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As they are both trailblazers in their respective fields, the alignment with MakerKids and CAMH was perfect.

Jennifer Turliuk

Founders and CEO

MakerKids

MakerKids

Founders: Jennifer Turliuk
Charity: CAMH

About MakerKids
MakerKids is an award-winning STEM program that teaches kids ages 6-13 to code, robotics and Minecraft. The programs nurture an inclusive environment that fosters the children's hard and soft skills. Through the design of their classes, children build confidence, resilience, social skills and a positive relationship with technology. The founder, Jennifer Turliuk, created MakerKids to support children like herself who may feel excluded at school. In 2010, MakerKids founded the world's first makerspace for children and spearheaded a movement to transform education.

Corporate Social Responsibility
It is embedded within MakerKids to be innovative and empower the children participating in their program. MakerKids have prioritized corporate social responsibility through their company mission, volunteering, donations and pledging equity with Upside. The Upside was a unique opportunity to intertwine their philanthropic values into their business model. Jenn and the team at MakerKids pledged to The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) as they greatly support mental health and are a leader in the field. As they are both trailblazers in their respective fields, the alignment with MakerKids and CAMH was perfect. By identifying a common cause of interest, these efforts foster a culture of giving back within the team at MakerKids.

About CAMH
The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) is Canada's largest mental health teaching hospital and one of the world's leading research centres in its field. CAMH is fully affiliated with the University of Toronto and is a Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization Collaborating Centre.With a dedicated staff of more than 4,000 physicians, clinicians, researchers, educators and support staff, CAMH offers outstanding clinical care to more than 37,000 patients each year. The organization conducts groundbreaking research, provides expert training to health care professionals and scientists, develops innovative health promotion and prevention strategies, and advocates on public policy issues at all levels of government. And through our Foundation, we're working to raise tens of millions of additional dollars to fund new programs and research and augment services.

On the Horizon
In the future, MakerKids will continue pushing the boundaries of children’s education and challenging the possibilities of virtual learning. Through value-aligned partners like Afro Canadian Development Inc, they are hosting a series of free coding classes for underprivileged youth. The program breaks down the barriers for underserved children intending to open new doors of opportunities and bring about even the slightest difference in their upcoming futures and lives as a whole. Jenn and the team at MakerKids are passionate about providing resources and opportunities to all youth and are thrilled they get to share their success with their community.

Learn more about MakerKids here

Learn more about CAMH

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