Ottawa -As the calendar turns to 2025, the Paralympic Foundation of Canada (PFC) is celebrating 10 years of investment in Paralympic sport across the country while focusing on the funds needed to continue to grow and support Paralympic programs and athletes.
Since its inception in 2015, PFC – the philanthropic partner of the Canadian Paralympic Committee – has raised more than $15 million to support the enhancement of Paralympic programming in Canada and assisting Canadian Para athletes in achieving their goals.
“There is so much to celebrate when looking back at the past 10 years, as there are so many athletes and programs who have benefited from the support of PFC and our generous donors,” said Dean Brokop, executive director, Paralympic Foundation of Canada. “It is true evidence of the positive impact Paralympic sport can have on society, promoting and influencing greater inclusion and accessibility, and creating more opportunities for people with a disability. We are excited to make an even greater impact over the next 10 years and support the next generation of athletes to come as we seek to build a more robust Paralympic sport system in Canada.”
Among PFC’s many achievements are:
- Establishing the Paralympic Performance Recognition program through an endowment fund with initial contributions of more than $6 million to financially reward Canadian Paralympians who win a medal at the Paralympic Games. The program began with Paris 2024 and recently distributed its first rewards – a total of $535,000 to 31 athletes.
- Hosting 21 and counting editions of its signature fundraising event, ParaTough Cup. Last year, ParaTough Cup crossed the $2 million mark and has now raised a total of $2.237 million. The most recent Montreal event, held in November 2024, raised a single edition record of $211,000. The next two ParaTough Cups will take place in Calgary and Toronto in March 2025.
- Investing $8 million in the Next Generation Athlete Development program and leveraging matching funds from the Government of Canada, creating an impact of $16 million.
- More than $700K granted to Para sport organizations across the country to increase quality programming capacity in areas related to athlete and coach development along the Paralympic pathway.
- Igniting support for the Paris 2024 Canadian Paralympic Team by raising $375,548 towards Para sport development through its IGNITE The Light campaign, which encouraged supporters to purchase a virtual seat to cheer on the team.
Looking ahead at the next 10 years, PFC has ambitious goals to further invest in Paralympic sport by raising $35 million through its IGNITE campaign – the largest-ever initiative to empower the Paralympic Movement in Canada. IGNITE focuses on supporting three priority pillars:
- IGNITING Inclusion
Paralympic sport uniquely drives societal transformation. With over 6.2 million Canadians living with a disability, ensuring their inclusion, both within and beyond the realm of sport, enriches the nation immeasurably.
- IGNITING Opportunity
This pillar will ensure Canadians with a disability get the support they need to overcome the expense of adaptive sport equipment, gain access to Paralympic sport programs and coaches, and benefit from specialized training and competition opportunities.
- IGNITING Belief
Disability should never be a factor that limits the ability to dream or to envision greatness in oneself. This belief is what fuels passion for the Paralympic Games and the work to ensure that Canadians with a disability are best prepared to achieve their athletic dreams on the world stage.
Source: https://paralympic.ca/news/