Programs - Kids Up Front

At Kids Up Front we believe that all kids should have access to enriching and exciting experiences such as sporting, arts, and cultural events. With the help of our partner agencies throughout our communities we are changing lives by providing access to events just like these to children and youth across Canada. Our programs give families a chance to be engaged, included and active which are critical to human happiness. When you support Kids Up Front you are contributing to a healthier and more inclusive community for children and youth to grow up in.

Kids Up Front is making communities stronger by allowing everyone within them to enjoy what they have to offer. Communities benefit from having engaged citizens, strengthening of community values, and inspiring future leaders.

More than a Ticket

Theatre for All

Theatre for All enables Kids Up Front to give deserving kids the gift of experiencing a live arts production – theatre, dance, opera or symphony. With this initiative, CIBC becomes Kids Up Front’s primary corporate partner in providing access to live arts performances.

Noteworthy

Those screams of excitement as the latest chart-topping band takes the stage? They’re music to our ears. That’s because we know Kids Up Front kids are getting the thrill of a lifetime as well as all the exciting benefits a live-music experience can provide.

Hockey Fans in the Stands

Hockey Fans in the Stands is Kids Up Front’s program that enables all children to be close to their heroes while also being engaged and educated in hockey by giving them a seat in the action through the distribution of tickets and the creation of special VIP events.

Kids at Home

COVID-19 has drastically changed the lives of Canadian children. School closures, disrupted routines and the loss of recreational opportunities are affecting the development and physical and mental health of young people. The shift to a more virtual world has limited the experiences our organization can offer, but the need has never been greater.

The Kids at Home program is extending our support of enriching the lives of children by providing access to meaningful experiences at home. The program ensures children are entertained and engaged everyday through virtual resources. Kids at Home will last long past COVID-19 as we have learned there is a great need for this type of accessibility for children for so many reasons beyond a pandemic. We offer a range of quality recreational activities (paid for by Kids Up Front or donated by the program provider) including: yoga classes; karate classes; dance lessons; museum tours; cooking demos; music lessons; drama workshops; tutoring; virtual summer camps; mental health resources and more. For many of the families we support, making ends meet is already challenging during times of stability. The pandemic has magnified the situation. Through Kids at Home we are keeping families and kids connected, engaged and learning.

See Kids at Home virtual resources

Our Virtual Neighbourhood

Donate your unused tickets

Have tickets you can’t use? Call or email Kids Up Front before the event and we’ll do the rest!

We get your gift in the hands of kids through our unique partnerships with community agencies.

They put the tickets in the hands of deserving kids and their families who have an unforgettable experience together.

Donate today!

Benefits

For Children

Kids Up Front provides new opportunities that educate and inspire. Kids Up Front allows all children to participate and feel included. Children benefit from developing a sense of belonging, learning to engage with others, building their self esteem, and knowing that people care.

For Community Agencies

Kids Up Front decreases pressure on more than 1,160 child-serving organizations and enhances services by providing much needed arts, cultural, and recreational opportunities for the youth they are committed to.

For Families

Kids Up Front gives parents and caregivers a break from the challenges at home and allows them to benefit from feeling valued by having the means to give their child a special experience. Families benefit from sharing constructive leisure activities, encouraging positive social interaction between parents, children, and siblings, and healing and strengthening relationships.

You should warn people in advance about how great the seats are. The boys’ and girls’ jaws dropped and it took them one full period before they could recover from the shock of their good fortune. They absolutely adored the experience. One kid, in particular, born of a rather dysfunctional and impoverished family, and who considers the Leafs to be his RELIGION, was almost in tears of joy. Thank you and to the donors for providing such profound experience for the youth (and for me too!).

Steven, Executive Director, Boundless

When I contacted a family and offered them the opportunity to go to a Hitmen game, they were most pleased. They shared that they can never give their family this opportunity because they cannot afford to send all 8 of their children to events. When I told the children, they jumped for joy saying they have never been to a game before. They were so excited to return to the school and tell me all about their day at the Hitmen game. This excitement is exactly why we love this partnership.

Calgary School, Social Support Worker

He had never been to a hockey game. We simply could not spend the money to buy tickets for ourselves. Thanks to Kids Up Front, he was able to attend a game with his community support aide person and had an absolutely wonderful time. He has been talking about hockey ever since and has even started to take ice skating lessons which he loves.

Grateful Mom, Boys & Girls’ Club of Toronto

The impact on our organization has been monumental - these events are often the introduction for our residents to other parts of the city and the exciting opportunities they offer. These events not only give our residents a chance to explore the city, but also increase their sense of belonging in their new home. We are so thankful for the work that you do in offering our families the chance to experience Toronto in ways that they wouldn't be able to otherwise. Thank you for welcoming them. Your work is significant and exceptionally meaningful to the Romero House community!

Erika Toffelmire, Romero House

Main Program Supporters

National

Calgary

Calgary Sports and Entertainment Corporation

Edmonton

Ottawa

Toronto

Vancouver