Photo © Cathie Coward
By Raye Mocioiu
Seven-time Olympic medalist Andre De Grasse is one of the most accomplished Olympians in Canadian history—but he’s not interested in being at the top alone. Instead, he’s made it his mission to help student athletes reach their own unique potential.
“Realistically, most track athletes don’t get to the Olympics,” De Grasse explained. “Fewer still are able to make a sustainable career out of running track the way I have.”
Raised by a single mother under tight financial constraints, De Grasse benefitted from the generosity of his community—a fact he credits heavily for his success. The support he received helped him manage the financial burden of competing in high-level athletics. One of his main supporters was his first coach and mentor, Tony Sharpe.
“Very soon after meeting me in my last year of high school, Tony realized I had some real natural talent.” De Grasse recalled. “He told me that I could use track to earn a scholarship to a university and even make it to the Olympics if I really dedicated myself.”
Ultimately, Sharpe was right, but the road to success was filled with a few roadblocks that threatened to stall Andre from fulfilling his goals.
“I qualified to represent Canada at the Pan Am Junior Championships shortly after getting into track,” De Grasse shared. “I was so excited until I found out I was responsible for the costs to get to Colombia where the meet was taking place.”
The costs posed a huge barrier, but once again, Sharpe made all the difference.
“Tony told me not to worry and that he’d figure it out—and he did. He was able to help find a family that had the means to help sponsor my trip,” De Grasse explained. “I came away from those championships with two medals in the 100m and 200m events. So as soon as I had the means of my own and a platform to help other young athletes, that’s what I did.”
Paying it forward has been De Grasse’s way of showing his gratitude to his community. He started his own foundation, the Andre De Grasse Family Foundation, which is committed to inspiring and empowering youth through access to sports, education, and healthcare. The Foundation, which started in 2018, partners with charitable organizations to bring various community initiatives to life, such as hosting a Thanksgiving Day Lunch for hundreds of families with Toronto Community Housing.
In partnership with Athletics Canada and with the sponsorship support of Vesta Properties, the Andre De Grasse Family Foundation launched the ADG Future Champions Scholarship Program. Through this program, high school student-athletes get access to funding and mentorship so that they can advance in athletics. At the same time, the program provides a pathway for a collegiate scholarship they otherwise wouldn’t earn.
“The funding and mentorship we provide through the program is really important to ensure the students secure scholarships to universities that will prepare them for a life after track,” he explained.
When these students succeed, it’s a win for the program and the country, as some of the athletes will go on to represent Canada on international stage.
“It’s an amazing feeling to see these athletes fulfilling their potential in the classroom and on the track as a result of this program I started with Tony,” De Grasse shared.
With the ADG Future Champions Scholarship Program, De Grasse encourages young athletes struggling to keep their faith in their abilities and potential.
“I always tell young athletes not to be shy and to tap into whatever support network they have,” he said. “It’s ok to ask for help when you need it.”
One such athlete is Destiny Emuze, who was supported through his high school years by the ADG Future Champions Scholarship Program. Emuze, who immigrated to Canada with his brother and single mother, faced financial obstacles that made competing in track difficult. With the support of the Foundation, he was able to train and compete at a high level, eventually earning a full four-year scholarship to an NCAA Division I school—the University of Maryland Eastern Shore. Today, he holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology specializing in rehabilitation and is pursuing his master’s in Rehabilitation Counselling.
“He’s going to contribute to society in such an important way,” De Grasse said. “We’re very proud of Destiny.”
Off the Track and Into Communities
De Grasse’s impact doesn’t stop with track. Through the Andre De Grasse Family Foundation, he has extended his philanthropic reach by partnering with organizations with similar missions to pave the way for bright futures.
“The mission of my foundation is to inspire and empower youth through access to sport, education, and healthcare,” De Grasse explained. “So we consider organizations that align with our mission, like Kids Help Phone, for example.”
A long-time partner of the Foundation, Kids Help Phone teamed up with De Grasse to develop and launch the Race With Me Virtual Challenge during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We knew kids were struggling with their mental health as a result of not getting outside and having a healthy routine,” he said. “So we challenged kids to go to their local 400m track and run one lap as fast as they could, then go back each week for eight weeks to see how much they could improve.”
The initiative used social media to meet young athletes where they were, building an online community of kids that encouraged participation by allowing them to upload results, share pictures and videos, and earn prizes. All the while, the community served as a way to form connections with other young runners, fostering an online culture of support and empowerment that extended into offline wellness.
“Although it wasn’t our primary goal, we ended up raising $25,000 for Kids Help Phone through the challenge,” De Grasse noted.
Looking ahead, he has even bigger goals for the future of the Foundation.
“We’re going to raise a minimum of $1 million between now and the 2028 Olympics,” he announced. “These funds will be used to create the ADG Future Champions Legacy Fund so that our scholarship program can live on indefinitely to fund future generations of student-athletes.”
Beyond the Finish Line
For De Grasse, success is measured not in medals but in community impact. Across the Andre De Grasse Family Foundation’s range of initiatives and De Grasse’s entrepreneurial initiative, Ignite Ventures, the athlete is building a stronger future for Canadians.
“Similar to how I use my platform and resources to empower young track athletes via the ADG Future Champions Program, I’m doing the same with businesses that are looking to grow with my support,” he said.
He’s joined the ownership group for AFC Toronto, a founding club in Canada’s new Northern Super League. Set to kick off this spring, AFC Toronto is a landmark step for Canadian women’s professional soccer, giving female players a domestic professional league to compete in—something previous generations never had.
“I was raised by a single mother, I’m a proud dad of a little girl, and my partner Nia is a professional track athlete,” he said. “So anything I can do to help build up women’s professional sports, I’m going to do it!”
But De Grasse’s ventures aren’t contained to sports either—Headversity helps corporations empower their employees with mental well-being tools and personalized training, while HOVR, a recent addition to Ignite Ventures, is a Toronto-based on-demand ride-share service allowing drivers to earn more money. De Grasse’s wine labels, 19.62 and SEVEN, donate $5 from each bottle sold to his foundation.
“For sure, I want my legacy to extend beyond my accomplishments on the track. I’d like people to think of me as someone who contributed to the culture of mentorship in my sport,” he said. “But I also want to be known as someone who inspired and empowered Canadians, young and old, to reach their own unique potential in life.”
That philosophy is the overarching message in his book, IGNITE: Unlock the Hidden Potential Within, which shares the lessons he’s learned throughout his journey, and in Race With Me!, his bestselling illustrated children’s book that encourages young readers to pursue their dreams.
“Whether it’s on the track, in business, or in life, I want people to believe in themselves,” he said. “I was given opportunities because others saw potential in me. Now, it’s my turn to do the same for the next generation.”
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