Calculating Administrative Costs
Many have asked how much of the money raised for the Foundation goes toward administrative costs. The Stephen Lewis Foundation is one of very few charitable organizations that is able to keep their administrative costs as low "as humanly possible". Their costs have been broken down into three categories: Programs, Funds Development, and Administration. Only 7% has was spent on administration between 2021-2023. Click here for a complete view of their financials for the year 2023-2023.
Did You Know?
In 2021, there were 38.4 million people living with HIV.
1.7 million are children (0–14 years).
54% of all people living with HIV are women and girls.
To read the most recent (2021) UN AIDS Fact Sheets
Ottawa-Gatineau Region Grandmothers Network (O-GRGN)
The O-GRGN is a a loosely formed network of 19 granny groups in the Ottawa - Gatineau region spreading out from as far west as Perth, north to Deep River and Pembroke, south to Morrisburg and east to Metcalfe and Quebec in the towns of Aylmer and Wakefield. The O-GRGN convenes meetings of key leaders in the regional granny groups, hosts the Granny Fest, a learning and sharing one day conference every 18 months and organizes from time to time information and awareness events.
The grandmothers groups share three goals
- Raise funds to meet the needs of African grandmothers and children in their care
- Raise awareness about the expertise and leadership of Africa's grandmothers and their struggle to secure a hopeful and healthy future their children in their care
- Build solidarity among grandmothers in order to better understand and sustain the vital work being done at the grassroots to turn the tide of AIDS in Africa
Grandmothers Advocacy Network - Mouvement de soutien des grands-meres, or GRAN is a non-partisan network of volunteers working together across Canada to advocate at local, national and international levels for the human rights of grandmothers, children and youth of sub-Saharan Africa. GRAN educates to raise public awareness and invite engagement. They advocate to influence national and global policy-makers and partner with like-minded organizations to amplify our voices and increase our impact.
Canadian grannies
supporting
African grannies
INCREDIBLE
Since 2006, when the Grassroot Grannies first began, we have raised $1,234,765 for the Stephen Lewis Foundation.
WELCOME to the Grassroot Grannies website.
Sub-Saharan Africa needs our help now more than ever - international aid is dropping and HIV-Aids' numbers are expected to increase by 50% over the next 5 years, Emoji. At the Grassroot Grannies' day-long goal-defining workshop last November, our decision was unanimous; we will continue fundraising and will have fun while we're at it! There will be three major events again this year - the Plant Sale and Market Place on May 10, the Ride to Turn the Tide on September 3rd and 4th and a book, coffee and craft related event in the fall. "We shall not rest until they can rest."
Thank you,
Karen Whiteside and Stella Val, co- chairs
To contact the Grassroot Grannies
May 2025 Update
Grassroot Grannies
are celebrating 17 years of success
Some historical milestones
2012- Grandparents Rally on the Hill advocating for Bill C-398 which would allow Canada to make a cheaper generic anti-viral drugs for HIV/AIDS for sub-Saharan Africa
2007 - The first Plant Sale and Garden Tour hosting grannies from sub-Saharan Africa.
2009 - The Ride To Turn The Tide (RTTTT)
fundraising bike tour took place under the capable guidance of Nancy Hough and her team.
2010 - Breakfast, Books and Bijoux was held for the first time at the Kanata Golf and Country Club. It is now called the Books and Breakfast Buffet.
2016 - Grassroot Grannies participated in the Grand Market at Lansdowne Park.
2020 - During Covid-19 the Grassroot Grannies developed and posted their own fundraising page. The sales of face masks made by the GGs raised over $13,000
2011 - The Grassroot Grannies participated in the 3rd Granny Fest - a day-long event of learning, sharing and celebrating with other grandmother groups in the Ottawa-Gatineau Region.
2019 - The last 3-day RTTTT event before Covid 19 hit
2008 - The first Solidarity March on the Hill in Ottawa
2022 - another very successful Ride To Turn The Tide - a two-day fundraising bike event. $91,000
was raised this year.
What is the Stephen Lewis Foundation?
The Stephen Lewis Foundation is a non profit charitable organization supporting community-level organizations that are turning the tide of HIV/AIDS in Africa. They provide care and support to women, orphans, grandmothers and people living with HIV and AIDS. Since 2003, they have committed and distributed $130.7 million to 1800 initiatives, and partnered with over 325 community-based organizations in 15 African countries. To find out more click here.
The Grassroot Grannies, launched in 2006, is part of the grandmother movement sweeping Canada. There are currently over 240 similar granny groups across Canada involving more than 10,000 people. To date close to $39M has been raised through the Grandmothers Campaign.
The Stephen Lewis Foundation in the News
Lions International Honors Stephen Lewis Foundation
with Humanitarian Award
By Hannah Zetti - April 24, 2024
"Working with, and learning from, African women leaders of grassroots organizations at the frontlines of the AIDS pandemic is what lies at the heart of the core values of the Stephen Lewis Foundation,"said Stephen Lewis Foundation co-founder Ilana Landsberg-Lewis.“
The Stephen Lewis Foundation is on the front lines of humanitarian service and championing health and human rights to end AIDS in Africa and around the world. In honor of this exemplary movement, the Stephen Lewis Foundation will be presented with the 2024 Lions Humanitarian Award during the 106th Lions International Convention this June. Stephen Lewis Foundation co-founder Ilana Landsberg-Lewis will accept the award.
The Lions Humanitarian Award is the association's highest honor, given to an individual or an organization with exemplary humanitarian efforts. This award comes with a Lions Clubs International Foundation grant of up to US $250,000 to a charitable organization for continuing humanitarian activities. The Stephen Lewis Foundation joins a distinguished list of prior recipients, including Mother Teresa, former U.S. President Jimmy Carter and chef and humanitarian José Andrés.
Learn more about the Lions Humanitarian Award and see our list of winners at www.lionsclubs.org/humanitarian-winners.
Learn more about the Stephen Lewis Foundation at: https://stephenlewisfoundation.org/
The Stephen Lewis Foundation partners with community-led organizations that empower women and girls, grandmothers, orphaned and vulnerable children, LGBTIQ communities and people living with HIV. It delivers funds directly to these organizations that are at the forefront of responses to the HIV epidemic in 14 countries across sub-Saharan Africa.
