Championing a Movement for More Meaningful Movement
Our Vision
Our vision is to empower Canada's future generation to move well in a meaningful, impactful and measurable way.
Our Mission
Our mission is to empower children ages 4 to 12 to develop their physical literacy.
Our Work
We offer transformational physical literacy programs, resources, and expert technical assistance to schools, especially those in vulnerable and underserved areas.
A Message From Our Founder & Executive Director
The Challenges
As we reflect on the past year, I am filled with both pride for what we’ve accomplished and a renewed sense of urgency for the work ahead. At the Champions for Life Foundation, we are tackling one of the most pressing challenges facing Canada’s youth today: a childhood inactivity crisis.
The statistics are alarming. Over 70% of children and youth (5-17 yrs.) in Canada are not meeting the recommended daily physical activity guidelines, a reality that has remained largely unchanged for decades. The consequences are profound—not only for the health of our young people but for the future of our communities. Physical inactivity is a modifiable risk factor for numerous chronic health conditions, from heart disease to depression, and it accounts for billions in annual health care costs. But it’s not just about health. The ripple effects of inactivity touch every corner of society, influencing economic productivity, social cohesion, and even our ability to combat climate change.
This is why we are not just responding to a crisis—we are championing a movement. A movement for more meaningful movement.
At its heart, this movement starts with physical literacy—an approach that helps children develop confidence, connection, and a sense of purpose through movement. When children understand how and why they move, they build the foundation for lifelong health. This is why our work starts young—laying the groundwork for fundamental movement skills that last a lifetime.
The solution begins with all of us!
Parents, teachers, administrators, and communities must come together to create environments where physical literacy is a priority. Schools, in particular, are pivotal. With nearly 5 million students enrolled nationally in public elementary or secondary educational institutions, schools are uniquely positioned to integrate physical education and activity into daily life, laying the foundation for lifelong healthy habits.
Over the past year, we have seen the power of this collective effort. Our programs have reached tens of thousands of children, equipping them with the tools and confidence to move well, move more often, learn better, and live healthier lives. Research continues to affirm the transformative impact of physical literacy: increased academic success, stronger emotional and mental health, and the development of habits that last a lifetime.
But we cannot do this alone. This movement requires all of us to take action—whether it’s advocating for more funding for physical education, supporting innovative programs, or simply encouraging the children in our lives to move more each day. Together, we can create more opportunities to ensure that every child, regardless of their background, can develop physical literacy to lead a healthy, active life.
Thank you for being a champion for this cause. With your continued support, we are building a future where every child has the chance to thrive—one step, one leap, one movement at a time.
With gratitude and hope,
David Arsenault
Founder & Executive Director
Champions for Life Foundation
Shawn Johal
Chairperson, Board of Directors
Through urgent action today, we are laying the groundwork for a generational shift, creating a ripple effect that will redefine the role of physical literacy in education, health, and community well-being. By strengthening our capacity, delivering meaningful movement experiences, extending our reach, and amplifying our brand and impact, we aim to inspire societal change that endures far beyond this decade. Now, one year into our strategic plan, we take this opportunity to reflect on the progress made under each pillar, celebrating our achievements and the foundation they have set for the years ahead.
2023-24 Highlights: Performance Against Our Strategy
In 2023, the Champions for Life Foundation launched our ambitious 3-year strategic plan, Bolder & Stronger Together. This strategy aims to drive measurable change through four strategic pillars, ensuring that every child has access to transformative physical literacy opportunities that empower them to reach their full potential. By 2026, we envision a generation of healthier, happier, and more resilient young people, equipped with the confidence and skills to embrace movement for life.
Build Capacity to Support Our Cause
Adapt to change by creating a high-performance charity that provides all staff and volunteers with the support and resources necessary to thrive.
Key Activities and Outcomes
We optimized organizational health through enhanced governance practices and operational improvements, ensuring a strong foundation for future growth.
Diversifying our fundraising efforts was a top priority, with milestones including the creation of a dedicated fundraising team, the launch of annual and major gift giving programs, and the introduction of sponsorship levels tailored to our programs and special events.
