OUR HISTORY

Send'em Off Smiling was established in 1994 by a group of local women from Kitchener-Waterloo. These women -- all mothers of school-age children -- had observed the impact of visible poverty on school-age children in their areas.

These women spent time speaking with local teachers, and emerged with an understanding of the importance of that first day of school in setting up a long-lasting attitude towards school and peers. They recognized that a child with a bad beginning was far more likely to struggle. They put a small program in place to ensure that some of the neediest children could experience a better start to the school year.

The little program grew. Now in its tenth year, Send'em Off Smiling is a registered charity committed to helping more than 600 children in Waterloo Region this year.

We invite you to help us send'em off smiling this September!