AIM KW and Beechwood Brainery, we believe that no child should have to dread Monday mornings. We recognize that each child has unique gifts, and our schools exist so that no child or family needs to fall through the cracks of a broken educational system. Our unique learning models and innovative micro-schools have been created to provide education as unique and inspiring as the children who receive it. 

Our schools are life-giving to students  who need an individualized approach to unlock their potential. Each year we watch kids as they transform, learn, grow and love showing up for school on Monday mornings because they’ve found the place they belong. 

But, even as we remove educational barriers, families still experience financial, systemic, and emotional barriers that prevent them from accessing the education their children need to thrive. In Ontario, no public funding is made available to private schools, like AIM KW or Beechwood Brainery, despite the enormous educational gaps they fill in our community.

Colleen Cares is more than a charitable foundation—it’s a movement to ensure children across Waterloo Region can start loving school, access the education they need, and build a community of belonging, with as few barriers as possible. Named in honor of a very special, passionate advocate for inclusive education, Colleen Cares provides financial aid, program funding, and essential resources to help children and their families thrive at AIM KW and Beechwood Brainery.

Through Colleen Cares, our community is coming together to:  

• Provide tuition assistance for families who otherwise could not afford individualized and supportive education.
• Fund mental health and wellness programs, including music therapy, art therapy, and support services that help students flourish.
• Support low teacher-student ratios and innovative teaching methods that foster creativity, confidence, and self-directed learning.
• Invest in training, and classroom resources to enhance our students’ educational experiences.
• Provide diagnostic testing and support for students who would benefit most from insight into their unique learning styles and educational needs. 
• Expand our reach, so more children in Kitchener-Waterloo can benefit from personalized, student-centered education.

Join Us in Making a Difference

Every donation, big or small, helps a child receive the support they need to succeed. Whether you give $50 to provide classroom materials or $5,000 to help subsidize a year of tuition for a student in need, your generosity truly does change lives.

Through corporate partnerships, individual donations, or regular monthly gifts, you are developing and demonstrating a community that cares, one kid at a time.