Strategic fundraising initiatives—such as securing provincial and national funding, fostering innovation, and hosting partner events—bolstered our financial health.
Deliver Meaningful and Measurable Movement Experiences
Develop and deliver transformative movement experiences that measurably improve the quality and health of children’s lives.
Key Activities and Outcomes
We participated in PHE Canada'sReviewandEndorsementProgram, a thorough certification process by PHE Canada staff and experts, ensuring our programs are pedagogically sound, user-friendly, comprehensive, and relevant. We earned endorsements for both our PE Teacher Resources and After-School program. As a result, we enhanced our physical literacy solutions by refining program resources to make them more accessible and effective for physical education and after-school educators.
We hosted signature events like the Kaizen Kids Carnival to engage more children and piloted a revitalized RECESS Champions program in 10 schools, reigniting enthusiasm for recess leadership.
Inclusivity remained a priority as we updated and relaunched Cue Cards, KAIZEN cards, and other program materials to reflect diverse needs of students.
Extend Our Reach
Support community-building across Canada through the deliberate, targeted and innovative expansion of our programs and services.
Key Activities and Outcomes
We strengthened collaborations and built valuable relationships with educational consultants and school boards by speaking at and participating in more conferences (Sport for Life, FÉÉPEQ, Rond-Point, PHE Canada, et la Garde Scolaire) creating and sharing promotional vignettes, enhancing our marketing collateral, and increasing our visibility as a trusted service provider.
We built a comprehensive contact database to engage more effectively with school boards and provincial organizations, driving targeted outreach, increasing awareness, and expanding our network of participating schools.
With the support of a provincial grant program designed to strengthen ties between Quebecers and Francophones across the country, we delivered our After-School programs in French through pilot projects in British Columbia, and Nova Scotia.
We expanded our programming and impact to include all elementary school-aged children by integrating Little Champions into kindergarten classes (ages 4-6) and developing a new RECESS Champions program for the students in cycles 2 and 3 (ages 9-12).
Strengthen Our Brand and Impact
Demonstrate and communicate our impact, so that more stakeholders recognize, participate and help support the achievement of our mission.
Key Activities and Outcomes
Through a refreshed design and an optimized website, we increased engagement and conversions while showcasing the value of our work.
Outreach activities such as Champions for Life Ambassador school visits and KAIZEN Kids Carnivals brought our brand to life, connecting with supporters, donors, and school communities in meaningful ways.
By growing and refining our Ambassador Network and crafting personalized appeals, we inspired greater generosity and strengthened our community.
2023-24 by the Numbers
Our Growing Impact
Students Served Since 2016
Since 2016, the Champions for Life Foundation has played a vital role in the fight against childhood inactivity, providing physical literacy programming to more than 160,772 Canadian children in over 933 schools across Canada.
Schools and Children Served by Program
287 Schools
11,490 Children
After-School Program
An engaging after-school program that helps children develop their fundamental movement skills through fun games and dynamic activities.
93 Schools
3,213 Children
Little Champions
A series of interACTIVE stories and adventures that introduce movement skills to children as part of their journey of engaging in a lifetime of physical activity.
309 Schools
43,632 Children
Resources for PE Teachers
A collection of easy-to-use resources to bring physical literacy into the Physical Education curriculum in a structured and measurable way.
10 Schools
1,428 Children
RECESS Champions
A new leadership program designed to empower students in grades 4, 5 and 6 to organize and facilitate dynamic physical activities during recess.
Program Cost per Child
We've made significant strides over the last 7 years in enhancing the cost-benefit of delivering our programs in schools. Through operational efficiencies and strategic refinements, we have consistently achieved a lower cost of delivery per child year-over-year. This improvement ensures that more children can access our programs.
By optimizing resources, we’ve improved impact, scalability, and sustainability, underscoring the vital role our programs play in fostering healthier, more resilient and more active school communities nationwide while maximizing the value of every dollar invested.
