FREETHECHILDREN’SNEWWELEARNINGCENTRE:FREQUENTLYASKEDQUESTIONS
WhatistheWELearningCentre?
TheWELearningCentreisFreeTheChildren’sinternationalhubforyouthengagement,and
thesiteofitsnewglobalheadquarters.TheCentrewillbringservice-learningresourcesto
10,000+schools,ensuringthateverystudentexperiencestheempowermentandlifeskill
developmentassociatedwithservice-learning,whiletheseyoungchange-makersbenefit
theircommunityandworld.
TheWELearningCentrewasacquiredthankstoagenerous,targeteddonationfromlongtermsupportersofFreeTheChildrenandFoundingChairsofWEDay:HartleyRichardson,
President&CEOofJamesRichardsonandSons,andDavidAisenstat,President&CEOofthe
KegSteakhouse&Bar,alongwiththegeneroussupportfromTheRichardsonFoundation.
LocatedinToronto’shistoricCorktownneighbourhoodatthecornerofQueenStreetEast
andParliamentStreet,theCentrewillallowustoexpandouroperations,whilekeepinga
closeconnectiontotheRegentParkandCabbagetowncommunity.Goingforward,weare
excitedtooperatethroughboth“North”and“South”campuses,withimprovedtechnological
resources,increasedvideoconferencingcapabilities,anddedicatedspacestomeetand
collaboratewitheachother.
TheWELearningCentrewillservetwokeyfunctions:
I.GlobalLearningandEmpowerment:TheCentrewillallowFreeTheChildrentobetter
connectwitheducatorsandstudentsaroundtheworld.Enabledthroughstate-of-the-art
technologyandadedicatedcommunityspace,itwillpromotegreaterlearningand
connectionwiththeschoolsweserve.
II.GlobalHeadquarters,ProgrammingSupportandAdministration:TheCentrewillactasa
headquartersforFreeTheChildren,providinganinnovativeandprofessionalspacetohost
thedynamicteamsthatbringourprogramstolife,includingWESchools,WEDay,andour
AdoptAVillageglobalprogram.
WheredidtheideaofcreatingaWELearningCentrecomefrom?
WearegratefulforthevisionofHartleyRichardson,whobelievedthattheleadingCanadian
instituteforservicelearningshouldhaveasolidfoundationtospurfurtherinnovation.He
approachedhisfriendandfellowFreeTheChildrensupporterDavidAisenstat,andtheidea
fortheWELearningCentrewasborn.
Wereanycharitabledollarsusedinthepurchaseofthisbuilding?
Thebuildingwasacquiredthankstoagenerous,targeteddonationfromlong-term
supportersofFreeTheChildrenandFoundingChairsofWEDay:HartleyRichardson,
President&CEOofJamesRichardsonandSons,andDavidAisenstat,President&CEOofthe
KegSteakhouse&Bar,withthegeneroussupportfromtheRichardsonFoundation.Thanks
totheirphilanthropicleadership,nootherrestrictedcharitabledonationswereusedto
purchasethisproperty.Inotherwords,nodonationsfromyouth,familiesorcorporate
sponsorswereused.
WeareincrediblygratefultotheRichardsonFoundation,HartleyRichardsonandDavid
Aisenstatfortheirvision,support,andcommitmenttoempoweringyouthtochangethe
world.
WherewillthenewWELearningCentrebelocated?
ThenewWELearningCentrewillbefoundat339QueenStreetEast,intheheartof
Toronto’shistoricCorktownneighbourhood.ThebuildingislocatedatthecornerofQueen
StreetEastandParliamentStreet(approximatelyonekilometresouthofourcurrent
location).WefeeladeepconnectiontotheRegentParkandCabbagetowncommunity,and
wearegratefultostayactiveinthisneighbourhood.
