Empowering Communities Through Partnership: Spotlight on the Ontario Charitable Gaming Association
At Beat the Streets, our mission to advance the education of low-income youth through wrestling would not be possible without the support of incredible partners like the Ontario Charitable Gaming Association (OCGA). Together, we’re impacting Toronto’s underserved communities by breaking barriers and creating opportunities for young people to realize their full potential.
Who Is the Ontario Charitable Gaming Association?
Established in 1997, the Ontario Charitable Gaming Association (OCGA) is a nonprofit representing over 2,100 Ontario charities and non-profits. Their mission is to sustain and grow charitable gaming as a vital funding source for community services across the province.
Through partnerships with the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG), the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO), and municipalities, OCGA advocates for innovative changes in charitable gaming to maximize funding opportunities for charities like ours. Their philosophy? To improve and innovate charitable gaming in Ontario by fostering constructive relationships and driving real, measurable success.
As OCGA explains, “We make things happen.”
What Does OCGA Do?
OCGA is pivotal in sustaining and modernizing charitable gaming through initiatives like Charitable Bingo and Gaming (cGaming). Working with OLG, they’ve introduced electronic gaming at 37 charitable bingo and gaming centres across 25 Ontario communities.
These centres now combine traditional paper bingo with modern electronic games, making charitable gaming more accessible and volunteer-friendly. This modernization has generated over $519 million in funds for Ontario charities and non-profits, ensuring they can continue providing essential programs and services.
“Another key focus of cGaming is to promote and create awareness of this unique community partnership and the direct charitable benefit to the people in these communities,” OCGA shares.
How OCGA Supports Beat the Streets
Wrestle 4 Fun Introductory program encourages children to get active.
At Beat the Streets, OCGA’s generous funding has been instrumental in helping us deliver our unique, fun and engaging Wrestle 4 Fun Introductory programs. To date, these programs have served more than 2,500 youth, encouraging physical literacy and resilience.
Their funding helps cover equipment, coaching, and program delivery costs – ensuring every child can access high-quality, structured programming, regardless of financial barriers.
Want to learn more about our partnership with OCGA? Check out our earlier post: Inspiring Toronto’s Youth: BTS and Ontario Charitable Gaming Association Join Forces.
The Broader Impact
OCGA’s work transforms entire communities. By enabling charities to deliver essential programs, they’ve helped generate over $500 million in funding, including $96 million in the last fiscal year alone.
This support allows thousands of charities across Ontario to provide critical services in health, education, sports, and community-building initiatives. For Beat the Streets, this means giving Toronto’s youth the tools to build resilience, improve mental health, and foster a sense of belonging.
How You Can Support OCGA
We’re proud to partner with Kennedy Road Charitable Gaming Association and grateful for their commitment to making a difference. Follow the Kennedy Ontario Charitable Gaming Association on Facebook and Instagram for the latest news on how they impact lives across Ontario.
Thank You, OCGA!
We are grateful to OCGA for believing in the power of sport to change lives. Together, we’re breaking barriers and creating opportunities for low-income youth to succeed – on the mat and beyond.
About Beat the Streets:
At Beat the Streets, our mission is to advance the education of low-income children and youth in the Greater Toronto Area through fun and unique wrestling and life skills programs. Since 2015, we have served over 28,000 young individuals through our Wrestle 4 Fun, Level Up, You Grow Girl, Work It (Summer Jobs), and Volunteer programs, providing them with opportunities to develop their physical, mental, and social well-being. We believe in empowering the next generation by breaking down barriers and creating pathways to success.
Join us in our mission to impact youth:
Join us in making a difference by supporting our cause and learning more about how you can contribute to the education and growth of children and youth in need. Together, we can shape a brighter future for all.
