We know that the pandemic disrupted every aspect of life, education included. We also know that virtual is part of the new normal with just about everything. What we didn’t know until recently was how the shift to virtual learning is impacting students from racialized and underserved communities, students with disabilities and those who have limited access to technology.

As part of the 2021 TD Ready Challenge, TD Bank Group has distributed a total of CAD $10 million grants to nonprofits working to address predicted learning loss as a result of school closures and the shift to virtual learning due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

With its 2021 TD Ready Challenge grants, TD is helping minimize the impact of predicted learning loss on disproportionately affected Canadian students from grades K-12. Nine Canadian organizations made the cut including BGC Canada (formerly Boys and Girls Club) and Tech Spark Canada. Being true Albertans as we are, we want to give a shout out to the University of Calgary which also made the cut.

Image via UCalgary Instagram

UCalgary received a grant of CAD $750,000 for their Math Minds program. The program aims at helping educators and leaders utilize research to devise teaching strategies to help improve learner experience and help students catch up on their learning and minimize possible future loss.

For anyone not in the know, this isn’t the first time TD has supported communities through the TD Ready Challenge. Established in 2018, it has since provided CDN $40 million in funding to 50 organizations across its North American footprint to support scalable solutions identified to be in harmony with the four drivers of The TD Ready Commitment, the Bank’s global corporate citizenship platform: Financial Security, Vibrant Planet, Connected Communities and Better Health.