Featuresoftheproperty:
•43,000squarefeet,overfourfloors
•Turnofthecenturycharacterbuilding,withexposedbrickandbeams
•TTCatfrontdoor
•Vibrantcommunity
•Shippingandreceivingareawithfreightelevator
TheWELearningCentrewillalsoextendto337QueenStreetEast,adjacenttothemain
building.ThenewpropertywasdonatedtoFreeTheChildrenbyadedicatedformerboard
member.Thetwo-storystructurewillallowustoenhancetheimpactandsustainabilityof
ourdomesticandinternationalwork,withafocusonprovidingadditionalofficespacefor
ourgrowingstaff,aswellasmuch-neededstoragefacilities.
WhenwilltheWELearningCentreopen?
TheWELearningCentrewillopenitsdoorsinthesummerof2017!
Whywasthislocationchosen?
339and337QueenStreetEastwerechosenasthesiteforthiscentrebecauseoftheir
proximitytoCabbagetownandRegentPark,whereFreeTheChildrenhashaddeeproots
since2004.
Thiscloseproximitywillallowustomaintainthestrongrelationshipsthatwehavebuilt
withstudentsandparentsintheneighbourhoodoverthelastdecadethroughlong-standing
volunteerefforts.Forexample,throughastaff-ledinitiative,“WeRead,”employeesmentor
localyouthbetweentheagesof5and12inRegentPark.ItisimportantthatFreeThe
Childrenmaintainitsconnectionandpartnershipwiththisneighbourhood.
Furthermore,eightypercentofFreeTheChildrenstaff,averageage26,liveinthecoreof
Toronto.Thelocationwillenablemanytobeabletowalkandridetheirbikestoworkor
taketheTTC,whichisimportanttoourstaff.
WhyisFreeTheChildrenestablishingtheWELearningCentre?
FreeTheChildrenisnowatacriticaltimeinourorganizationalhistory.Aswecelebrateour
20 anniversarythisyear,weareembarkingonanexcitingplantogrowourmissionand
furtherourimpactonyoungpeopleandcommunitiesaroundtheworld.
Theorganizationhassetagoaltogrowtheschoolsweengagewithservice-learning
resourcesfromthecurrent10,000schoolsto24,000schools,overthenextfiveyears.This
willincreasethenumberofyouthwereachannuallyfrom2.3milliontoover4.8million.In
2014,theseyoungpeopleprovideover$60milliondollarsofsocialvalueservingtheir
communities(ascalculatedbydollarsraisedfor300+charities,inadditiontothestandard
valuepervolunteerhoursandfoodcollectedforfoodbanks).By2020,weaimtoincrease
thisimpactto$200milliondollarsannuallyofsocialvaluebenefitingtheircommunityand
world.
Totrulycreateawidespreadshiftinthinkingandacting,werequireaspacethatwill
accommodatetheinfrastructureandtechnologythatourteamneedstoworktoitsfullest
potential,especiallywithtechnologyresources.Weaimtoespeciallygrowourreachto
supportyouthinruralcommunities,withaspecialemphasisinCanadatoreachfly-in
communities.ThecreationoftheWELearningCentreisnotjustan“officemove.”It
representsanexpansionofthemissionandcapabilitiesthatwillcarryusintothenext20
years.
WhataretheuniquefeaturesplannedfortheWELearningCentre?
TheWELearningCentrewillofferanumberofexcitingfacilities,including:
th
•DedicatedLearningCentrethatwillbeaspacetowelcomeyoungpeople,deliveron-site
workshops,andalsoserveasaspaceforstafftogatherforfullstaffmeetingsandtownhalls.
•Technology-enabledspacesthatwillimproveconnectednessbetweenournetworkof
officesandourstakeholders.
•Collaborativespaces,suchasmeetingroomswithpropertechnology,willallowstaffand
stakeholderstoconnecteffectivelytocreateanddesignbetterandmoreeffective
programming.
•GlobalClassrooms:anumberofinteractiveGlobalClassrooms(includingaudio/visual
components)thatwillallowspeakersandEducationalProgrammingCoordinatorsfromthe
FreeTheChildrenteamtodelivercompellingvirtualexperiencestoschools.Skypesessions
willallowtheorganizationtoreachschoolsthatotherwisewouldnotbeabletoreceivean
in-persontouchpointwithFreeTheChildren.ThisincludesschoolslocatedoutsideofaWE
DayregionaswellasremoteareasacrossNorthAmerica.
