Empowering kids for life since 2000.

Start2Finish Canada is a registered Canadian charity.

Our mission is to break the cycle of child poverty by providing ongoing educational support to Canada’s at-risk children throughout their school years, nurturing mind, body and social health so they are empowered to succeed and become role models for change.

Our vision is to eradicate the effects of child poverty in Canada.

Our Approach

  • Hope As An Action

    Hope in our work is an action that uplifts and creates a space to empower children for life. Our motivation is that every child has the chance to succeed when they are surrounded by people who genuinely believe in them.

  • The Community Matrix

    Community is the engine required to make societal differences. Child poverty cannot be eradicated in isolation and we believe that all parts of the matrix (the child, families, schools, coaches, businesses, etc.) need to be encouraged and activated.

  • Responsive Research

    We believe that evidence-based solutions create change. Through our research team and advisory groups, we actively evaluate our programs, viewing children as active contributors and collaborators.

  • The Whole Child

    We believe that incorporating body, mind, and spirit into all our programs is vital in encouraging students to thrive personally and become agents of change in their communities.

  • Our work integrates an equity and social justice lens into the design and application of social and emotional learning (SEL).

  • Our work focuses on multiple aspects of student achievement and supports children to affirm their cultural identity, personal agency, and sense of belonging

  • Our work uses a universal framework that actively ensures the practices, policies, and culture of our organization support children at risk of or experiencing Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs).

Our Values

It all started with a backpack

Our Origin

Start2Finish was founded in 2000 by Brian Warren — a former CFL Grey Cup champion and inner-city teacher who witnessed firsthand the devastating impact poverty has on children's learning and health. Driven by the conviction that "There are no poor minds, only poor opportunities," Brian set out to give equity-deserving youth a voice by equipping them with the skills and opportunities they need to reach their potential.

More than two decades later, that founding belief still drives everything we do. Our work is built on the understanding that literacy, mentorship, and active living are the building blocks for lifelong well-being and success — and that every child, regardless of their circumstances, deserves the chance to thrive physically, mentally, emotionally, and academically.

85%

of program participants
show measurable literacy improvement

Our Impact

89%

develop critical
social-emotional learning competencies

60%

increase in regular physical activity among participants

To provide access to literacy enrichment and well-being supports for 70% of elementary school-aged children living in poverty and deprivation within Canadian school boards and after-school programs over the next decade — increasing access by 50%.

Our Policy Goal

Our 5-Year Goals

155

school boards across Canada adopting our programs and services

2M

underserved children with access to our programming

13

all provinces and territories impacted

Our Story