A Measured Impact
Short Term Outcomes
The majority of students taking part in the Champions for Life programs make progress in developing the components of physical literacy.
This chart highlights the % of schools that reported our programs had a positive impact on children's competence, confidence, and motivation.
96%
Annual survey respondents indicated they were satisfied or very satisfied with the Champions for Life programs.
88%
School communities who renew Champions for Life Programs year-over-year.
83%
Annual survey respondents indicated Champions for Life programs helped students move more frequently.
In 2023-24, Champions for Life Served 59,764 Students in 700 Schools Across Canada
Financial Review
Net gain for 2023-24 fiscal year was $49,350, an increase of +$18,881 on the previous year. Facing inflation and a rising cost of living, we addressed challenges posed by unanticipated price increases. Strategic measures, including cutting non-pay expenditures, leveraging program sales, and fundraising surpluses, helped maintain financial stability.
We continued to work towards our ambitious strategies, including investing in new programming and expanding our reach, increasing the financial contribution from fundraising and improving our program delivery systems.
Revenues
Our activities in 2023-24 helped us achieve a total income of $674,090, an increase of $16,774 on the previous year.
| Revenue | 2023-24 | 2022-23 |
|---|---|---|
| Donations | 321,436 | 527,173 |
| Grants | 334,271 | 99,504 |
| Sales & Services | 18,383 | 30,639 |
| Total | 674,090 | 657,316 |
Expenses
Our total expenditures in 2023-24 were $626,847, a decrease of $2,107 on the previous year.
| Expenses | 2023-24 | 2022-23 |
|---|---|---|
| Program Delivery | 481,926 | 493,318 |
| General Administration | 120,032 | 104,124 |
| Marketing & Fundraising | 22,782 | 29,405 |
| Total | 624,740 | 626,847 |
In June 2024, the Veritas Foundation granted us a 5-star rating, ranking us in the top 10% of all charities in Canada.
After careful analysis, Veritas determined that for every dollar invested in Champions for Life, we deliver a remarkable $3.43 in value. This is well above the national average of between $2.00 and $2.25, which suggests that your donation is being maximized to create value.
Additionally, Veritas identified a scale-up potential of 3X over the next five years, reinforcing our capacity to expand and increase our impact significantly.
Stories of Impact
Our Supporters and Partners
Donations and partnerships are integral to the success of the Champions for Life Foundation. We are truly grateful for the continued support and contribution from our generous supporters and partners for helping us lead the way to learn and play.
606
Donors in 2023-24
31
Partners in 2023-24
1,543
Donors Since 2016
Visionary
$100,000+
Champion
$50,000+
Leader
$25,000+
Advocate
$10,000+
Community
$1,000+
Gifts in Kind
André Desmarais
Donor & Supporter
As a proud donor and supporter of the Champions for Life Foundation since its inception, I've witnessed a remarkable return on investment. Their impactful work not only promotes physical literacy but also generates lasting positive changes for children in low socioeconomic and vulnerable communities across Québec and beyond. It's a privilege to contribute to the Foundation's mission, knowing that every donation yields a significant return in the form of healthier, more empowered youth.
Our 2023-24 Team
This is the heart of the Champions for Life Foundation, where a vibrant team of dedicated volunteers and professionals converge to make a lasting impact on the school communities we serve. Our Champions for Life Team is a dynamic blend of passion, expertise, and unwavering commitment.
