Apr 21, 2026

Gay Lea Foundation awards more than $290,000 in Community Impact Grants

TORONTO, ON – April 21, 2026 – The Gay Lea Foundation is pleased to announce it has awarded more than $290,000 in Community Impact Grants through its spring 2026 funding cycle, supporting 14 charitable organizations working to strengthen community well-being and sustainable agriculture in Canada and beyond.

“This spring, we are proud to support organizations that are making a meaningful difference every day – whether improving access to health care, strengthening local food systems, or supporting farmers and agriculture projects around the world,” said DeeDee Bekkers, Chair of the Gay Lea Foundation and Vice Chair of the Gay Lea Foods Board of Directors.

Reflecting the Gay Lea Foundation’s ongoing commitment to creating lasting, positive change in local communities – and Gay Lea Food’s own purpose to enrich life with dairy – the latest round of Community Impact Grants addresses critical needs in health care, food security, education, agriculture and family support.

Spring 2026 Grant Recipients

Community Well‑Being Grants

OSHaRE Food Depot, Owen Sound, ON – $50,000
Tavistock Health Centre, Tavistock, ON – $40,000
Humber River Health Foundation, North York, ON – $25,000
Prince Edward County Hospital Foundation, Picton, ON – $21,000
Children’s Health Foundation, London, ON – $20,000
K‑W Habilitation Farm, Kitchener, ON – $14,000
4‑H Alberta Summer Camps, Alberta – $10,000
Food Stash Foundation, Vancouver, BC – $10,000
The Bridge, Niagara Falls, ON – $10,000

Sustainable Agriculture Grants

Rayjon Share Care, Haiti – $25,000
Impact Nations, Uganda – $25,000
SOCODEVI, Ethiopia – $20,000
Sheaf/Espiga Foundation, Nicaragua – $14,000
Rising Out of the Ashes (ROOTA), Egypt – $10,000

The Gay Lea Foundation has now awarded more than $3.9 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 fall 2026 Community Impact Grant cycle will open in June 2026.

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 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 gayleafoods.com.

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