April 5, 2024 — Dare To Be Youth
Funding from the Burlington Foundation will support the Emotional Resilience and Wellness Online Program
Today, the Dare To Be Youth Charity (DTBY) is proud to share that it is the recipient of a 2023/24 grant from the Burlington Foundation’s Community Fund. The grant will help to empower young people aged 14–24, aiming to equip them with the skills and mindset needed to become confident to make an authentic impact in their community.
With this incredible support, DTBY is gearing up to launch its new Emotional Resilience and Wellness Online Program, designed to arm participants with the tools and mindset to navigate life’s challenges with confidence and grace. Tailored for ages 14–24, this program is free and will boost participants’ self-esteem, hone essential life skills, and establish meaningful connections within their community. DTBY is teaming up with local non-profits and schools to expand their reach, to make sure no one is left behind. The Emotional Resilience and Wellness Online Program is another tool in DTBY’s belt to continue working towards their goal of cultivating a generation of resilient leaders ready to make a genuine impact in the community.
Proud member of DTBY’s Board of Directors and Hamilton Police Service Staff Sergeant Christian Mukendi says, “As a police officer, I am well aware of some of the challenges our youth face today. Several factors negatively influence their well-being and their sense of identity. Social pressures on our youth have only added to those challenges, affecting our youth’s welfare. Dare To Be Youth (DTBY) has provided our youth with an outlet to gain the knowledge, skills, and abilities to tackle the challenges that they are faced with today. I like to think of it as a toolbox that DTBY equips our youth with, to be resilient, to be financially literate, to build healthy relationships, and to guide a bright future for themselves. This makes a difference in the lives of many youths, giving them a sense of hope and diverting them from poor or ill-informed decisions.”
Shannon Tobin, founder and CEO of DTBY adds, “DTBY is driven by the belief that by investing in the potential of youth today, we are shaping a brighter, more inclusive, and resilient future for tomorrow’s leaders. We stand firmly behind the notion that unity within our communities is the cornerstone of collective growth and well-being, and we are grateful for the Burlington foundation for their support.”
DTBY’s current emotional resilience program, “Leader Within,” is only run once a year, and the Burlington Community Fund grant means that DTBY can now develop the online curriculum. The program being online will allow DTBY to provide access to this much-needed resource year-round, where it will be accessible to anyone.
“We are proud to provide funding to these extraordinary organizations and their teams,” says Megan Tregunno, CEO of the Burlington Foundation. “The Dare To Be Youth Charity is one of 17 organizations selected that are contributing to creating a strong sense of belonging in our community. Resources from the Burlington Community Fund are especially significant because the fund is made up of contributions from community donors,” says Tregunno.
The Burlington Foundation’s annual granting program provides grants through its Burlington Community Fund, a dedicated unrestricted endowment fund established to support the greatest needs of our community. Community organizations are eligible to apply for a grant of up to $10,000.
Dare To Be Youth (DTBY) will join a private grantee celebration with all recipient organizations, to be held at the Burlington Public Library (Central Location) on April 10, 2024.
Register in advance for DTBY’s Leader Within course by clicking here; go to DTBY’s website, www.dtby.ca/ for more information.
