As part of our commitment to Reconciliation, PDCF is investing in the future of Indigenous youth by launching the PDCF Indigenous Youth Award.

This Award will grant $4,000 to an Indigenous youth who is pursuing studies after high school. Preference will be given to youth who live in Lanark County.Through our partnership with Indspire, the Award will be matched by the Federal Government thereby doubling our contribution. Indspire will manage the award application process for PDCF through their Building Brighter Futures program and the first award will be made in the spring of 2023.

 Brighter Futures Award Recipients

Being the fortunate recipient of this award helps me to continue on my path of becoming fully qualified immersion teacher which will strongly revitalize our language… I am living in my grandmother and fathers’ ancestral home here in Turtle Valley which is near Chase, BC, and I know how proud they would both be about the language revitalization we are doing now.

—2021 Brighter Futures Award Recipient

To ensure the sustainability of the Award for years to come, our goal is to raise $24,000 through a matching gift campaign. Christine and Reid Kilburn, Kay Rogers, Karen and Richard Schooley and an anonymous donor will match your donations up to a total of $12,000. That means if we raise $12,000 before November 30th from other donors, we will have reached our goal!

Your donation will support Indigenous youth pursue their dreams for a post-secondary education and a brighter future. Indspire’s Building Brighter Futures program has a proven track record: 90% of graduates are employed; 58% received a bachelor’s degree or above; and 45% of those employed are servicing Indigenous populations.

If you would like to take a step toward Reconciliation and donate a gift that will keep giving, please consider making a donation. Even a small sum, for instance as little as $20 a month, makes a difference.

Choose #4, PDCF Indigenous Youth Award, from the dropdown menu. You can also send a cheque to PDCF at 33 Lewis Street Perth ON K7H 2R4.  Be sure to indicate that your donation is for the Indigenous Youth Award.

Your support will help Indigenous students reach their full potential, demonstrating that the academic success of Indigenous students is important to all of us. What’s more, your donation will be matched, thereby doubling your impact.