Great memories start with you.

Many of the children and families we serve face financial barriers that limit access to recreational, cultural, and sporting events. Through Kids in Seats, our youth have been able to experience events that they otherwise may never have had the opportunity to attend. These experiences not only provide fun and excitement but also help broaden horizons, build confidence, and create a sense of belonging.

The program has been especially impactful for our mentoring matches. Shared experiences are a powerful tool for relationship building, and the tickets have given our Bigs and Littles opportunities to spend quality time together outside of their regular activities. We have seen youth return from events excited, engaged, and eager to share their experiences with their Match Support Specialists.

As a nonprofit organization with limited resources, we simply would not be able to offer the same breadth of opportunities without the support of Kids in Seats. Their generosity allows us to enhance the mentoring experience and expose our youth to new environments, interests, and possibilities.

We are incredibly grateful for this partnership and the positive impact it continues to have on the children, families, and volunteers we serve. Kids in Seats is helping create moments that matter and memories that will last a lifetime. Their support also extends our ability as a mentoring organization to expose our Littles to the endless possibilities that exist beyond their immediate circumstances, helping them dream bigger, explore new interests, and envision brighter futures for themselves.

Importantly, we are intentional about explaining why a young person has received tickets. Rather than simply providing a reward, we use the opportunity to recognize specific achievements, efforts, or positive behaviours, for example, progress in English or perseverance through a difficult family moment. This helps ensure that young people understand the connection between their actions and the recognition they receive, making the experience more meaningful and reinforcing positive engagement.

Students who maintain perfect points throughout the month or who were recognized during our student of the month ceremonies earn the chance for these amazing ticket opportunities. This approach has motivated our students to make positive choices. We share photos of their experiences in our digital newsletter, which runs on our smartboard in the building. This is a great way to spread the good news and encourage other students.

The impact has been incredible. These tickets give our students access to experiences they would never have otherwise. Some highlights have been students attending their first Broadway play and first hockey games through this program, among many other great experiences. Seeing their excitement and joy has been truly special. These are once in a lifetime experiences for some of our students that they will remember forever, and we're deeply grateful for this opportunity.