Marking 25 years of impact, including more than 65,000 children supported, Strong Start is celebrating the community that makes early literacy possible and launching a new year-long campaign: 25 Impact Stories.
25 Years of Community-Powered Early Literacy
Strong Start® Charitable Organization is celebrating 25 years of helping children learn to read—an anniversary that reflects the power of community partnerships, research-based programming, and a long-term commitment to early literacy.
“This milestone belongs to our community,” says Machelle Denison, Chief Executive Officer of Strong Start. “For 25 years, volunteers, educators, donors, and partners have come together around a shared belief: that learning to read has the power to change a child’s life. When a child gains confidence in reading, it changes how they experience school, and that impact extends far beyond the classroom.”
Impact at a Glance
- 65,000+ children supported since 2001
- 42,000 trained volunteers contributing more than 711,000 volunteer hours
- Programs delivered in schools and community settings, grounded in the Science of Reading and aligned with curriculum and policy
Programs That Meet Children and Families Where They Are
- Letters, Sounds and Words™: Strong Start’s founding program pairs children in Senior Kindergarten to Grade 2 with trained Volunteer Coaches for one-on-one, game-based activities that build foundational literacy skills.
- Get Ready for School™: Supports preschool-aged children as they build early skills that help set them up for success in the classroom.
- Baby Connections®: Helps families with infants build early language and literacy from the very beginning.
Launching the 25 Impact Stories Campaign
To commemorate the anniversary, Strong Start is launching 25 Impact Stories—a year-long campaign highlighting the children, families, volunteers, educators, and partners who have shaped Strong Start’s journey. Throughout the year, we’ll be sharing stories of transformation and the ripple effect early literacy support can have across communities.
“These stories honour the people behind the impact,” Denison adds. “They remind us that literacy is not just an academic skill—it’s a foundation for confidence, opportunity, and lifelong learning.”
Watch: A video message from CEO Machelle Denison officially launching the 25 Impact Stories campaign.
Thank You To Our Community
Thank you to the volunteers, educators, families, donors, and community partners who continue to make Strong Start’s work possible. To learn more about our programs and 25th anniversary initiatives, visit www.strongstart.ca.