YRPA Community Work

The uniformed and civilian members of York Regional Police Association (YRPA) are proud supporters of many charitable causes.  Each year, our members give their personal time to support many causes and volunteer throughout York Region to help give back to the communities we serve.

In the last 10 years, York Regional Police Association has contributed over $543,320 to various charities and towards members’ participation in charitable work.  The association also holds annual campaigns and events to support our charities.

Special Olympics Ontario

YRPA has a strong legacy of supporting Special Olympics Ontario. The organization provides year-round sports training and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for children, youth and adults with intellectual disabilities.

The legacy of supporting Special Olympics Ontario was first started by YRPA member Detective Constable Robert Plunkett who served as the Games Manager in the year 2000. Tragically, in 2007, Detective Constable Robert Plunkett was killed in the line of duty while attempting to effect an arrest in the City of Markham. The YRPA members have chosen to honour Rob’s memory, his passion for golf, and the Special Olympics by hosting a Golf Tournament in his name. Since 2007, the Annual Rob Plunkett Memorial Golf Classic has donated over $95,000 to Special Olympics Ontario in Rob’s name.

In July 2013, York Region was fortunate to be the host of the Olympic Summer Games and YRPA played an important role as official games sponsor and donated $50,000 to assist in making the games a success and many of our members donated their time to assist with the event.

Make-A-Wish Foundation

The Make-A-Wish Foundation creates life-changing wishes for children with critical illnesses. Since 1983, Make-A-Wish Canada has granted over 37,000 wishes across the country, and over 1,000 last year alone. Since 2021, YRPA has supported Boom 97.3FM’s $1000 Make-A-Wish Minute. Over the past three years, YRPA members have donated $35,000 to the campaign. In 2023, we pledged a $10,000 donation and challenged Boom listeners to match our donation, which resulted in $45,000 raised and over 4 life-changing wishes to children living with critical illnesses in York Region. 

Salvation Army Central York Region

Since 2012, the YRPA Memorial Golf Tournament has raised much-needed funds to support the Salvation Army Central York Region to help with the costs of food bank and feeding programs, clothing and furniture assistance, counselling, social services, rehabilitation, housing and shelters, and programs for children and youth. Between 2016 and 2023, YRPA’s Memorial Golf Tournament donated $63,000 to the Salvation Army Central York Region and between 2021 and 2023, through York Regional Police’s Holiday Heroes program, YRPA donated $55,000.

Wounded Warriors

YRPA is a proud supporter of Wounded Warriors, a national charity supporting ill and injured Canadian Armed Forces members, veterans, first responders and their families. In 2018, YRPA donated $50,000 to York Regional Police’s first-ever To Serve and Savour event to benefit Wounded Warriors Canada and their mental health resources.

Community Living Central York

Founded in 1954, Community Living Central York is a non-profit, charitable organization which provides support to people who have an intellectual disability. They offer a wide range of supports and services that enable people to reach their fullest potential, supporting approximately 400 individuals each year. Support services include: day support programs, employment strategies and job placement, supported group living, supported independent living, associate/foster family care, and respite support. Proceeds from this year’s 34th Annual YRPA Memorial Golf Tournament will be donated to Community Living Central York.

In 2021, YRPA’s Community Engagement Committee established the Give Back Program – whereby civilian and uniform members are encouraged to nominate York Region charitable organizations, causes and interests they care about and that are important to them. Each month the Community Engagement Committee reviews member submissions and selects 1 to 2 charities to receive a donation up to $1,000. Since inception, the YRPA’s Give Back program has donated over $16,500 to local charities such as food banks, youth mentoring organizations, shelters, hospices, rehabilitation centres for animals, and health services and medical research organizations helping to forge a positive relationship between our members and the communities we serve.

York Regional Police Association is also proud to support these charities:

• Southlake Hospital

• Ride 4 Styles

• Plunkett Memorial Golf Classic