Our Mission

Helping you plan your future

Future for You is a federally-incorporated organization with the purpose of increasing awareness surrounding postsecondary opportunities for individuals with intellectual/developmental disabilities.

Our Story

As members of “Best Buddies”, a program that paired students from the University of Toronto Schools (UTS) and other high schools with students at Heydon Park, with the goal of creating friendships between individuals with and without intellectual and developmental disabilities, cofounders Mia Cadsby and Nicole Wong began to wonder, “What do these students do after they graduate”?
As they researched this question, they quickly discovered that many of these individuals have little to no knowledge about their options after high school – and neither do their teachers or parents.

To serve this need, together, they founded Future for You, and are continuing to develop this website as a resource for individuals with intellectual and development disabilities, their teachers and parents, identifying programs from all across Canada.

How We Are Funded

Future for You Inc. is incorporated federally as a not-for-profit corporation. Thus far all of our cash has come in the form of donations through a “GoFundMe” page, which raised seed capital of ~$5,900, enabling us to incorporate, secure and build a website. All of our team and Board members volunteer their time and expertise, and we’ve been able to minimize our expenses.

Going forward we are seeking support from corporations in the form of sponsorships that will enable us to hire part-time researchers to build out the database more quickly, and also build a new database of employment opportunities for IDD individuals, that can be regularly maintained and provide a real boost to impacted individuals.

Our plan is for the organization to grow in impact and uptake, and gain sufficient support so that we can become a registered charity.

Over the longer term, we’d like to be able to share the successes and benefits that the employers of IDD individuals have realized and use those case studies to encourage more corporations to consider doing the same. If your organization would be interested in such a partnership, we’d be very keen to hear from you. In addition, if you’d like to contribute personally to helping us accelerate our progress, and contribute to our ongoing operations, we’d be
grateful for your support: https://gofundme.com/f/help-individuals-with-intellectual-disabilities

Our Team

Nicole Wong

Cofounder Nicole Wong is a grade 12 student at the University of Toronto schools and is passionate about helping students with disabilities. At school, she is a student executive of the Best Buddies club, and she volunteers weekly at the Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital. In the future, she hopes to pursue a career in developmental pediatrics and research.

Kris Ewing

Board Member Kris Ewing has been an Ontario educator for 27 years, and while at the University of Toronto Schools (UTS), served as the “Best Buddies” staff advisor for eight years, mentoring volunteers and helping to improve the program that seeks to create friendships between students with and without intellectual disabilities, and which inspired founders Mia and Nicole to create Future for You. Kris is a passionate advocate for inclusion and wellness in schools, and serves as a valued mentor to many students

Mia Cadsby

Cofounder Mia Cadsby is a grade 12 student at the University of Toronto Schools whose goal is to improve the lives of students with intellectual/developmental disabilities. In her free time, she is a peer buddy for Best Buddies, and she volunteers at the Holland Bloorview Rehabilitation Hospital, a hospital for children with disabilities. In the future, she hopes to develop assistive technologies for individuals with disabilities.

Elvis Wong

Board Member Elvis Wong is an entrepreneur who’s passionate about having social impact. Previously, he founded Innovate Financial Health, a non-profit that supported start-ups focused on improving the financial lives of financially vulnerable Canadians. Currently at RBC leading their financial wellbeing strategy, he previously worked at the MaRS Discovery District, Social Capital Partners, and Kearney, and brings a wealth of diverse experience and perspective.

Gavin Pitchford

Board Chair Gavin Pitchford is the founder and CEO of Delta Management Group, Canada’s leading executive search firm in the clean tech, corporate sustainability, ESG, and carbon offsets markets, and is also the founder and serves as Executive Director of the Canada’s Clean50 Awards. In addition to his extensive management and entrepreneurial background, Gavin brings an extensive understanding of corporate human resources needs.

Sabina Joneja

Social Media Manager

In the media