Weston Family Foundation

The foundation was created in 1958 with donations from W. Garfield Weston (1898–1978), and his wife Reta Lila Howard (1897–1967). The foundation was originally named after W. Garfield Weston, who established bakery and other enterprises throughout Canada and the world.

In the early 2020s, the foundation changed its name to the Weston Family Foundation.{{cite web | url= https://westonfoundation.ca/a-history-of-giving/#:~:text=1960s,grantees%20from%20coast%20to%20coast. | title=A History of Giving | author=Weston Family Foundation }}

In 2007, the W. Garfield Weston Foundation dispensed approximately $10 million per year, including major gifts to the British Museum, the Nature Conservancy of Canada, the Ontario Science Centre and the Royal Ontario Museum.{{cite news | first=Alec | last=Scott | title=Weston Civilization | date=26 January 2007 | url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/rob-magazine/weston-civilization/article1353372/ }}

By 2010, the foundation had donated more than $100 million to conserve natural habitats in Canada.{{cite news | work=Canada NewsWire | title=3,400 Acres of Carolinian Canada Protected Thanks to the W. Garfield Weston Foundation Gift to Nature Conservancy of Canada | date=27 May 2010 | url=https://www.newswire.ca/news-releases/3400-acres-of-carolinian-canada-protected-thanks-to-the-w-garfield-westonfoundation-gift-to-nature-conservancy-of-canada-543928702.html }}{{cite news | first=Candice | last=Lipski | work=CBC News | title=New $25 M grant for prairie grassland conservation goes to 5 organizations: More than 70% of Canada's prairie grasslands have been lost, Nature Conservancy of Canada says | date=5 March 2021 | url= https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatchewan/new-grant-towards-prairie-grassland-conservation-1.5938152 }}{{cite news | work=CBC News | title=Arctic contaminants researcher wins $100K lifetime achievement award: Derek Muir named recipient of Weston Family prize for northern research | date=12 December 2018 | url= https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/north/weston-prize-northern-research-derek-muir-1.4942198 }}{{cite news | work=The Globe and Mail | url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/canadas-carolina-gets-back-to-nature/article4320622/ | first=Richard | last=Blackwell | date= 27 May 2010 | title=Canada's Carolina gets back to nature }}

In 2012, the foundation initiated the Weston Family Parks Challenge, announcing $5 million in funding over 3 years, to enhance Toronto's green spaces while encouraging private-public partnerships for their long-term sustainability.{{cite web|title=Land Conservation|url=http://www.westonfoundation.org/conservation/Pages/default.aspx|publisher=The W. Garfield Weston Foundation|accessdate=1 May 2014}}{{cite web|url=http://www.insidetoronto.com/news-story/2499872-city-parks-get-5-million-boost-from-garfield-weston-foundation/|title=City parks get $5 million boost from Garfield Weston Foundation|publisher=Inside Toronto|accessdate=9 April 2013}} The foundation also supported the Weston Youth Innovation Award at the Ontario Science Centre, with past recipients including Ethan Chan.{{cite web|title=Ontario Science Centre honours five Canadian youths for innovative science projects|url=https://www.newswire.ca/news-releases/ontario-science-centre-honours-five-canadian-youths-for-innovative-science-projects-880911729.html|publisher=Ontario Science Centre|accessdate=9 September 2020}}

In 2022, the Foundation launched a $33 million incubator fund to encourage the sustainable production of fruits and vegetables in Canada, particularly in regions with colder climates.{{cite news | title=Collège Boréal receives $1M boost to study growing food year-round: Project will help test equipment that could extend northern Ontario's growing season | work=CBC News | date=9 October 2023 | url= https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/sudbury/boreal-weston-grant-1.6989171 }}{{cite news | work=The Globe and Mail | first=Ann | last=Hui | title=Weston foundation launces innovation hub in bid to enhance food security | url= https://www.theglobeandmail.com/business/article-weston-foundation-launches-innovation-hub-in-bid-to-enhance-food/ | date=8 February 2022 }}{{cite news | first=Colin | last=Butler | url= https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/london/london-ontario-net-zero-strawberry-farm-1.7206470 | work=CBC News | date=17 May 2024 | title=High-tech London, Ont.-area farm delivers fresh produce all year. Could it be an answer to high grocery costs? Western University researchers say solar-driven Agrotunnel uses little energy, water }}

In 2024, the Foundation's main funding areas were "healthy ecosystems" and "healthy aging," with a specific focus on environmental stewardship, Canada's north, neuroscience and the microbiome.

Funding for the Weston Family Foundation comes from business operations of the Weston family companies.{{cite web | url=https://westonfoundation.ca/faqs/ | title=Weston Family Foundation: FAQs | date=2024 }}

In 2006, the Weston Family Foundation (then called the W. Garfield Weston Foundation) reported assets of $43.5 million.{{cite news | title=PHILANTHROPY: Westons donate $12-million to AGO | first=James | last=Adams | work=The Globe and Mail | date=17 September 2008 | page=R1 }}

At the end of 2016, the foundation had over $324 million in assets.{{cite web|title=W. Garfield Weston Foundation |url=https://chimp.net/charities/the-w-garfield-weston-foundation |publisher=Chimp Technology |accessdate=8 May 2017}}

In 2023, the Weston Family Foundation made grant disbursements of $61.8 million. At the end of 2023, the foundation's assets were $424 million.

There is a familial connection between the Weston family foundations in Canada and the UK (the Garfield Weston Foundation in the UK), but each foundation works independently with a different team and board of directors.

• Garfield Weston Foundation (based in the United Kingdom)
• George Weston
• W. Garfield Weston

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Category:Foundations based in Canada

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