In early 2026, we had finally finished our start up and were able to begin what we created our Foundation for: putting needed items into our local schools, helping to boost student and staff mental wellbeing! While we had donations of vehicles and used items in the beginning, our School Wishlist Program was what we had planned to do all along. We are so excited to officially have this started! Whether it’s a team set of jerseys, some playground balls for recess, some shop rags, or a saw for the shop: we are finally setting out to help our local schools get what they need to offer quality education in Athletics and Trades to our local students! Kaydance was passionate about these programs and often spoke about different things they needed just in her school, we know there are many other schools in need of items too! Kaydance also had many conversations about how these needed items directly impacted the mental health of staff of students. They see what big city schools get, what they get to do and learn – what about our rural schools?! Our local youth and staff have been suffering from lack of funding and lack of support which means their mental health has been on a decline for years. So in honour of Kaydance and her passion for athletics and trades, and wanting to give her classmates and teachers a boost in mental health and wellbeing, we have officially began our School Wishlist Program!
When Do Applications Open?
From January 11th to February 1st, any school in Bluewater District School Board and Bruce Grey Catholic School Board can apply to be part of our Wishlist Program. Watch our social media platforms for opening and closing posts! It’s a small window for applying, but we get MANY applications in this time frame. We have a hard deadline of February 1st at 5pm, any applications sent after this time are not included (if you miss the deadline, you can apply the following year).
What Can Schools Ask For?
Schools can ask for ANYTHING that is part of their Athletics or Trades Programming needs. This can be funds for a bus for a sports team trip, funds for jerseys, playground equipment such as balls or a rolling cart, gym equipment such as weights or a class set of volleyballs, hand tool sets, saws, welding rods, safety glasses, shop rags……the sky is the limit!
While we cannot promise to meet ALL wishlists, we do our absolute best to provide everything we possibly can from February to December – then we start all over again!
How Does It Work?
Schools send us their applications and wishlists between January 11th and February 1st. Our Founders go over the lists and decide how many we think we can handle completing, choose the top needs, then connect with the chosen schools. Schools not chosen for the current year are communicated with and may apply again the following year.
We then begin sorting needs by priority – trip funds, jerseys, trades, equipment, etc. Once we have sorted by priority, we connect with the schools again and inform them of the process and a rough time frame we expect to be able to fulfill by. Then we get to work!
We start with allocating funds for first priority items, then begin ordering any trades needs. Then we FUNDRAISE LIKE CRAZY! Over 11 months, we work hard to complete all chosen wishlists as soon as we can, moving from one to the next as quickly as possible.
Once we have items available to deliver, we connect with the school again and schedule a meeting. We deliver directly to the school and get pictures with the staff involved and sometimes students who will benefit from the items. After that, the items are the school’s property and that’s it! Our work is done! We then move into the next school in need.
There are no strings attached, no expectations aside from meeting communication needs, no hoops to jump through…the schools simply apply for our program then wait patiently for their needed items to arrive!
How Can the Community Help?
Our community can help our local schools through our School Wishlist Program by simply donating to our Foundation or supporting our annual fundraisers! While we need to spend a small portion of our income on administrative items, 90% of proceeds that are collected from donations, sponsorships, and fundraising goes towards fulfilling our local schools’ wishlists and student needs each year.
If you or your business wish to sponsor a specific wishlist item, or a school’s full wishlist, we will make sure your donation goes entirely to your chosen item/school! Just contact us and ask what schools we are completing this year, or choose an item off the lists above! Every little bit helps our local schools offer quality education in athletics and trades – and every little bit helps boost the mental health of our local students and staff!
You can find out how to donate and about our upcoming fundraisers here: Help Us Grow
Or send us an email by filling out the form here: Contact Us
Kaydance Ford Athletic & Trades Foundation 