Toronto Raptors Organizational Spotlight

Mission

Since December 2009, MLSE Foundation has invested more than $45 million into Ontario communities. The foundation is committed to helping youth reach their maximum potential and creating more equal playing fields for all. The vision of MLSE is to improve the lives of youth in sport by providing facilities and programs.

Community Programs

Homecourt Hoops: In partnership with the Toronto Raptors and the City of Toronto, Homecourt Hoops provides a basketball program to several youth communities at no cost. Homecourt Hoops provides more than 100 individual programs across 26 community centers, providing basketball for over 2,000 youth players per year.

Home Ice Hockey: Partners with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Scotiabank and the City of Toronto, Home Ice Hockey activates 12 community sites, including two girls-only locations, and provides protective equipment with on-ice instruction to 350 young hockey players. The program begins every weekend from September through March offering a free hockey program to the youth.

KickStart: KickStart is delivered in partnership with Toronto Community Housing Corporation to bring youth soccer to 250 kids ages 6-14. With this soccer program, youth are able to develop fundamental skills from a young age.

Community Grants

The grant funds provided by the Foundation are dedicated to supporting Ontario-based organizations who are involved in sport and recreation. Community Action Grants grant up to $50,000 to organizations that are creating positive outcomes for youth in physical health, mental health, academic achievement, and work readiness.

Governed by the Income Tax Act, MLSE Foundation is only able to grant funds to organizations that are classified as a Qualified Donee by the Canadian Revenue Agency as follows:
⠀⠀⠀⠀○⠀⠀a registered charity
⠀⠀⠀⠀○⠀⠀a registered Ontario amateur athletic association
⠀⠀⠀⠀○⠀⠀a registered housing corporation in Ontario
⠀⠀⠀⠀○⠀⠀a registered Ontario municipality
⠀⠀⠀⠀○⠀⠀Metis, Inuit or First Nation community/Band

MLSE Foundation prioritizes the following demographics:
⠀⠀⠀⠀○⠀⠀Youth who face socio-economic barriers
⠀⠀⠀⠀○⠀⠀Black youth
⠀⠀⠀⠀○⠀⠀First Nations, Inuit and Metis youth
⠀⠀⠀⠀○⠀⠀Newcomers/Refugee youth
⠀⠀⠀⠀○⠀⠀Girl-identified youth (in the case of gender-specific programming)
⠀⠀⠀⠀○⠀⠀LGBTQ2A+ Identified youth
⠀⠀⠀⠀○⠀⠀Youth who identify as having a disability- intellectual or physical

MLSE Foundation Game Changers

Game Changers is the Official Young Professionals Network of MLSE Foundation. Since 2016, the MLSE Foundation has raise dover $250,000 for youth facing hardships in Toronto. The mission of Game Changers is to provide equal opportunity for youth players and transform lives.

50/50 Draw: The 50/50 Draw is a lottery where 50% of ticket revenue goes to the winning ticket holder and 50% goes to a charity. MLSE Foundation runs 50|50 draws for all Toronto Maple Leafs, Toronto Raptors, Toronto FC, Toronto Argonauts and Toronto Rock games along with some special events.