Role of the Peter Hall School Foundation in the funding ecosystem
The Peter Hall School Foundation is a non-profit charitable organization created in December 2000 to support Peter Hall School, a specialized private school in Saint-Laurent, Québec, serving students aged 4 to 21 with intellectual disabilities, autism spectrum disorder or related conditions. Since beginning its philanthropic activities in 2001, the Foundation has focused on strengthening the school’s financial base and enriching the educational experience offered on its two campuses.
The Foundation raises money through major fundraising campaigns and recurring events such as golf tournaments, wine-and-cheese evenings and other benefit activities. More than $2.8 million has been raised for the school, including a second major campaign that collected over $2.5 million between 2012 and 2017. These funds are then invested in concrete projects that the school could not easily cover through regular public funding.
Types of projects and financial support
The Foundation’s core role is to finance specific educational and quality-of-life projects. This includes the purchase of specialized pedagogical materials and adaptive equipment, the development of tailored learning spaces, and the organization of cultural, recreational and sports activities. By doing so, it supports students’ learning, autonomy and daily well-being, complementing the school’s ministry-approved educational programs.
Over time, donations have helped modernize the campuses, improve specialized classrooms and therapy areas, and expand access to adapted tools that promote communication, mobility and sensory regulation. The Foundation’s funding also contributes to extracurricular activities that stimulate social skills, confidence and inclusion in the community.
Governance, volunteers and community engagement
The Peter Hall School Foundation is overseen by a volunteer Board of Trustees of seven members who ensure sound governance and the pursuit of its objectives. The Foundation relies on a strong network of business-sector volunteers, school staff and families who help organize fundraising campaigns and events each year.
By channeling private donations into targeted projects, the Foundation plays a strategic role alongside government subsidies, ensuring that Peter Hall School can maintain and upgrade its specialized services and offer an enriched, inclusive learning environment for all students.