About Us
We are making our community stronger by providing opportunities for children to grow, to learn and to thrive. With programs focusing on literacy and numeracy, leadership, proper nutrition and other keys to future success, we are working with our partners to enrich the lives of thousands of children and their families.
Our Mission
Investing in Children is committed to improving the well-being and learning of ALL children, youth and families.
Our Vision
We collaborate with our local communities to provide inclusive opportunities for children and youth to thrive emotionally, physically, artistically and academically. Our impact will support all children to reach their full potential and accomplish their goals.
Message from the Executive Director
Since 1999, Investing in Children has developed and provided more than a dozen programs, all designed to support the children, youth and families of London and surrounding area. We are fully committed to creating opportunities for all children and youth to aspire to their finest possible capacity and ability! We design our programs to “fill gaps” of need, to ensure that (as stated back in 1999), “every child is provided with opportunities to help them reach their full potential”, and to “ensure that all of London’s children have opportunities nurturing them to grow, to learn and to thrive”. We continually plan programs that foster positive mental health, wellness and mindsets, and halt the destructive limitations caused by poverty. We educate children and youth regarding nutrition, and, through our alliance and partnership with the Ontario Student Nutrition Program, help in programs designed to provide nutritious snacks and food to them during the school year. Realizing that one in four children and youth experience poverty and hunger in the London area, we also provide nutritious snacks during the summer months through our collaborative leadership of the Children’s Nutrition Network partnership.
We nurture the development of literacy, numeracy and musical skills, coach safety for our children and youth, and help them discover leadership talents, traits and skills. Basically, we provide a number of opportunities for all children and youth to grow and thrive in a variety of ways; by eliminating any barriers which could prevent their growth!
And of course, we cannot do this work alone! Investing in Children is successful because of the tremendous generosity and support of numerous foundations, corporations, private donors, and our dedicated alliance with the City of London’s Child & Youth Network; all of whom believe in our mission. We also attribute our success because of our collaboration with numerous other organizations and agencies to ensure that the children and youth of London and area have every possible opportunity to participate in inclusive fashion, and avoid any types of obstacles which may prevent them from experiencing success in life; experiences which others may take for granted. We also give a sincere huge vote of thanks to our Board; comprised of 14 people, from all walks of life (such as educational leaders, financial officers, and lawyers), who are passionately committed to our Mission and Vision.
Investing in Children has launched the Live Different Circles program, which has been very effective in offering our youth an opportunity to question, discuss, and share thoughts and points of view in a non-judgmental, confidential manner; coached by professional Masters of Social Work students from Kings University College, who helped our youth nurture positive mindsets and mental health during a very trying (Pandemic) time in our society.
Investing in Children continues to present our annual Kids Power Conference, which is very popular – and always challenges us to increase registrant limits! (To view some past leadership mentorship, please visit our website to discover 12 incredible “video stories” of some tremendous London VIP’s, such as our past Mayor Ed Holder, Police Chief Steve Williams, several political leaders, educational, and business leaders; all who gave their time to share what they think are the finest attributes, talents, skills and capacities effective and successful leaders possess!
We also continue to work in tandem with school boards and families to nurture literacy capacity through our Family Literacy and Numeracy Events initiative, inspire up-and-coming authors through our Book Camp, offer our Special Olympics athletes rich opportunities to compete at our annual Special Olympics, and offer assistance to many families through our After School program.
In November 2021, London was designated as being Canada’s First UNESCO City of Music. To support that, we have introduced two music programs. The first, a 12-week “Free Youth Guitar Program”, allows youth to learn how to play the guitar without any costs whatsoever – including the free loan of the guitar! As of January 2023, 443 students have “graduated” from this program! In addition, we lead a “Free Youth Song Writing Program”, whereby students with significant instrumental and/or vocal knowledge learn the basics of song creation – including lyrics, melody, and harmony, under the coaching of London’s famous singer/songwriter Saveria; (who won CTV’s The Launch [2019], and recently appeared on American Idol). The students actually have their composition professionally recorded! See our website for samples!
We also present a special day (on a common Professional Activity Day in June) for all children and youth (of both the TVDSB and the LDCSB) to be able to discover more than 50 area businesses during Kids 1st Day.
In one year – January 2024 – we will celebrate our 25th. year of existence! We are humbly looking forward to that celebration with intense excitement!
On a personal level, I am very proud to be part of this organization! Our Board of Directors and our program team have both become well known for their support and work in regard to supporting the children of youth in London and area, in the most passionate, conscientious and committed way possible!
Please take some time to check out our Program Brochure found on this website, or our social media posts on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram. All of these “speak volumes” about all of our programming!
If you have any questions, please feel free to personally contact me at 519.670.8557 any day, from 8am-8pm.
Thank you!
Ted Gorski
Executive Director
Our Partners
Investing in Children does not work alone. We partner with businesses, the Boards of Education, service clubs, community organizations and individuals to create opportunities for children. If you would like to be a community partner on one of our projects, please send us an email.
Annual Reports
We want you and every member of the public to know as much as possible about how Investing in Children operates and how carefully and effectively we use donations.
As one of London's leading charities, we hold ourselves accountable to our members and the public. Furthermore, we seek to make use of every dollar donated with careful attention to effectiveness and efficiency.
Our Objectives
Work with other community partners to enrich the lives of children and their families.
Increase the community's focus on children and their needs.
Facilitate initiatives that are responsive to identified needs and gaps.
Identify and stimulate new, unique opportunities.
Raise awareness about Investing in Children.
Act as champions of Investing in Children to encourage and increase financial support.
Land Acknowledgement
We acknowledge that we are gathered today on the traditional lands of the Anishinaabek, Haudenosaunee, Lūnaapéewak and Attawandaron .
We acknowledge all the treaties that are specific to this area: the Two Row Wampum Belt Treaty of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy/Silver Covenant Chain; the Beaver Hunting Grounds of the Haudenosaunee NANFAN Treaty of 1701; the McKee Treaty of 1790, the London Township Treaty of 1796, the Huron Tract Treaty of 1827, with the Anishinaabeg, and the Dish with One Spoon Covenant Wampum of the Anishnaabek and Haudenosaunee.
This land continues to be home to diverse Indigenous people (First Nations, Métis and Inuit) whom we recognize as contemporary stewards of the land and vital contributors to society. We hold all that is in the natural world in our highest esteem and give honor to the wonderment of all things within Creation. We bring our minds together as one to share good words, thoughts, feelings and sincerely send them out to each other and to all parts of creation. We are grateful for the natural gifts in our world, and we encourage everyone to be faithful to the natural laws of Creation.
The three Indigenous Nations that are neighbours to London are the Chippewas of the Thames First Nation; Oneida Nation of the Thames; and the Munsee-Delaware Nation who all continue to live as sovereign Nations with individual and unique languages, cultures and customs.
This Land Acknowledgement is a first step towards reconciliation. Awareness means nothing without action. It is important that everyone takes the necessary steps towards decolonizing practices. We encourage everyone to be informed about the traditional lands, Treaties, history, and cultures of the Indigenous people local to their region.
Our Board Members
Video Produced by Tim Matkosky and Autumn-o Films
