At the local and regional levels: mobilizing communities
In order to mobilize local and regional communities, the Foundation—in partnership with the Quebec government—supports three independent organizations that are responsible for administering projects proposed by the community that promote early childhood development, a healthy lifestyle and student retention :
Early childhood development
On September 24, 2009, an Act to create an Early Childhood Development Fund was adopted. A fund management company, now called Avenir d’enfants, was created to manage the fund. A total of $400 million ($150 million from public coffers and $250 from the Foundation, over 10 years) will be invested. The mission of the fund is to support the mobilization of local communities involved in projects that promote the overall development of children under five living in poverty to ensure that every child has a chance to benefit from a good start in life. More...
A healthy lifestyle
On June 5, 2007, the Act to establish the Fund for the promotion of a healthy lifestyle, part of the Investir pour l’avenir government program, was adopted. A fund management company was created to manage the $400 million Fund ($200 million from public coffers and $200 from the Foundation, over 10 years). Of that amount, 75% goes to finance local community projects through the activities of Québec en Forme. The remaining 25% is administered by the fund management company for the purpose of promotion activities throughout the province of Quebec. The mission of both branches of the fund is to promote healthy eating habits and a physically active lifestyle among young Quebecers (from birth to age 17). More...
Student retention and educational success
The Foundation has also decided to support initiatives promoting student retention in Québec by particularly investing on the mobilization of the Instances régionales de concertation (IRC) and the local communities through the Réunir Réussir organization. On March 27, 2009, during the presentation of the major directions of the new Secrétariat à la jeunesse’s Stratégie d’Action Jeunesse 2009-2014, a joint initiative with the Quebec government for promoting student retention was announced. A total of C$50 million over five years (C$25 million from the Secrétariat à la jeunesse and C$25 million from the Foundation) will be invested. More...