“Thanks to the Susan Croll Fund, I completed my FoodSafe certification and now work in a local kitchen. I’m proud to be employed and independent again.”
Honoring a Legacy of Learning and Opportunity
Susan Croll was more than a name—she was a force of compassion, curiosity, and conviction. A devoted mother, a dedicated teacher, and a lifelong librarian, Susan carried her love for learning into every role she inhabited. As a passionate and deeply engaged member of the Lookout Society Board, she witnessed firsthand how barriers to education could perpetuate cycles of hardship and homelessness. She held an unwavering belief: that every person, regardless of their past or present circumstances, deserved not just shelter, but the tools to rebuild their dignity, confidence, and future.
Tragically, Susan’s life was cut short, but her vision was too powerful to fade. In response to her passing, colleagues, friends, and family joined together to create something lasting—a living tribute that would carry her spirit forward. Thus, the Susan Croll Education Fund was born. It was founded not only in her memory, but in full alignment with her ethos: that education is not a privilege, but a fundamental right, and that sometimes, all someone needs is a single opportunity to unlock their potential.
How You Can Help
Donate to the Fund
Your contribution directly supports education, certification, and training for Lookout guests. Every dollar opens a door.
- $50 covers books or learning materials
- $100 helps someone earn a FoodSafe or First Aid certificate
- $500 can fund a full stipend—changing a life
Donate securely online via Canada Helps:
Today, the fund acts as a bridge—between hardship and hope, between isolation and opportunity. By providing financial support for skill-building, certification, training, and personal development, it empowers Lookout guests and residents to invest in themselves. Whether it’s covering the cost of a FoodSafe course, funding a creative workshop, or helping someone gain a driver’s license, each grant is a direct extension of Susan’s belief in people’s innate capacity to grow, contribute, and thrive. Her legacy lives on not in plaques or posters, but in the renewed confidence of a job seeker, the quiet pride of a graduate, and the transformed trajectory of lives once paused, now moving forward.
What We Do
The fund offers one-time stipends of up to $500 to Lookout guests and residents, as well as fund group workshops, trainings and events at Lookout sites. Our goal is to break down financial barriers to learning and empower people to invest in themselves.
We Support Learning In These And Beyond:
- Core & Basic Skills– literacy, numeracy, computer skills
- Independent Living Skills– budgeting, meal preparation, housekeeping
- Social & Interpersonal Skills– conflict management, building social networks
- Health Literacy– fitness, wellness, nutrition
- Pre-Employment Training– FoodSafe, First Aid, criminal record checks, trades certifications and more
- Creative & Personal Growth – art, music, storytelling, cultural workshops
Impact in numbers
Over 260
individuals helped
Almost 50% of funds
allocated towards pre-employment
over $32,800
provided in stipends
How to Apply
Applying is simple and supported by Lookout staff every step of the way (note: only Lookout Service Recipients are eligible).
For Individuals:
- Guests or residents bring forward a funding opportunity to the site staff.
- Lookout Staff review & witness the application form.
- Email the Form to: [email protected]
For Group Workshops:
Site staff, with the support of local leadership, can apply for funding to host skill-building workshops, cultural circles, book clubs, and more. The same application form is used—just fill out the workshop section.
After Approval:
All recipients are asked to provide receipts, proof of completion, and a short testimonial or note on the impact of the grant.