Oct 22, 2026

Gay Lea Foundation awards $310,000 in Community Impact Grants

ETOBICOKE, ON – October 22, 2026 – The Gay Lea Foundation is pleased to announce it has awarded $310,000 in Community Impact Grants through its fall 2026 funding cycle, supporting 15 charitable organizations working to strengthen community well-being and sustainable agriculture in Canada and around the world.

“At the heart of every grant is an organization working to make life better for others,” said DeeDee Bekkers, Chair of the Gay Lea Foundation and Vice Chair of the Gay Lea Foods Board of Directors. “We are inspired by the dedication of these charitable partners and proud to support projects that help individuals, families and communities thrive, both here in Canada and around the world.”

Reflecting the Gay Lea Foundation’s ongoing commitment to creating lasting, positive change in local communities, and Gay Lea Foods’ purpose to enrich life with dairy, the latest round of Community Impact Grants addresses critical needs in health care, food security, education, environmental sustainability, poverty relief and agricultural development.

Funding will support a wide range of initiatives, from advancing pediatric care and strengthening rural health services to improving food security, fostering environmental stewardship, and equipping farmers and communities with the knowledge and resources needed to build a more sustainable future.

Fall 2026 Grant Recipients

Community Well-Being Grants

The Raw Carrot, Brant, ON – $50,000
Agriculture in the Classroom Canada, National – $26,500
SickKids Foundation, Toronto, ON – $25,000
Harvest Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB – $25,000
Chesley Hospital Foundation, Chesley, ON – $25,000
Community First Foundation: Backpack Buddies, Nanaimo, BC – $15,000
Chapleau General Hospital Foundation, Chapleau, ON – $15,000
Wingham & District Hospital Foundation, Wingham, ON – $12,500
The Hub for Beyond 21 Foundation, Cornwall, ON – $10,000
Brown Bagging for Calgary Street Kids Society, Calgary, AB – $10,000
10,000 Trees for the Rouge, Greater Toronto Area, ON – $6,000

Sustainable Agriculture Grants

Ally Global Foundation, Cambodia – $25,000
Lifewater Canada, Nigeria – $22,000
Centre d’Étude et de Coopération Internationale, Niger – $22,000
Thrive For Good, Kenya – $21,000

The Gay Lea Foundation has now awarded more than $4 million to more than 200 registered charities since it was founded in 2014, nourishing communities and helping Gay Lea Foods enrich life with dairy at home and around the world.

Applications for the Gay Lea Foundation’s Spring Community Impact Grant cycle will open in January 2027.

ABOUT THE GAY LEA FOUNDATION

Founded in 2014 and funded by Gay Lea Foods Co-operative Ltd. and its members, the Gay Lea Foundation supports community well-being and agricultural initiatives through its Community Impact Grants program. The Foundation funds projects that build community capabilities and address key needs in education, health, poverty relief, and sustainable agriculture, creating lasting, positive change in communities locally and globally. For more information, please visit www.gaylea.com/foundation.

ABOUT GAY LEA FOODS CO-OPERATIVE LTD.

Gay Lea Foods is a leading Canadian dairy co-operative renowned for producing high-quality, nutritious dairy products that Canadian families love and trust. From farm to table, its 1,200 farmer members in Ontario and Manitoba, and more than 1,400 employees across four provinces, work together to nourish communities through award-winning brands including Gay Lea, Nordica, Salerno, Bothwell Cheese, and more. As part of its deeply rooted commitment to people, profit, and planet, Gay Lea Foods proudly invests one percent of pre-tax earnings back into Canadian communities through a national food security partnership with Second Harvest and the community-building efforts of the Gay Lea Foundation. To learn more, visit www.gayleafoods.com.

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Media Contact

Robin Redstone

Director, Communications, Gay Lea Foods

communications@gayleafoods.com

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