Established in 1874, the Foresters is a million-member strong international
fraternal benefit society, headquartered in Canada, with members in
Canada, the United States and United Kingdom. Our mission is to provide
benefits and a range of financial products and services to our members
and serve their communities through fundraising activities, local
projects and volunteerism, with a particular emphasis on helping
children. The Foresters has its International
Headquarters based in Toronto, Canada.
Long before the Foresters,
people like Foresters members believed in reaching out to their neighbors in
times of need. The concept of fraternalism originated during medieval
times when people voluntarily formed groups to help one another in times
of need.
The care of the Foresters extends beyond our members and
into our communities. With Foresters support, members have formed a volunteer
network of caring that reaches around the world and has made a
difference for millions of people in need. For example, the Foresters disaster
relief fund aids members and their communities during times of natural
disaster such as hurricanes, floods, tornadoes, fires or ice storms.
This relief goes beyond sending just a check. In addition to money,
Foresters
members give their time, and hearts to aid in disaster relief.
The Foresters sponsors programs focused on the health and
safety of children and the continuation of family values. Since 1990,
the Foresters has been a corporate sponsor of the Children's Miracle Network,
an international fundraising organization benefiting 170 children's
hospitals in Canada and the United States. In 1975, the IOF Foresters
Prevention of Child Abuse fund was established to support community
agencies and programs active in the prevention of child abuse and child
welfare. In the United Kingdom, U.K foresters is the largest corporate
supporter of Barnardo's, a leading children's charity.
