Special and Advised Programs
Through the Special program, the Foundation has the flexibility to explore new opportunities, to respect historical associations, to support the ongoing work of a grantee, and to collaborate with funders and partners. The Advised program allows the Board of Directors, using limited funds reserved for this purpose, to support initiatives in their home communities.
GRANTS AWARDED
Atkinson Charitable Foundation
$300,000 2007-2009
Canadian Index of Wellbeing (CIW): For the development and national dissemination of the CIW to promote Canada's genuine progress and to improve health and wellbeing outcomes.The CIW is a set of indicators designed to provide a clear, valid and regular measure linking economic realities with the social, health and environmental conditions that shape our nation and our communities. The Lawson Foundation collaborated with a group of funders, including the Atkinson Charitable Foundation, Canadian Council on Learning and J.W. McConnell Family Foundation, to support this initiative.
$160,000 2011-2012
Canadian Index of Wellbeing (CIW): To support enhanced communications/website development, public engagement (including annual symposia, community meetings and focus groups) and Canadian partnership development to ensure widespread knowledge sharing as the CIW transitions to a new permanent home at the University of Waterloo. The CIW is a set of indicators designed to provide a clear, valid and regular measure linking economic realities with the social, health and environmental conditions that shape our nation and our communities. The Lawson Foundation collaborated with a group of funders, including the Atkinson Charitable Foundation, Canadian Council on Learning and J.W. McConnell Family Foundation, to support this initiative.
BC Council for Families
$14,000 2007
To support the 10th Anniversary Workshop of the Parent-Child Mother Goose Program in British Columbia.
Central City Foundation
$10,000 2009
The Crossing Youth Residential Treatment Centre: To support the delivery of the Portage Program for Drug Dependencies. In memory of Dan Snook.
Children's Health Foundation
$600,000 2005-2007
Step-Down Unit and Parent Unit: Toward the development of the two units dedicated in honour of Dr. Victor Han and Miggsie Lawson. Family Care Areas within the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit help educate and build the confidence of new parents to care for their vulnerable infants.
Huron University College Foundation
$750,000 2012-2016
Huron-Lawson Chair in Pastoral Theology. In the 1980s and 90s, contributions from The Lawson Foundation helped launch the Huron-Lawson Chair in Pastoral Theology in the Faculty of Theology, Huron University College in London, Ontario. The Chair prepares students to be effective religious and social leaders, particularly in the areas of communication and pastoral care. The educational focus in pastoral theology is on leadership development, homiletics (i.e., preaching and other forms of public speaking), liturgics (i.e., conducting services of worship and public prayer), practical administration, ethics, and compassionate care for individuals and families during times of crisis, grieving or need. Pastoral theology lies at the heart of the Faculty of Theology’s training. For its students, pastoral theology is the touchstone for all ministry and a skill essential to success in their chosen careers whether in the clergy or the community at large.
The total $1,000,000 grant is funded by two program areas at The Lawson Foundation: Special Program - $750,000 and Miggsie Lawson Program - $250,000.
Hamilton Health Sciences Foundation for the Offord Centre for Child Studies
$500,000 2007-2010
Offord Centre Research Training Program for Young Scientists: Training program for new scientists interested in studying the factors that influence healthy child development at the national, neighbourhood, school, family and individual levels. These researchers will share a vision of excellence in the creation of applied research programs and work in a multi-disciplinary environment.
London & Area Food Bank
$10,000 2010
To support The London & Area Food Bank, a front-line agency assisting those struggling to make ends meet and food warehouse to assist people in need.
McGill University
$123,000 2006-2007
Participatory Research at McGill (PRAM): Toward the development of a multi-disciplinary participatory research network at McGill University. The centre will promote the understanding of and expertise and training in participatory research for health care and will reach out to engage community-based partners in research projects.