•IncubationHub:adedicatedspace(includingdesksandofficematerials)forstart-up
organizationsastheybuildtheirfoundation.Thisincubationhubwillprovidenonprofits/socialenterpriseswithauniquefoundationforsupport,unparalleledaccessto
resources,andpotentialmentorshipopportunities.
DidFreeTheChildren’sBoardofDirectorsapprovethepurchaseof339QueenStreetEast?
TheCanadianandAmericanBoardofDirectorshavebeenfollowingthisprojectveryclosely
fromagovernanceperspectiveandhaveprovidedthoroughoversightonallmajorstepsin
theprocess.TheCanadianandAmericanboardsmadeamotiontoapprovethepurchase
withthedonatedfundsfromHartleyRichardson,DavidAisenstatandtheRichardson
Foundation.Aspartofthisresolution,theynotedthatnogeneralcharitabledollarswould
beusedinthepurchaseofthisproperty.
HowdorealestateholdingssupportFreeTheChildren?
ThankstosoundcounselandguidancefromouradvisorsandourBoard,FreeTheChildren
adoptedanearlyphilosophyofusingrealestateasanorganizationalassetratherthan
expensewheneverpossible.Unlikemanyorganizationsofoursizeandscale,wedonot
enjoyaformalendowment.Instead,overtheyearsFreeTheChildrenhasacquired
Victorian-stylesmallofficebuildingswithinthesamecommunity.
Thisstrategyallowsustoavoidsubstantialleasingcostsandtodeliverasafeandsecure
workingenvironmentforouryoungstaff.Wehaveraisedthenecessaryfundstomakethese
purchasesfromtargetedindividualadultdonors,includinganumberofBoardmembers,as
wellastargeteddonationsandbequestsfromsupporters.Inaformatsimilartoauniversity
orthink-tank,individualshavetargetedgiftstoensureamixoffunctionalityandfinancial
securityfortheorganization’smission.
Asamatterofpolicy,wedonotuseanyproject-designatedfundsand/oranyfundsfrom
schoolsorchildrentofinancethesepurchases.Themodel,andallpastfinancialtransactions
relatingtorealestate,wereindependentlyreviewedbyaformerSupremeCourtJusticewho
foundgoodandreasonablejudgmentinthisstructure,propersourceoffundsforthe
purchases,andproperoversightbytheFreeTheChildrenBoardofDirectorsthroughoutthe
process.
FreeTheChildrenisproudofthiseconomicmodel.Basedonsocialentrepreneurship,it
representsanewwaytoinnovateinthecharitablesectorbyprovidingadegreeoffinancial
securityandintelligentuseofresources.Thehousingmodelhasbeenrecognizedbyothers
asabestpracticeworthimitating.Wearehonouredtohavereceivedaprestigiousawardat
OxfordUniversityfromtheSkollFoundationforSocialEntrepreneurship.
InOctober,2015,weannouncedthatwereceivedatargeteddonationtocreateaWE
LearningCentreat339QueenStreetEastinToronto.Thegenerousdonationcamefrom
long-termsupportersofFreeTheChildrenandFoundingChairsofWEDay:Hartley
Richardson,President&CEOofJamesRichardsonandSonsandDavidAisenstat,President
&CEOoftheKegSteakhouse&Bar;withgeneroussupportfromtheRichardson
Foundation.LeadinguptheopeningoftheWELearningCentre,FreeTheChildrenwill
assesswhatbuildingsintheCabbagetowncommunitywillcontinuedtobeusedasthe
officialNorthCampusoftheorganizationandwhatbuildingsarenolongerrequired.
InApril2016,abuildinglocatedat337QueenStreetEastwasdonatedtoFreeTheChildren
byaformerboardmember.
Howmuchdidthebuildingcost?
Thankstoageneroustargeteddonation,FreeTheChildrendidnotincuranycostsinthe
purchaseofthebuilding.Thebuildingwaspurchasedfor$14.5million.
