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Our Mission
The SCL Children's Fund is dedicated to improving the education, health, and welfare of children. The Foundation was originally founded and named in honour of Madame Soong Ching Ling (1893-1981), who received international acclaim for her tireless efforts to better the lives of China’s children. Since its creation in 1981, the Foundation has evolved in recent years to focus mainly on the needs of children in Canada, while still supporting some children’s programs in China. We strive to fill gaps and address children’s needs that will otherwise go unmet.
Announcements
New Initiatives: Strengthening After School Programs "Beyond the Bells"
Thunderbird Preteen Club at Frog Hollow Neighbourhood House
With our support, Frog Hollow Neighbourhood House is launching a free weekly after school program for Grade 5 to 8 students at Thunderbird Elementary and the surrounding community. The program runs from October 2026 to June 2027 and offers snacks, homework help, mentorship, and creative activities. It provides a safe and inclusive space where preteens can build friendships and develop skills for a smooth transition to high school.
Homework Club Expansion at Mount Pleasant Neighbourhood House
With our support, Mount Pleasant Neighbourhood House is expanding its Homework Club, which offers free tutoring for youth ages 10 to 19, especially newcomer and low-income families. Tutoring is paired with mentorship and life-skills workshops. Our funding adds a second weekday session and strengthens volunteer engagement.
9 Small Grants Awarded to Help Meet the Needs of More Children
Our latest set of Small Grants was awarded in December 2025 to fund 9 different projects proposed by Metro Vancouver area organizations which serve needy children. We received a record number of 24 applications, which made our choice of grantees very difficult. We are confident that the organizations we selected are all doing very important work to meet the needs of children, and that the projects supported by our funds will truly make a difference in helping more children and improving their welfare. To read more about these projects, please visit our “Projects in Canada” page.
Highlights of Our Work
From 2023 through 2025, the Soong Ching Ling Children's Foundation ran a Small-Grant Program for non-profits across the Lower Mainland. Our aim was simple. We wanted to reach needs that were not being met elsewhere. In total, we funded 22 projects and contributed more than $140,000. Those programs reached over 600 children, from more than 250 families. And the results touched on what matters most:
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A sense of connection and belonging
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Support for children living with disabilities and developmental challenges
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Progress in learning and readiness for school
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Strength for families and support for caregivers
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Fairness, inclusion, and access for marginalized, newcomer, and Indigenous families
In 2026, something shifted. We began hearing, from many directions, about rising anxiety and mental-health struggles among young people. The causes are not hard to understand. Informal social programming has shrunk. In-person connection has grown harder to find. And many after-school programs for preteens and youth have been cut as government funding has declined.
At the Soong Ching Ling Children's Foundation, we knew we had to respond. So we made a decision. We have concluded the Small-Grant Program and turned our focus toward a new priority: working alongside community operators to fill the gap in after-school programming for preteens and youth.
If this work speaks to you, and if you feel passionate about helping us close this gap, we would love for you to join us at our annual fundraising event on October 29th. Together, we can make sure that when the school bell rings, our young people still have somewhere to go, someone to turn to, and the support they need to thrive.
