Heather O’Keefe founded StepStones for Youth and has successfully brought this registered charity from a small grassroots volunteer-run organization to a respected industry leader. Heather believes that charities have a responsibility to operate efficiently and effectively and donor dollars must go directly to programs that have proven ability to effect positive change. She believes that Ontario can do better at raising the youth in our foster care system and with a greater focus on supporting youth to increase educational attainment, employment and housing stability – the greater community benefits.

Heather has developed an innovative solution to address a housing, education and employment crisis that exists for youth transitioning from the foster care and group home system. This program has proven results in significantly increasing employment, educational attainment and support networks and reducing homelessness, criminal involvement, and isolation for youth who have been involved in the child welfare system. Heather also developed and has managed all organizational functions of an overnight summer camp for girls with a history of trauma/abuse and/or economic hardship. This is a dynamic program which focuses on the development of skills and the introduction of new concepts to girls in areas of literacy, technology, conflict resolution, social justice, swimming level attainment, and other camp activities including; canoeing, photography, camp craft, environment, arts and crafts, and dance.