stroller-accessible routes with interactive activities to include scavenger hunts, read-and-walk stories, creek-side walking, fitness stations, wildlife education and kids’ libraries. 

Employee sponsor: Leah Gentilin | Raleigh, NC

This $5,000 grant to Roper Mountain Science Center will fund materials and supplies for its 4th-grade physical science lab, serving more than 7,000 students from 46 school districts annually with hands-on, standards-based science learning lab experiences. The “Powerful Decisions” physical science lab will be equipped with snap circuit kits with other components, solar powered energy toys and rechargeable batteries as a result of the grant. 

Employee sponsor: Jennifer Mustar | Greenville, SC

Sustainable Princeton strives to lead community change to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, strengthen resilience to the impacts of the changing climate and protect the local ecosystem. This $12,741 grant will fund materials needed to construct 20 downspout planters to mitigate flooding and support the local ecosystem with native plantings, providing green infrastructure as an environmentally friendly solution.

Employee sponsor: James Burton | Pennington, NJ

United Voices for Newcomer Rights empowers refugees, immigrants and asylum-seekers to achieve integration and well-being in their new communities. This $30,000 grant will fund a minivan that will be used exclusively to transport newcomers who reside within the community to educational programs and services based within the community.

Employee sponsor: Amir Shokrollahi | Albuquerque, NM

The Young Women’s Preparatory Network provides college-preparatory education and fosters academic and leadership skills to young women. This $29,755 grant will fund essential STEM technology and equipment for the Irma Lerma Rangel Young Women’s Leadership School. These tools will ensure equitable access to quality education, leveling the playing field for low-income students to have the same opportunities as their higher-income peers. 

Employee sponsor: George Cisneros | Dallas, TX