Whenthebuildingwasboughtbyadeveloperayearagofor$10million,itwasabasic
buildingin“asis”condition,withplanstocreatenumerousunitsandrentitouttotenants.
Bythetimeofourpurchase,thedeveloperhadcarriedoutextensiveplanningand
renovations.
Hehadhiredengineersandheritageconsultants,commissionedarchitecturaldrawings,
environmentalstudies,structuralandmechanicalassessments,madezoningapplications,
andplansforHVAC.Thedeveloperalsoguttedthebasement,andspentsixmonths
removingasbestosfromthewalls,ceilingsandaroundpipes.
Thepurchasepricenotonlyincludespastworkonthebuilding,butalsoincludesvarious
go-forwardcoststoensurethebuildingmeetsourneeds.
Theacquisitionof337QueenStreetEastcameatnocosttoFreeTheChildren.Itwas
donatedbyaformerboardmember.
WhatisFreeTheChildren’svisionforthenext20yearsandhowdoestheWELearning
Centrefitinwiththis?
WeenvisionaworldwhereeverychildinCanada,theUnitedStatesandtheUnitedKingdom
hasservice-learningasakeypartoftheireducation.Where,howandwhatstudentslearnis
transformedtobedeeplyengagingandconnectedtotheworldtheyexperiencearound
them.Weimaginehowfundamentallydifferentourschools,communitiesandworldwould
beifwehelpedtoraiseagenerationofcompassionateyoungpeople.Wewanttoprovide
unparalleledopportunitiesforyoungpeopletobuildtheirskillsasactivecitizenssothat
theymaycreatethenextgenerationofnon-profits,foundinnovativesocialenterprises,and
continuethecycleasfutureparentsraisingcompassionatechildren.
Athome:specificgoalsfordomesticprogramming
•GrowthereachoftheWESchoolsprogramfrom10,000to24,000schoolsinfiveyears
•Growthenumberofengagedandempoweredyoungpeoplefrom2.3millionto4.8million
by2020/21
•GrowthesocialvaluecreatedthroughWESchoolsfrom$60millionto$200million
annuallyby2020/21
Weimaginethepossibilityofmovingdevelopmentindicatorsoverseasinsomany
communitiesthatweshiftentirestates/provincesongraduaterates,healthrates,andother
indicatorsthroughtheAdoptAVillagedevelopmentmodel.Weenvisionaworldwhereall
youngpeopleandtheirfamiliesareabletodeveloptheskillsandresourcestheyneedto
takechargeoftheirfuture,andwherecommunitiesandentireregionsareequippedto
breakthecycleofpoverty.
Aroundtheworld:specificgoalsforinternationalprogramming:
•ExpandthenumberofAdoptAVillagecommunitiesfrom40to150by2024/25
•Expandthenumberofdirectbeneficiariesfrom100,000to300,000
•Expandthenumberofindirectbeneficiariesfrom800,000to2.5million
WhatplacedoestheWELearningCentrehaveinthisvision?
TheestablishmentoftheWELearningCentrewilltransformservice-learningopportunities
formillionsofstudentscoast-to-coast,enhancingtheirskillsandknowledgetocreate
positivechangeintheirlocalandglobalcommunities.Enabledthroughstate-of-the-art
technologyandadedicatedcommunityspace,itwillpromotegreaterlearningand
connectionwiththeyouthweserve,bothathomeandaroundtheworld.
Inlightoftheacquisitionof337QueenStreetEast,inadditiontotheWELearningCentre,
doesFreeTheChildrenstillintendtooperatethroughboth“North”and“South”campuses?
Yes,theintentionistomaintainbothNorthandSouthcampusesforthecharityandits
affiliatedsocialenterprise,MEtoWE.FreeTheChildrenhasdeeprootsintheCabbagetown
andRegentParkcommunities,andourcontinuedpresenceherewillallowustomaintain
thestrongrelationshipsthatwehavebuiltwithstudentsandparentsintheneighbourhood
overthelastdecadethroughlong-standingvolunteerefforts.