Become a Corporate Supporter

The support of small businesses and corporate philanthropists helps us ensure thousands of young children each year acquire the essential skills they need to be confident and successful learners. You can make a difference! Success in literacy improves lives and results in positive social and economic impact. To date, Strong Start^® programs have helped over 34,000 children gain the literacy skills necessary to succeed in school and in life. Our success is only made possible with the generous financial support of donors and community champions.

Why Give to Strong Start?

Did you know 25% of children in Senior Kindergarten and Grade 1 are reading below their grade level?

Our Letters, Sounds and Words™ program targets children in Senior Kindergarten and Grade 1 who cannot read at the expected level.

Did you know low income is a leading risk factor in a child’s ability to read and succeed in school?

Our Get Ready for School™ program helps preschoolers from low socio-economic environments and/or who are learning English as a second language gain necessary literacy and school readiness skills.

Did you know the age period of 6 to 12 months is a critical time for an infant’s brain development?

The Baby Connections^® program, of which we are a steering partner, encourages new parents to engage with their infants in activities that support brain development and lay the groundwork for strong language and literacy skills.

Please Help Us Help More Young Children Learn to Read

There are a variety of ways you and your employees can support Strong Start, including:

Making a gift: Become an early literacy champion by making a financial gift to Strong Start. Did you know 96% of consumers have a more positive image of a company engaged in corporate social responsibility? (Source: 2013 Cone Communications/Echo Global CSR Study) We’d like to help build your profile. Our Letters, Sounds and Words program is currently running in over 250 schools in Waterloo Region and the counties of Wellington, Brant, Haldimand and Norfolk. Gifts over $2,500 allow supporters to “Honour a School” of their choice providing additional donor recognition and engagement in the community.

Hosting company-wide fundraisers and events: There are lots of opportunities to raise funds within your office. Whether it’s a golf tournament, bake sale or jeans day, it’s great to have employees take ownership of leading internal fundraisers and engaging their fellow co-workers.

Payroll deduction: Engage your employees by offering the opportunity to support Strong Start through payroll deductions. This offers the convenience of automatic payroll deductions while providing your employees the chance to have an impact in their community.

Corporate volunteering: There are a number of opportunities for employees to take part in volunteer experiences at Strong Start from volunteering as a group at our office, assembling program games and materials, to allowing employees time to volunteer in a local school, working one-on-one with a child to help them learn to read.

For more information, please contact our Development Office by calling 519-743-9578 ext. 104 or e-mail development@strongstart.ca to talk about how your organization and Strong Start can work together to help children reach their potential.