Durham Children's Aid Foundation

10/16/2026

A Year of Impact. A Community That Makes It Possible.

Behind every number in our Annual Report is a child, a young person or a family whose life has been touched by the generosity of our community.

We are proud to share the **Durham Children’s Aid Foundation Annual Report**, highlighting a year of meaningful partnerships, extraordinary generosity and opportunities made possible for children, youth and families across Durham Region.

From Operation Backpack and Holiday Hope to educational opportunities, essential supports and experiences that bring joy and belonging, this report reflects what happens when a community comes together with a shared purpose.

To our donors, volunteers, corporate partners, community supporters and dedicated Board of Trustees: **this impact belongs to you, too.**

We invite you to take a few minutes to explore the stories, milestones and moments that shaped our year.

Explore our interactive Annual Report:
https://ow.ly/8oWr50ZY4oH

Thank you for helping us turn generosity into opportunity, stability and hope.

Created with the Heyzine flipbook maker

10/15/2026

Introducing Our 2026–2027 Board of Trustees!

Strong communities are built by people who care, lead and give back.

We are pleased to welcome the Durham Children’s Aid Foundation’s 2026–2027 Board of Trustees, a dedicated group of community leaders who generously volunteer their time, expertise and perspectives to help advance our mission.

This year, we are delighted to welcome Patricia Milburn as Board Chair, while extending our sincere appreciation to Becky Cameron for her leadership and contributions as outgoing Chair. We are grateful that Becky continues to share her experience and commitment as a Trustee.

Together, our Board provides the strategic guidance, governance and stewardship that help us create meaningful opportunities and brighter futures for children, youth and families across Durham Region.
We look forward to another year of collaboration, community partnerships and meaningful impact.

Pictured from left to right: Lindsay Cochrane, Kristy Brown, Lakshmi Raju, Kevin VanKampen, Patricia Milburn (Chair), Becky Cameron, Jaclyn Bannan (Secretary), Kristina Moreau, Ruth Nyaamine, Karen Saunders, Krystal Manitius and Anisah Julien, CPA (Treasurer).

Not pictured: Adam Hare, who was busy representing the spirit of continuous learning at a conference. We’ll catch him at the next picture day!

Please join us in welcoming and thanking our Trustees for their dedication to the children, youth and families we serve.

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10/02/2026

Community in action.

A big thank you to DeStefano Funeral Home Services Inc., Daniel, Gina, and everyone who supported this year’s car show season.

We are so grateful for the $1,000 donation to Durham Children’s Aid Foundation and, just as importantly, for the spirit of generosity behind it. When local businesses and community members come together like this, the impact reaches far beyond one event.

Thank you for choosing to support children, youth and families in Durham Region. What a wonderful way to close out the season.

10/02/2026

A little comfort can mean a lot.

We’re so grateful to everyone once again collecting new pajamas to support children and youth in our community. Thank you to Royal LePage Terrequity Realty, Adrienne’s Flowers & Gifts, and everyone who continues to show up for this cozy cause.

If you’d like to help, new pajamas can be dropped off at either location beginning tomorrow. Thank you for helping us bring a little extra comfort and care to children and youth this season.

It’s that time of year again to give some comfort and joy! Starting tomorrow you have two locations available to drop new pj’s, our Royal LePage Terrequity Realty office in Whitby or Adrienne's Flowers & Gifts in Ajax. Thank you to everyone that supports this cozy cause!

10/01/2026

We are incredibly proud to share that Durham Children’s Aid Foundation has been named the 2026 Not-for-Profit of the Year by the Greater Oshawa Chamber of Commerce.

To our donors, partners, volunteers, Board of Trustees, staff, and everyone who believes children, youth and families connected to child welfare deserve every opportunity to thrive, thank you.

Every gift, partnership and act of generosity helps us provide opportunities and experiences that might otherwise be out of reach, from education and emergency support to recreation, holiday programs and the everyday moments that help young people feel supported and included.

We are deeply grateful to the Greater Oshawa Chamber of Commerce for this recognition, and proud to stand alongside so many organizations and leaders making a difference across our community.

Most importantly, this award strengthens our commitment to the work ahead.

Thank you, Greater Oshawa Chamber of Commerce for the work you do in our community every day!

09/30/2026

Today is a day to listen, learn and reflect.

We honour the children who never returned home, the survivors, their families and Indigenous communities across Canada. Every Child Matters.

09/14/2026

We are incredibly grateful to Intact Insurance for a generous $2,500 donation to Durham Children’s Aid Foundation through its Community Impact Partnership Program.

A special thank you to our friends at PetleyHare Insurance Brokers, who applied to the program on our behalf and helped make this support possible.

Funding like this helps us respond to the needs of children, youth and families across Durham Region, providing opportunities, stability and practical support when it matters most.

It was a pleasure welcoming the PetleyHare & Intact team to the Foundation, sharing more about our work, and showing firsthand the impact that strong community partnerships can have.

Thank you to Intact Insurance for this generous investment, and to PetleyHare for thinking of DCAF and championing our work in the community.

08/07/2026

We are so grateful to the Rotary Club of Ajax for continuing to make The Great Pajama Project part of their annual commitment to children and families in our community.

Each year, we depend on generous community partners like Rotary to help us provide the practical comforts that can make such a meaningful difference. A new pair of pajamas may seem simple, but for a child or family navigating a difficult time, it can offer warmth, dignity and the reminder that their community cares.

The incredible response to this project each year helps us ensure these items are available when they are needed most, and we are so thankful to the Rotarians, local businesses and community members who make it possible.

We can’t wait to see The Great Pajama Project return again this year. Thank you, Rotary Club of Ajax, for showing up for children and families in Durham Region year after year. 💙 Ajax Rotary

07/31/2026

Help us fill one of Operation Backpack’s most urgent gaps.

We still need 600 new lunch bags and 400 new reusable water bottles for local children and youth across Durham Region.

We are incredibly grateful to the many organizations, businesses and community members who have already supported this year’s campaign. Your generosity has brought us closer to our goal, but we still need help securing these essential items.

Lunch bags and reusable water bottles may seem simple, but they help students arrive at school prepared, included and ready to learn.

Donations are needed by August 6.

Connect with us or email our Operation Backpack lead, Mursal Alami, at [email protected] to:

• Host a collection drive
• Donate toward the purchase of these items
• Contribute new lunch bags or reusable water bottles

Whether you are an individual, business, workplace or community group, your support can help us close this gap.

Please share and help us reach our goal.

07/30/2026

Operation Backpack is in full swing, and we are grateful for the incredible support of our community partners.

A special thank you to PetleyHare Insurance Brokers and Ajax Baseball for stepping up to support this year’s campaign.

The Ajax Baseball Association will also be collecting donations during its Mega Tournament this weekend, providing another great opportunity for the community to get involved.

We are fortunate to have many generous partners and donors supporting Operation Backpack across Durham Region. Together, they are helping local children and youth begin the school year feeling prepared, included and supported.

Thank you for being part of it.