Making Awesome Happen, $1,000 At A Time 
How do we ensure Newmarket continues to be the best place to live and work in Canada? It starts with Awesome ideas. Enter the Awesome Foundation Newmarket, a group that provides monthly hassle-free micro grants to help bring those ideas to life.
Rather than a charity, the Awesome Foundation is like a giving circle. Ten trustees give $100 of their own money each month to help an individual or group implement a great idea that helps people locally. At the Awesome Foundation Newmarket, we focus on ideas that benefit youth in Newmarket.
We accept idea submissions from people of any age and with a variety of ideas. No idea is too small, and those that promote fun are as important as those with more serious focus. APPLY NOW
Latest Awesome Foundation Newmarket Recipient: May 2019
Congrats to our latest Awesome Foundation Newmarket​ grant recipient, Hockey for Autism.
When husband and wife duo David and Suella McDrew first realized the lack of hockey programs available for children with autism, they knew they had to do something about it, and just like that Hockey for Autism was born.
The program, which runs from September to March, is in its 6th season and teaches participants ages 7 to 14, basic skating and hockey in a safe and non-competitive setting.
“It’s wonderful to see the impact the program has on the players,” says Suella. “It instills self-confidence and most of all the kids learn to work together and support each other.”
Led by Suella and David, the program is also made up of parent volunteers, mentors and a maximum of 18 participants. The program takes place at National Training Rinks in Newmarket and includes a hockey jersey and a lifetime of memories for the athletes.
Got an awesome idea that benefits youth in Newmarket? Why not apply for an Awesome grant? You just might receive $1,000 to help implement it! Visit www.newmarketchamber.ca/awesome for more info.
Left to right: Trustees Tracy Walter and Jackie Playter, grant recipient Suella McDrew and trustees Diane Farmer and Hollie Hoadley.
APRIL GRANT
Congratulations to our latest grant recipient! Arezoo Najibzadeh who created the Redefining Leadership, Reshaping Communities project.
Having a positive environment that inspires and encourages girls so they grow up with confidence and self-esteem is the driving force that led Arezoo Najibzadeh to create the Redefining Leadership, Reshaping Communities project.
Part of the ‘Women, Let’s Take Our Place’ program by the Girls’ Action Foundation, the Newmarket-based event is a day-long gathering that focuses on providing young women with leadership development and civic engagement opportunities. Participants will learn about Canada’s political structure from women in leadership and improve their personal leadership style through skills training workshops.
As a young leader with more than seven years of experience in civic and youth leadership, Arezoo says she’s working hard to give back through empowering young women and girls. “Our town has seen significant growth in the past few years, and that can be reflected in the growing vibrant and diverse demographics in our community. Yet young people, especially young women such as myself, are struggling to connect with our community in the same sense that we do with urban centres such as Toronto, where we find numerous opportunities for leadership and self-improvement. This project hopes to change that.”
Left to right: Tracy Macgregor Walter, Trustee Hollie Hoadley (Creative Solutions), Arezoo Najibzadeh, Trustees Jackie Playter and Diane Farmer