Our Board of Directors
David Arsenault | Founder & Executive Director
Pierre-Etienne Bousquet | Director
Jean Carrière | Director & Corporate Secretary
Marla Gold | Director
Shawn Johal | Chairperson of the Board
Néhal Nassif | Director
Dan Silverman | Director
Ron Szekely | Director & Treasurer
Our Staff
Sarah Al-Kawas | Manager, eLearning
David Arsenault | Founder & Executive Director
Jamie-Lynn Galley | Manager, Social Media
Monique Jeannin | Bookkeeping & Accounting
Christopher Laurin | Director of Marketing
Nadine Lavallée | Program Coordinator
Joanne Lawson | Director of Programs
Gabrielle Legaré-Hamel | Program Coordinator
Marie-Christine Murphy | Director of Operations
Our Volunteers
Éric Arsenault
Juliette Arsenault
Mathieu Arsenault
Laurier Beauregard
David Bedard
Cleo Bertrand
Fox Bouet
Pierre-Etienne Bousquet
Scott Broady
Sun Ah Brock
Evelyn Brunet
Jean Carriere
Donald Cormier
Richard DeMont
Jenna Downey
Andre Dubois
Jo-Annie Fortin
Bobby Filipelli
Megan Gagliardi
Jon Geller
Christina Grace
Marla Gold
Shelby Hacala
Hunter Belle Hall
Shauna Hogan
Shawn Johal
Nathalie Khoury
Nathalie Lafrance
Sam Laff
Jon Landry
Sean Landry
Caroline Laurin
Catherine Laurin
Virginie Lavoie
Kahlyn Lawson
Peter Levidis
Scott Livingston
Matthew Lombardi
Kevin Longpre
Carlos Lopes
Nathalie Mancini
Valérie Marchard
Michael Matheson
Brandon Mathurin
Dickens Mathurin
Sebastian Martinez
Sara Masi
Geneviève Maclean
Peter McCusker
Matthew McGee
Kathy Mehri
Jessica Mocella
Emylia Nadeau
Evan Nadeau
Frank Nadeau
Néhal Nassif
Tanya Narang
Jenna Paccheco
Marinette Pichon
Vera Reda
Melissa Sarakinis
Melanie Scrase
Mike Shetler
Dan Silverman
Alexandru Sorin
Alexandre St-Aubin
Émilie St-Aubin
Nicolas St-Aubin
André St-Pierre
Kim St-Pierre
Jordan Socran
Ron Szekely
Sarah Trepanier-Chicoine
Amy Walsh
Sevika Zlobec
What's Ahead in 2024-25?
We continue to innovate and explore opportunities to advance our vision to empower 1 million children to build the competence, confidence, and motivation to be active for life. We aim to impact 800 school locations nationwide with our physical literacy programs next year.
Encouraging Schools to Embrace More Programs
As we look ahead to 2024-25, the Champions for Life Foundation is focused on deepening our engagement with our existing schools across the country. We'll focus on encouraging more schools to deliver three or more of our transformative programs, providing students with even more opportunities to develop physical literacy and healthy habits. By expanding our reach and impact, we aim to foster a stronger, more resilient network of educators, students, and communities that are committed to physical literacy and lifelong movement habits.
Building a Stronger Future With Our "Future Champions" Campaign
In January 2025, we'll be launching our "Future Champions" campaign. This major giving campaign will focus on sustaining the foundation’s work for the next three years, ensuring that we can continue to provide innovative, impactful resources for teachers, schools, and students. With the generosity of our donors and partners, we are confident that we will build a solid financial foundation that will allow us to expand our reach, enhance our offerings, and secure a future where physical literacy remains a priority in education.
Delivering RECESS Champions Across 100 Schools
In Fall 2024, we'll launch the nationwide rollout of the RECESS Champions program, which will bring our unique approach to physical literacy to 100 schools across the country. This expansion will allow us to engage more children and educators, empowering them to make physical activity an integral part of their daily recess periods. By reaching new school communities with this program, we’re paving the way for a healthier, more active future for all students, ensuring that they are not only learning physical skills but also building the confidence and resilience to thrive in life.
Help Us Empower One Million Kids to be More Active!
Let's continue to "Champion a Movement for More Meaningful Movement” together by helping more kids be active and thrive! You can support the Champions for Life Foundation when you:
MAKE A DONATION. Make a financial contribution, either one-time or monthly recurring, on our website.
BECOME A PARTNER. Join our team of corporate partners to make an impact through opportunities like school and program sponsorships.
VOLUNTEER YOUR TIME. We rely heavily on the support of our volunteers. If you have a few free hours to dedicate to others or a skill that can be shared, we will be happy to channel it in the right direction.
