During the recent Barrie Women’s Show at the Barrie location of Bradford Greenhouses, Len Ferragine, president of the charitable foundation Roots for Youth, reached out to people willing to help support youth who are struggling to attend post-secondary education due to family tragedy or financial hardship. He also asked that people spread the word, so the charity becomes accessible to more young people.
The Ferragine family, who are founding owners of Bradford Greenhouses, set up the foundation in 2018 to ensure money raised from its annual golf tournament and other charity events go directly to those who need it.
“At a vulnerable stage of life people can turn one way or another and we want to support young people. We want to give them roots to grow,” Ferragine told BradfordToday.
There are many versions of tragedy, he said, and kids need help.
“The stories can bring a tear to your eye," Ferragine said.
There are three directors of the foundation who share values and work together to promote and run the charity. Ferragine is president of the foundation, Jason Hemsworth is secretary, and Dan McMahon is the treasurer. They review all applications for help to fund student post-secondary tuition. At the same time, they each run their own businesses.
Ferragine said Hemsworth and McMahon are good people who offered to help, and they put up their own labour and staff.
“The people involved in the charity donate their time and services," Ferragine said. "There are no wages or overheads in Roots for Youth. One-hundred per cent of monies donated will go to a child’s education.”
This is a key component of this charity which differs from some of the larger and well-known charities. The net profits of the Barrie Women’s Show went directly to Roots for Youth.
The foundation has been spreading the word of its work through high school guidance counsellors, social media and events such as the Women’s Show.
“We are always looking for ways to increase awareness and exposure for the charity,” said Ferragine.
Roots for Youth provides bursaries for tuition fees. It will provide one or more bursary each year to qualifying students who are enrolled in a post-secondary institution or are intending to enrol full time. Qualifying students who receive a bursary will have to reapply to receive another while meeting certain criteria such as marks.
“We welcome applicants at all time. Spring is the biggest push for new applicants,” Ferragine said.
The application process can be done online at rootsforyouth.com.
The process is open to any full-time student who is a Canadian citizen and a resident of Ontario for at least a year, and not in default of an OSAP loan or other grant.
The grant considers applicants where a student is struggling with a difficult family or financial situation, and the family income is less than $100,000. Applicants are required to write an essay of less than 500 words describing their loss and situation, and the impact it has had on their family along with a description of their schooling.
Preference will be given to applicants pursuing horticultural or environmental studies, however the primary focus is on local students needing help.
The foundation welcomes donations from individuals and corporations. Some people have chosen to leave money to Roots for Youth or donate money in memory of loved ones.
Ferragine said his family started out with very little when his father immigrated to Canada in 1957. They have been blessed with community support. Roots for Youth is a family legacy.
Roots for Youth is looking for people to help as volunteers, donors, and to spread the word about its work. As Ferragine said, “When people want to help, it is a beautiful thing.”
To learn more, donate, volunteer or apply, visit the website or email [email protected].
Rosaleen Egan is a freelance writer, a storyteller, and a playwright. She blogs on her website: rosiewrites.com.