Stories that inspire
The Foundation of Greater Montréal supports hundreds of community organizations in every sector. Their work enhances the well-being of the entire community, including that of its most vulnerable individuals. All our gratitude goes out to the men and women who work day in and day out to bring a better quality of life to all.
Our thanks go as well to FGM donors and fund creators, whose philanthropic efforts bring to life the values they embody: solidarity, generosity and community engagement. It is through their commitment that the Foundation and its partner organizations can have a real impact on the well-being of Greater MontrĂ©alâs population. Here are some of their stories.
La maison Tremplin de Longueuil
Since 1988, la maison Tremplin* de Longueuil has worked to enhance the quality of life of Vieux-Longueuil families. Acting as a social safety net for many individuals, it welcomes children, parents, and persons who are immigrants, or elderly, or alone. They come here to exchange with others or make their way along their own personal journeys. It offers, in particular, workshops with activities for children from newborns to age 12, respite and support for parents. A food service with prepared meals, a communal âdining hallâ and a second-hand clothing store are also part of it. When COVID-19 forced the closure…
IFACEF
Staffed by a multidisciplinary team that has been working together for nearly 40 years, the Institut de Formation et d'Aide Communautaire Ă l'Enfant et Ă la Famille (IFACEF) is an organization that was established to come to the aid of families in difficulty. The IFACEF responds to all requests from these families. After having assessed the situation in collaboration with those involved, the Institute can then steer each individual towards the resource that best meets their needs, be it couples or family therapy, personal or group psychotherapy, or support or rehabilitation at school. Its dual vocation â serving families that…
Fonds Fondation Louis Pierre
For Louis Pierre, gratitude, empathy and solidarity are the foundations of philanthropy. Knowing that not everyone gets the same opportunities in life, he started thinking about how he could best help others. His first contributions came while he was a student. He pitched in with other volunteer swimming instructors to organize swim classes for individuals with disabilities. He then continued as he began his career with the federal government. "I started with fairly modest donations, but then realized that as the years went on, I had the capacity to give more. It didnât hurt too muchâŠ.in fact, it made me…
CPAWS: Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society, Quebec section
The Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society (CPAWS), Quebec section is an organization dedicated to protecting nature. In French, it is called SNAP QuĂ©bec, SNAP being SociĂ©tĂ© pour la nature et les parcs du Canada. Since 2001, the Quebec section has worked towards the establishment of a network of protected areas across the province. Its goal is to ensure the long-term protection of boreal forest, the Far North and the Saint Lawrence River, notably. In other words, the ecosystems that harbour our endangered species. Its efforts have led to the setting aside of thousands of square kilometres of protected area in…
Fonds Fondation Espace pour la vie
The Fonds Fondation Espace pour la vie was constituted at FGM in 2021 with $1 million. It will ensure the long-term health of the BiodĂŽme, BiosphĂšre, Insectarium, Botanical Gardens and Rio Tinto Alcan Planetarium. The extraordinary generosity of donors from across the community was essential in its creation. "These donors are very keen on keeping their natural sciences museums vibrant," explains StĂ©phanie Barker, Executive Director of the Space for Life Foundation. SĂ©bastien Fassier, its Chair of the Board of Directors, adds: "We live in times of health and climate crises. Many people are turning to Space for Life to understand science…
Ensemblâarts â Marc Djokic and Meng Meng Avery Zhao Fund
By blending concert music with dance and the visual arts, Ensemblâarts creates immersive experiences in unexpected places and spaces. Its innovative approaches are deployed both onstage and offstage. They move audiences to experience a new type of multidisciplinary approach in the familiar context of a concert, while also giving equal performance space to each of the disciplines involved. With every new creation, Ensemblâarts seeks to weave stronger connections among music, dance and the visual arts. It does so by bringing new works to life in singular environments. The organization aims to develop innovative projects, educate the public about this special…