Whether it’s sitting behind home base at a Blue Jays game, or waving homemade posters in a crowd of fellow Swifties, there are some moments a kid will never forget. Yet, for so many kids, youth and families, a fun night out together is financially out of reach.
“Cost of living in our city is incredibly high, and as a result of that, family priorities are putting food on the table or meeting other basic needs. It doesn't leave families with a whole lot of extra dollars to provide fun, joy, and entertainment,” says Lindsday Oughred, Executive Director of Kids Up Front, a registered charity that provides complimentary access to arts, culture, and sport for young people and families from equity deserving groups.
Barriers to social outings differ from one family to the next, but the common outcome is social isolation. To build a bridge between isolated families and the greater community, Kids Up Front takes donated tickets and works with local charities to get them into the hands of families in need.
“We’re easing the financial burden for families so they can do everything from education trips to the Royal Ontario Museum or the Art Gallery of Ontario to movie nights, and we’re also giving them once in a lifetime, insane opportunities, like courtside Raptors tickets.”
Taylor Swift tickets are in high demand, and soccer tickets are a common request from families who are new to Canada. The opportunity to see their home country play a Canadian team is always a welcome melding of worlds.
“We are currently partnered with over three hundred child-serving charities and not-for-profits and seek to expand this network to continue to connect individuals with their communities,” Ms. Oughtred explains. Partners include Autism Ontario, Big Brothers Big Sisters, CAMH, Childhood Cancer Canada Foundation, City of Toronto, Extend-A-Family, Gilda’s Club, Holland Bloorview, Native Child & Family Services of Toronto, Emily’s House, Red Door Family Shelter, Silent Voice, The 519, The Together Project, and more.
“We accept applications from the agencies we work with, screen them, and we build amazing relationships through rigorous onboarding training. Then we put trust in them to choose the right children, youth and families. They’re the ones who know the right people in their communities.”
All tickets are received by donation, and Ms. Oughtred stresses that no donation is too small. Whether it’s a pair of seats or an entire row, her team can find a match for contributions of any size.
“People assume we want large chunks of tickets, but we get a lot of pairs of great tickets and we love that because you’re really truly sending just a parent and a kid, not branded as Kids Up Front. They’re just part of the event and sharing the experience with everyone else in the theatre.”
In 2024 alone, Kids Up Front has already distributed 50,000 tickets, all thanks to donors who chose to pay a fun opportunity forward.
“We would like to spread the word. If you can’t use your tickets, Kids Up Front can!”
Learn more or donate here.
