Registered Charity #118803667RR0001
HOST A FUNDRAISER
​
​
We are a proud and local charitable organization that relies heavily on the kind donations from our community. Help us help the community today.
​
Looking to double your donation? Many businesses and organizations in Canada will match donations to charities made by their employees. To see if your employer has a known ‘Donation Matching Program’, please Click Here.​
How You Can Make a Difference
The Centre for Grief and Healing (Bereaved Families of Ontario – Halton/Peel) is a registered, non-profit charity of over 35 years, offering compassionate grief support to those navigating life after loss. By fundraising for our small charity, you help create safer, inclusive spaces for people to share their stories, find connection, and begin to heal—at no cost to them.
How It Works
Step 1: Plan your event
​
Choose the type of fundraiser you'd like to host. It can be a party, barbeque, bake sale, garage sale, or marathon - the sky is the limit!
Step 2: Set up your page (optional, but helpful!)
​
If you're planning a fundraiser like a 5K walk or an online campaign, setting up a fundraising page—on platforms like GoFundMe or Facebook (or click here for our template)—can help you track progress, share your story, and encourage donations. For smaller events like yard sales or bake sales, a page might not be necessary, but you're always welcome to create one if it feels helpful to your efforts.
Step 3: Spread the word
​
Let people know about your fundraiser! Share your fundraising page, if you have one, through email and social media, or simply invite family, friends, and your community to support your event in whatever way makes sense for you.
What Your Support Makes Possible
Money you raise through your event helps our Centre run vital programs, including:​​
One-on-One Support
Your support helps us offer free, confidential sessions where children, teens, and adults can talk about their grief with someone who 'gets it'. These one-on-one connections provide a compassionate space to share, reflect, and feel less alone.
Group Support
Thanks to your support, we can offer ongoing, weekly grief support groups where people can connect with others who truly understand. These consistent, welcoming spaces help reduce isolation and foster a sense of community through all areas of grief.
Education and Resources
Your generosity helps us create and share accessible, inclusive grief resources and educational tools—empowering individuals, families, professionals, and communities to better understand grief and support one another through it.
​Your donations make an immediate impact, ensuring no one has to face grief alone. By organizing a fundraiser in support of our work, you’re not just raising funds; you’re helping us tackle grief illiteracy, break the silence around loss, and create a world where grief is met with understanding and care.
Together, we can change the conversation around grief.
​
Whether you already have an idea or you need inspiration, we will help guide you through the planning process and provide you with the tools, resources and support to organize a successful fundraiser. From the smallest gestures to the biggest endeavours and everything in between, you can give people experiencing grief help, hope, and a uplifted tomorrow.​​
Frequently Asked Questions
*Please note that the Centre is unable to secure sponsors or recruit, train, or manage volunteers for your event.
​
Why Should I Get Involved?
Our vision is to be a leader in grief support—and we’re proud to have helped hundreds of people every year navigate their loss with compassionate, accessible care.
Grief support is an essential but often overlooked area of care in Ontario. Each year, more than 125,000 people die in our province—each loss touching the lives of many. Research shows that 5 to 10 people are deeply impacted by every death, including close family, friends, and others connected. That means between 625,000 and 1.25 million people in Ontario are affected by grief every year.
​
Unfortunately, recent funding cuts to mental health services in Ontario, especially in the Peel region, mean we did not receive the financial support we had hoped for. This makes donations more critical than ever to sustain our current level of service. Without additional resources, we risk having to reduce the supports we offer at a time when demand continues to grow.
​
At our Centre, we’re a small but dedicated team, and we get people the support they need 46% faster than the national average (CIHI, 2024)—nearly twice as fast as many other services. But our intake numbers keep growing, and without additional resources, we risk longer wait times and fewer people getting the support they deserve.
​
Your donation helps us keep our services free, timely, and accessible to children, teens, and adults grieving a loss under any circumstance. With your help, we can continue to provide the compassionate, community-based care that grief deserves.
​
Will I Make An Impact? How Does My Fundraiser Help?
Yes—you will make a real and meaningful impact. 80% of funds raised go directly to sustaining our core grief support programs, ensuring that people in our community continue to receive free, timely, and compassionate care.
​
We are committed to transparency and share detailed updates in our annual reports, which are available to everyone. If you ever have questions about how funds are used, we’re always happy to provide more information.
​
To hear directly from those we support, check out our blog series where community members share how our programs have made a difference in their grief journeys.
​
Is It Difficult to Get Started?
Not at all. You will get access to resources to help you plan your event and make fundraising easy, fun, and meaningful!​​
​
I Have a Question Not Listed Here
No problem! We’re here to help. If you have any questions that aren’t covered in this FAQ, please don’t hesitate to reach out. You can contact us directly by phone, email, or through our website, and a member of our team will get back to you as soon as possible. We want to make sure you feel supported every step of the way—so don’t hesitate to ask!