Stories that inspire
The Foundation of Greater Montréal supports hundreds of community organizations in every sector. Their work enhances the well-being of the entire community, including that of its most vulnerable individuals. All our gratitude goes out to the men and women who work day in and day out to bring a better quality of life to all.
Our thanks go as well to FGM donors and fund creators, whose philanthropic efforts bring to life the values they embody: solidarity, generosity and community engagement. It is through their commitment that the Foundation and its partner organizations can have a real impact on the well-being of Greater Montréal’s population. Here are some of their stories.
Chamandy Foundation Fund
In 2015, the Chamandy Family Foundation was created in Montréal. It aimed to improve the day-to-day lives of children, and offer them hope for a better future. In December 2018, Amel Chamandy, President of the Chamandy Foundation, and Tiffany Chamandy, its Executive Director, wanting to increase their commitment to the very youngest in our society, created a philanthropic fund with the Foundation of Greater Montréal. "The Chamandy Foundation commits to supporting children in all aspects of their development: education, rights, the fight against poverty, and health and well-being." The Chamandy Foundation Fund immediately went into action, distributing $825,000 in grants…
Fonds Julie Thorn
In 2012, while she was in gym class, 16-year-old Julie Thorn’s life came to a sudden and tragic end when she went into cardiac arrest. A subsequent inquiry showed that a defibrillator could have saved her life. Her sister, Marie-Hélène Thorn, and her friend Marie-Hélène Proulx, both students at the time, decided to act to prevent this kind of tragedy from happening again. With the support of the Foundation of Greater Montréal, they created the Julie Thorn Fund with an initial investment of $80. Its aim is to provide schools with automatic external defibrillators (AED), and with training in cardio-pulmonary…
Récolte
Récolte (Harvest) is a social enterprise working to improve our local food systems and make them more sustainable. It supports agents of change with a variety of services: consultations on ecosystemic projects, accompaniment and guidance, and help for community mobilization. It was in fact a consultation initiative that led Foundation of Greater Montréal to call on Récolte. Operating from 2018 to 2020, Zero Hunger in Montréal led to a better overall understanding of the food security ecosystem in Montréal, thanks to knowledge sharing among the various actors, cooperation on joint actions and development of strategic roadmaps. Zero Hunger in Montréal…
Fonds hommage de la Fondation des victimes du 6 décembre contre la violence
The Fondation des victimes du 6 décembre contre la violence (December 6th Victims Foundation Against Violence) was created in 1993, a few years after the antifeminist attack at Montréal’s École polytechnique, by victims’ family members and loved ones. Its goal is to support organizations combatting violence in our society, especially violence against women. In 2005, in order to ensure the continuation of its mission, the Fondation des victimes du 6 décembre contre la violence decided to create a memorial fund at the Foundation of Greater Montréal. The Fund’s assets are protected in perpetuity and will continue to grow, thanks to…
Les Petits Renards : A community social pediatrics centre in Verdun
Les Petits Renards, a community social pediatrics centre operating in Verdun, assists vulnerable families with the aim of helping every child develop their full potential. Founded in 2011, the centre, a certified member of the Fondation Dr Julien network, pursues its mission using a systemic approach, working in concert with all the actors who care for children. Integrating health services, social services and educational activities in a warm and welcoming environment enables intervenors to act in an effective way on the stressors that can be toxic to children’s health. "Whatever their origin or their culture, wherever they live, our ambition…
Cirque Hors Piste
Hors Piste is a Montréal organization dedicated to intervention using social circus. It employs the circus arts to help homeless youth, generally between 15 and 30 years of age, live out experiences that let them flourish and express themselves, while encouraging them to stretch their limits both physically and socially. Cirque Hors Piste (which roughly translates as was created in 1995 through Cirque du Soleil’s social action program, under the name Cirque du Monde Montréal. In 2011, the organization became an independent entity. Cirque Hors Piste uses its unique social circus know-how both in its own work and in…