Background:

Established in 1995, the Max Keeping Foundation helps meet the needs of many children and families that are often over-looked and/or who don’t meet the conventional requirements set out by the numerous other charities in the greater Ottawa area. With the help of a caring community, the Max Keeping Foundation ensures that these individuals don’t “fall through the cracks.” Celebrating its 14th year, the need for assistance persists and the Max Keeping Foundation continues to make a difference in our community where ever possible.

The Max Keeping Foundation Mission:

To assist financially disadvantaged children and families to meet emotional, physical, mental and emergency needs

Making a Difference in the Life of a Child

We can’t afford to have children fail. Helping to ensure that all children have the opportunities to shine and thrive, the Max Keeping Foundation assists deserving children, youth and their families in the region to meet emotional, physical, mental and emergency needs for which no other funding is available.

With the help from a caring community, the following are just a few examples of the difference the Max Keeping Foundation has made:

1. Sports and Recreation
    
   • Send hundreds of children to day and overnight camps
   • Children with special needs may attend a camp specifically for children who share the same type of disability; or we may pay for a support worker to accompany a child, who requires constant supervision
   • Dozens of children are able to participate in a variety of sports and recreational activities, ie. Hockey, football, basketball, soccer, gymnastics, art classes, dance lessons, martial arts classes
   • Assisted various community associations by contributing to hip hop classes; providing gamesand toys; helping to fund recreation and play areas in neighbourhoods where kids had few opportunities for healthy, active lifestyles
      
2. Education
    
   • Granted $6,000 to the Dare to Dream Scholarship Program for Children’s Aid Society crown wards pursuing post-secondary education
   • Granted $2,000 in scholarships for teenage mothers attending the Youville Centre
   • Granted $1,500 in scholarships to pregnant teens attended St. Mary’s Home
   • Have assisted special needs children with second hand computers that were donated to MKF
      
3. Medical
    
   • Families with disabled children often have needs for which they are unable to obtain funding through government or agencies:
     • Ramps, lifts, bathroom accessories, specialized seats, headrests
     • Toys or a specialized bicycle/tricycle used for children in physiotherapy to assist in child’s development
   • Working in conjunction with other charities, assist families to have a van modified, erect a fence
   • In emergency cases, have covered cost of medication, diapers, specialized formula and car seats for young children
   • Assisted youth attending a drug and alcohol rehab facility