Established in 2018, The Andre De Grasse Family foundation has directly impacted the lives of hundreds of thousands of Canadian youth.
Launched in 2018, the ADG Future Champions Scholarship Program empowers youth to use track as a platform to further their academic potential and become healthy and productive citizens in their community. The program aims to provide support and services required for high school student-athletes to maximize their athletic ability in pursuit of academic success and the opportunity to realize their potential.
Destiny Emuze was supported through his high school years by the ADG Future Champions Scholarship Program. Emuze, who immigrated to Canada with his brother and single mother, faced financial obstacles that made competing in track difficult. With the support of the Foundation, he was able to train and compete at a high level, eventually earning a full four-year scholarship to an NCAA Division I school—the University of Maryland Eastern Shore. Today, he holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology specializing in rehabilitation and is pursuing his master’s in Rehabilitation Counselling.
We partnered with Kids Help Phone to launch the “Race with Me Virtual Challenge” at the outset of the COVID-19 pandemic, using social media to engage youth and build community. The challenge raised $25,000 and motivated thousands of young people to get active. Andre’s foundation also organized an Olympic Day webcast viewed by 30,000 students. Following this success, Andre became Honourary Co-Chair of Kids Help Phone’s $300M Feel Out Loud campaign.
WoodGreen is Toronto’s biggest social services agency, providing integrated programs such as physical and mental health services, affordable housing, employment support, financial counselling, and other programs. Over the years, Andre has thrown his support behind the organization in a variety of ways. In February 2021 and in honour of Black History Month, Andre teamed up with custom apparel brand Indochino and WoodGreen’s Rites of Passage program to provide young Black men with a custom-made suit, giving them the confidence to go to interviews and enter the work force. Andre is currently working with WoodGreen to raise funds for a 20,000 square foot Youth Wellness and Opportunity Centre in Scarborough.
