Our Mission

We exist to increase resiliency and inspire BIG dreams for Canadian children living in low-income communities by providing inspirational experiences and nurturing personal relationships, one child at a time.

Our Big Dream

We believe every child matters and every child counts.

CityKidz was founded on a big dream to see a future free of child poverty; a future where all children have equal opportunity to thrive and achieve their full potential. 

Through faith, hope and love, we seek to transform lives and end child poverty, one child at a time.

Happy boy

Our Values

People of Faith

Our Christian faith compels us to respond to the needs of our children with a focus on those who experience the highest levels of adversity with the least amount of resources. As we respond to children’s needs, we believe that God transforms lives in partnership with our actions. 

Community of Hope

We have a confident expectation that each child will rise to their full potential and realize God’s purpose for their life. This inspires us to bring hope to children and to ignite their dreams.

Servants of Love

Because of God’s love for us, we love all children regardless of race, creed, religion, ability or economic status. We believe that to increase resiliency and inspire dreams we must demonstrate unconditional love through nurturing personal relationships one child at a time. 

Child Poverty in Ottawa

1 %

14%

of Ottawa children are growing up in poverty.

The stresses and deprivations of poverty affect children in their homes, their schools, their communities, and their hearts.

Poverty denies opportunities and undermines childhood development in ways that put children at a disadvantage in so many critical aspects of their lives. It makes it difficult for them to achieve their full potential and break the cycle of poverty for future generations.

37% of Ottawa food bank clients are children.

63% of children under the age of six growing up in single mother households live in poverty.

On average, a minimum-wage earning parent would have to work 75 hrs/week to rent a two-bedroom apartment.

Our Solution

CityKidz programs are a stable force of love and support for kids throughout their entire childhood. We teach our kids that they matter, that they are loved, and that they can change their future – and with it, the world.

Join our Community of Hope

Make a lasting difference in children’s lives.

Your monthly support provides children with life-changing programs, essential resources, and nurturing mentorship opportunities. It allows us to be there for children and youth in their moments of struggle and times of celebration.

Volunteers Transform Lives

Whatever your time, whatever your talents, you can make a transformative difference in a child’s life.

Stay Connected

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    Inspire Big Dreams

    Help us build strong foundations of faith, hope and love into children’s lives and watch them thrive.