On a daily basis, the TDSB opens its doors to 240,000 students. Many of these students face the daily challenges that poverty presents and for them it is often a struggle to succeed at school. Many do not have warm coats, hats or boots and others do not have food or other essentials. The Hope in Action Emergency Fund was developed by the Board’s arms-length charitable foundation, the Toronto Foundation for Student Success (TFSS), to provide funds to students with urgent needs. Grants are only made possible by local fundraising or with the help of donors and when funds are fully expended the grant process halts until additional dollars are raised. 

Who can apply?

Any principal, teacher or professional support services staff member can apply for emergency funds on behalf of their students. As front-line TDSB staff, you know your students best — you deal with issues related to poverty each and every day and you know what your students need. There is a one-time maximum of $500 per person.

What can funds be used for?

Funds can be used for anything of urgent nature that directly supports a student.

For list of criteria please click on to Hope in Action Emergency Fund Application Form

We’d like to share with you three of the challenges brought forward recently by school principals:

Winter is here and the days are getting colder and darker but many of my students are coming to school without hats, mitts or even winter boots.

Many of my students were forced to leave their homes when a recent fire destroyed their apartment building. Wearing only pajamas, they watched from the street as fire and smoke flooded their families’ apartments. As these students could not go back to their homes, they had to live in crowded shelters. These children needed warm clothes, school supplies and even food.

One of my students has been “kicked” out of his home with less than a dollar in his pocket and it will take weeks until he can get some assistance.  He is sleeping on couches in different houses and doesn’t even have clean clothes or bus fare to get to school.  The school social worker is asking for help. 

Where do the Funds come from?

The funds come from corporations, non-profit organizations and people just like you: students, parents, staff, community members and private donors.  In several of our secondary schools students organized school based events in support of the Hope In Action Emergency Fund.  Outside the TDSB private donors have come forward to support the Fund.

If you’d like to organize an event to benefit the Fund and you need some help please email hal.whitcomb@tdsb.on.ca or phone 416-394-4491

How do I apply?

To make the process easy and to get funds out to schools as fast as possible (24-48 hours) we’ve developed an on-line application process.  Simply click on to Hope in Action Emergency Fund Application Form and fill in the form.

Please make sure that you get your Principal’s approval. When the funds and have been spent we ask that you fill out a simple on-line report by clicking on to Follow Up Report Form

Criteria for the Application Process are listed on the Application Form.

For further information about the Hope In Action Emergency Fund please email Sandra.Best@tdsb.on.ca