$257,200 2008-2011
Participatory Research at McGill (PRAM): For additional seed funding for salary and program support to advance the centre and help secure sustaining funding from other sources. PRAM promotes the understanding of and expertise and training in participatory research for health care and will reach out to engage community-based partners in research projects.
Mission Services of London Foundation
$15,000 2010
For urgent needs in the London community. Mission Services opens doors of hope to those seeking emergency shelter and support, by offering safe shelter, food, and clothing and by facilitating rehabilitation as needed, in an atmosphere of compassion.
Nature Conservancy of Canada
$450,000 2007
Protecting Ontario's Biodiversity: Stewardship of the Hewlett-Packard Property in the Frontenac Arch Natural Area: To support the long-term protection of ecologically-significant land on the Frontenac Arch, north of Kingston, Ontario.
Pediatric Oncology Group of Ontario (POGO)
$150,000 2010-2011
Successful Academic and Vocational Transition Initiative (SAVTI): For program support. SAVTI assists childhood cancer survivors who, as a result of their disease and/or treatment, have developed learning difficulties that interfere with the achievement of their educational and career goals. SAVTI bridges the gap between high school and post secondary educational settings with a counselling process and resources to assist these youth to select pathways to prepare for the rest of their lives as independent adults.
Philanthropic Foundations Canada (PFC)
$45,000 2012-2016
Three Year Strategic Capacity Building Plan: To collaborate with a group of leading foundations to support PFC to achieve its vision to grow as a philanthropic hub organization, to advance philanthropic interests and assets of its members and to grow the field of organized philanthropy in Canada.
Schools Without Borders
$339,000 2008-2010
Sustainable Youth-led Organizational Capacity Project: To support and strengthen the Collaborative’s training, mentoring and networking activities to ensure member organizations have sustainable skills and resources to support existing and emerging youth-led initiatives.The Grassroots Youth Collaborative is a collective of diverse youth-led organizations that work in under-served, lower-income, at-risk communities in Toronto.
Sky Works Charitable Foundation
$1,000,000 2007-2010
Building a Sustainable Future: Working with Documentaries to Engage Communities in Social Change: To support Sky Works to build its strengths and capacity to transition from a project-based to a program-based organization, ensuring the sustainability of its work to create innovative, relevant documentaries for social change and to use those films to conduct broad-based community development.
Sky Works Charitable Foundation
$360,000 2011-2013
Building a Sustainable Future: Working with Documentaries to Engage Communities in Social Change: To continue support for Sky Works as it builds its strengths and its capacity to transition from a project-based to a program-based organization, ensuring the sustainability of its work to create innovative, relevant documentaries for social change and to use those films to conduct broad-based community development.
United Way of London & Middlesex
$10,000 2010
Toward the New Beginnings Loan Fund.
University of Victoria
$40,000 2011
Documenting the success and learning of the Laichwiltach Family Life Services Society of Campbell River, BC: To complete and broadly disseminate a DVD and companion screening guide to document and share broadly the success and learning of this proven community-based model to promote optimal child development. The Laichwiltach Family Life Services Society of Campbell River, B.C. is a culturally based, community-operated, multi-service hub that has been successfully supporting Indigenous families in a holistic way and in the context of family life for nearly two decades.
Advised ($10,000+)
- Breakfast for Learning ($10,000) 2011
- Canadian Association for Disabled Skiing ($10,000) 2011
- Camp Awakening ($10,000) 2011
- Community Foundations Canada ($10,000) 2011
- Equitas - International Centre for Human Rights Education ($10,000) 2011
- Inter Pares ($15,000) 2011
- Journalists for Human Rights ($10,000) 2011
- La Fondation Go ($20,000) 2011
- Nature Conservancy of Canada ($10,000) 2011
- PHS Community Services Society ($10,000) 2011
- Pacific Parkinson's Research Institute - Vancouver Canada Society ($10,000) 2011
- Tyndale St. Georges Community Centre ($17,500) 2011
- Waseskun ($10,000) 2012
