In 2008, when our soldiers were returning home from Afghanistan, and the impact of war was weighing heavily on them and their families, Canada’s Chief of Defence Staff challenged a group of Toronto-based philanthropists to raise some money to support them.
The following year, we held our first Tribute Dinner that brought 2,000 Canadians together, raising $2 million in one evening. That first dinner proved that Canadians are proud of our military, and are seeking ways, beyond wearing the poppy on Remembrance Day, to express their support. And True Patriot Love Foundation was born.
Today we continue to honour the sacrifices of members of the Canadian Armed Forces, Veterans and their families in both times of peace and conflict.
Our vision is that every Canadian military and Veteran family has timely access to quality programs that support their mental health and well-being, no matter where they’re posted or where they release.
True Patriot Love Foundation is a leading national charity dedicated to providing essential support and resources to Canadian military members, Veterans and their families.
By addressing the unique challenges resulting from military service including mental health, physical rehabilitation, transitioning to civilian life, and the special needs of children, True Patriot Love has helped change the lives of more than 30,000 military families over the past decade. In addition, True Patriot Love contributes to advancements in research and technology through our $5 million commitment to the Canadian Institute for Military and Veterans Health Research.
Thanks to our donors, True Patriot Love Foundation has made a tremendous impact on our military and Veteran communities in Western Canada. Since 2009, True Patriot Love has disbursed more than $8.2 million in Western Canada, which includes $1.2 million towards more than 80 programs in the region, and over $7 million to national programs that have also benefitted military and Veteran families in the West.
Events such as the True Patriot Love Tribute Dinner in Calgary in 2014 have helped make it possible for us to support charitable organizations that deliver much-needed programs to our country’s military and Veteran families.
True Patriot Love Foundation has funded the following programs in Alberta:
· 4 Wing (Cold Lake) Military Family Resource Centre
· Calgary Alpha House Society
· Calgary Military Family Resource Centre
· Calgary Veterans Food Bank
· Legacy Place Society (formerly Diakonos Peace Officer Retreat Society)
· Military Families Support Society
· Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry Foundation
· Prospect Human Services
· University of Alberta
We are uniquely positioned to understand the greatest needs of Canadian military families and activate the resources required to deliver the most significant impact.
Our national perspective allows us to work towards ensuring that military and Veteran families receive the same level of support no matter where they live, while also allowing us to tailor our funding to the unique needs of the local community.
Our agility and flexibility allow us to fund promising community programs that are still in the proof-of-concept stage and, once success is proven, raise additional funds to take them national.
Our robust funding application process, which includes a Disbursement Advisory Committee consisting of experts from a variety of sectors, ensures that funding goes towards the programs that offer the most immediate and most significant impact.
Our partnership with the Canadian Institute for Military and Veteran Health Research allows us to leverage a comprehensive system of national research capabilities, which ensures we fund the best, most innovative and most impactful research initiatives.
We count on the support of individuals and corporate partners to continue our important work. There are many ways for you to get involved and help us on our mission to support service men and women, Veterans and their family in Calgary and across the rest of Canada: