Our Approach

Since the early days The W. Garfield Weston Foundation has supported education programs for children and young adults. The Weston family has had a strong interest in education through all three generations associated with the Foundation. 

Today, the Foundation supports various educational initiatives, without advocating one method of schooling over another. Currently, its primary support is directed towards college and university scholarships.

Goal: To support educational programs for underserved communities
          which recognize and facilitate educational achievement, community involvement,
          and leadership.

Strategies:

• Granting scholarships and awards to support future academic and community leaders.

• Bringing about transformational change through education.

One way in which the Foundation meets its goal is through the support of college and university scholarships in partnership with The Canadian Merit Scholarship Foundation (CMSF).  Since 1997, The W. Garfield Weston Foundation has been a principal supporter of CMSF. Garfield Weston Award recipients show academic strength and take leadership in their schools and within their communities.

Other education initiatives include support for The Garfield Weston Awards for Excellence in Education. Based on objective measures of student success, the Fraser Institute presents awards to schools for outstanding overall academic achievement, improvement in academics as well as academic achievement in excess of expectations.  Another Fraser Institute initiative, Children First, fosters parent choice by providing underserved, low income families with needed funds for their children to be able to attend an elementary school of choice.

In February 2003, The W. Garfield Weston Foundation announced its commitment of $15 million to the Ontario Science Centre building on the family's legacy of community support, as well as its strong commitment to education. The Weston Family Innovation Centre reflects new approaches to inspiring young people and sustaining their fascination with science.

In March 2004, the Royal Ontario Museum, received a special gift for its 90th birthday. The Hon. Hilary M. Weston, Chair of Renaissance ROM, announced a donation of $20 million, consisting of $10 million from Hilary and Galen Weston and $10 million from The W. Garfield Weston Foundation.

In September 2008, the Foundation announced its support for The Weston Family Learning Centre at the Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO). The Foundation’s generous lead gift of $12 million will support the reconstruction and refurbishment of the Gallery’s existing education and public programming facilities and will be used to create the AGO’s first ever education program endowment fund.