Gay Lea Foundation announces more than $1 million in community impact grants
Who: Gay Lea Foundation
What: In recognition of the United Nations’ International Year of Co-operatives, the Gay Lea Foundation has announced $459,000 in grants awarded in its fall application cycle, bringing the foundation’s grant total to over $1 million in 2025.
“This year, with the added significance of the International Year of Co-operatives, we are especially proud to recognize and support these outstanding organizations who embody the spirit of co-operation and grassroots change,” said DeeDee Bekkers, chair of the Gay Lea Foundation and member of the Gay Lea Foods board of directors.
See the fall 2025 grant recipients below.
Community Well-Being Grants
10,000 Trees For The Rouge – $10,000 (Greater Toronto Area, ON)
Food Banks Canada – $50,000 (National)
Gateway Centre of Excellence in Rural Health – $14,000 (Goderich, ON)
Saugeen Hospice Incorporated – $100,000 (Walkerton, ON)
Friends of the Steinbach Public Library – $38,000 (Steinbach, MB)
Trellis Society for Community Impact – $40,000 (Calgary, AB)
Hamilton Health Sciences Foundation – $50,000 (Hamilton, ON)
Hospice Wellington – $20,000 (Guelph, ON)
The Dream Kitchen – $10,000 (Campbellville, ON)
Make-A-Wish Foundation of Canada – $10,000 (National)
The Hamilton Dream Center – $5,000 (Hamilton, ON)
Sustainable Agriculture Grants
Centre d’Étude et de Coopération Internationale – $25,000 (Niger)
H2O4ALL – $15,000 (Uganda)
World Accord – International Development Agency – $15,000 (Ethiopia)
Humanity & Inclusion – $19,000 (Benin)
ImpactHope – $25,000 (Madagascar and Kenya)
Hands Across the Nations – $10,000 (The Gambia)
Devxchange International Programs – $25,000 (Sierra Leone)
Operation Smile Canada Foundation – $23,000 (Mozambique)
