Helping Students 

CEFO’s Emergency Response Fund

CEFO provides immediate assistance to children and their families who are experiencing a financial crisis. Each year, we set aside over $200,000 to help families meet basic needs such as food, clothing, and transportation.   When a school Principal recognizes a child in need, they reach out to CEFO to get support to the family within 24 hours. This critical support helps families who are facing unspeakable health challenges while trying to make ends meet. 

See how your donation helps

Your donation helps

CEFO helped…

…a student whose only sibling, a brother, is dying of cancer. His mother is the sole support for her family through a disability pension she receives as a victim of a crippling degenerative disease.

You make a difference

CEFO helped…

…two students who, along with their mother and six siblings, who are facing the imminent death of their father. They are unable to pay for the week’s groceries and the children have nothing to eat.

Your generosity matters

CEFO helped…

…two young children, ages 5 & 9, and their family who had lost everything they owned in a townhouse fire. The children can’t afford winter clothing or boots, and it’s one of the coldest winters on record.

Project Grants for OCSB schools

Over the past decade, CEFO has provided over two million dollars to OCSB schools to fund different types of innovative programs and projects. CEFO is proud to support these programs which reflect the unique dimensions of a truly Catholic education. Applications are submitted each year by staff, students, and parents, requesting grants for programs that enrich the lives of OCSB students and make our city a better place to live.

Numeracy and Literacy Coaching and Tutoring

These highly successful projects support students in developing stronger reading skills and making connections between numeracy and literacy. The goal is to integrate math vocabulary, concepts and interventions with key literacy components. Projects include Bridging the Language Gap, and When Numeracy Meets Literacy.

Mental Health and Wellness

Many of our initiatives provide social emotional learning to students through the development of skills to manage stress and anxiety. Offering students the chance to complete a project together fosters a sense of community, alleviates loneliness, and contributes to feelings of usefulness and positive self-esteem. Knitting for Mental Health and Wellness is a wonderful example of this type of project.

Physical Education and Healthy Living

Many of our projects aim to improve the life skills of our students by emphasizing healthy play and learning through activity. We offer students the opportunity to explore the outdoors, participate in organized sports, and build community through collaborative action. Skating Skills, Ski-School Outreach, and Active Kids Active Minds, are just a few examples of the Healthy Lifestyle projects CEFO supports.

The World Around Us

Projects that help students learn about the physical environment around them, encourage spirituality, and develop an awareness of the incredible diversity found in our global community, are always popular. Artistic and creative projects, like Community Music Project, and leadership programs, like G.L.O.W. (Girls Leading Our World) get the students outside of their school classrooms, engaging with the broader community to make a difference in the world around them.

CEFO’s Summer camp funds

Thanks to your thoughtful donations, we will send over 160 children to summer camp each year. A summer camp experience can change a child’s outlook on life.

CEFO budgets approximately $40,000 each year to send children to summer camp. These children would not otherwise have the opportunity to experience the fun and relaxation that they need.

Donate Today