Night to Nurture Gala Becomes the Make Happy Tummies™ Gala Beginning 2027
Save The Date January 30, 2027, A New Chapter Begins
Beginning in 2027, The Grocery Foundation will transition the Night to Nurture Gala into Make Happy Tummies™ / Créons de joyeux p'tits bedonsMC. Now fully dedicated to advancing student nutrition across Canada.
1 in 3 children in Canada arrive at school hungry.¹
That’s not just a statistic — it’s a call to action.
For nearly five decades, this event has transformed generosity into meaningful impact. Now, we are sharpening our focus where the need is urgent and growing — ensuring children arrive at school nourished and ready to learn. By concentrating our efforts on student nutrition, we are turning one extraordinary evening into sustained, measurable change for children and communities nationwide.
Our Industry's Opportunity
Imagine the impact on Canadian children if we, as a collective industry, fully engaged.
This is our Gala.
This is our cause — and our industry at its finest.
This is our opportunity to redefine what possibility and wellness can look like for Canadian children in every neighbourhood where we work, live, and play — together.
Starting in 2027, the Night to Nurture Gala will become the Make Happy Tummies™ Gala / Créons de joyeux p'tits bedons MC, fully dedicated to advancing student nutrition — an urgent and growing need, with one in three children in Canada arriving at school hungry.¹
By sharpening our focus, we are strengthening our ability to deliver sustained, measurable impact for children and communities across Canada. (1 Source: Breakfast Club of Canada)
Student nutrition directly impacts both well-being and educational outcomes.
By focusing on nutrition in schools, we are investing where the impact is immediate and long-term — ensuring children are nourished in the environment that shapes their health, learning, and future success.
Access to nutritious food at school:
Improves concentration and learning
Supports physical and mental well-being
Increases long-term academic achievement
Strengthens school communities
As an industry rooted in food, we are uniquely positioned to lead this effort at scale.
The spirit, pride, and leadership that have defined this event for nearly five decades will continue.
What evolves is the clarity of purpose. With a unified focus on student nutrition, the Gala becomes even more closely aligned with the grocery industry’s ability to create meaningful, measurable impact.
For nearly 50 years, the Gala has united the grocery industry to support causes that strengthen children and communities across Canada. Kids Help Phone remains a deeply valued partner in this event’s history.
Over a 16-year partnership, the Night to Nurture Gala raised more than $33 million in support of youth mental health — an impact that continues to make a profound difference.
As both organizations grow, this evolution allows each to focus more deeply on its respective mission, ensuring sustained impact for children and youth across Canada.
The need has never been more urgent — and the Gala remains our industry’s most powerful platform to respond.
For nearly 50 years, this event has been the grocery industry’s preeminent charitable gathering — bringing together retailers, suppliers, and foodservice leaders to create meaningful impact for children across Canada.
The Make Happy Tummies™ Gala marks an exciting new chapter. With a sharpened focus on student nutrition, it offers sponsors a clear, purpose-driven platform aligned directly with the heart of our industry.
While the Gala remains the centrepiece, Make Happy Tummies™ now extends beyond one evening — offering additional opportunities for brand engagement through retail activations, employee initiatives, and foodservice collaborations. Not every channel will be right for every organization, but each provides flexible ways for brands to deepen their impact and visibility throughout the year.
Sponsors are not simply supporters — they are leaders in delivering measurable change. Through your participation in the Gala, you help ensure children arrive at school nourished, ready to learn, and positioned for a brighter future.
To explore partnership opportunities:
gala@groceryfoundation.com
Yes! Save the date. January 30, 2027.
Thank You!
The 2026 Night to Nurture Gala – An Evening of Impact, Nurturing Canada's Next Generation
Over $2.5M Raised
THANK YOU to our 2026 Night to Nurture Sponsors
Platinum Sponsors
Gold Sponsors
Maple Sponsors
Silver Sponsors
Presenting Sponsors
Corporate Sponsors
Food & Beverage
Media Sponsors
Floral Sponsors
The Night to Nurture 2025 Impact Delivered
Funds raised at the 2025 Night to Nurture Gala are providing support to the following organizations that benefit the physical and mental health of children and youth across Canada.
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