The Northpine Foundation has announced a landmark investment of $1 million in Scarborough's SAAAC Autism Centre and its social enterprise, Goodness Gift. This substantial funding aims to create meaningful employment opportunities for neurodiverse young adults, empowering them to lead fulfilling lives within their communities.
With an alarming unemployment rate of around 86% among adults on the autism spectrum in Ontario, the need for targeted support is critical. For over a decade, SAAAC has been at the forefront of addressing this issue. In 2018, SAAAC launched the Goodness Gift employment social enterprise to provide diverse job opportunities for youth transitioning out of the education system.
This new investment from the Northpine Foundation will enable Goodness Gift to expand its reach, focusing on education, training, and career development to help reduce unemployment among neurodiverse individuals.
"The transition for youth on the autism spectrum after high school is particularly challenging due to limited opportunities in post-secondary education and employment. We are committed to preparing neurodivergent youth for both educational and employment success while collaborating with employers to ensure their success in the workplace,” said Naomi Gichungu, Northpine Foundation’s Impact Director for Scarborough.
“This investment reinforces our dedication to building a thriving Canada by addressing critical issues in underserved areas. We are eager to partner with like-minded organizations to make a meaningful impact.”
The enhanced Goodness Gift program aims to establish a robust employment pipeline for Scarborough businesses, foster the creation of microbusinesses, and introduce educational components to open new career paths for neurodiverse youth.
“We are deeply grateful to the Northpine Foundation for this transformative investment, which will accelerate our efforts to empower neurodiverse individuals in Scarborough to achieve their employment goals," said Geetha Moorthy, Executive Director of SAAAC Autism Centre.
“We hope to collaborate with more employers and organizations to help these youth find meaningful work, thereby bringing positive changes to workplaces, families, and communities."
Geetha Moorthy and her dedicated team have been instrumental in shaping the Goodness Gift initiative, creating vital opportunities for autistic youth. With the support of community and scale-out partners, this investment is expected to significantly enhance SAAAC's capacity to provide better opportunities for autistic young adults to thrive.
This funding marks a pivotal step towards empowering autistic youth and uplifting the entire Scarborough community. By leveraging the strengths and resources of local businesses and community partners, this initiative aims to create a lasting impact and serve as a scalable model for other regions.
