Testimonials
Testimonials from The Sky's the limit team
Having worked under and alongside Lara during the last 12 years, I have learned first hand what it means to give back to the community. Her tireless efforts to build and lead an organization to serve under-resourced youth has been an inspiration to me as a humanitarian, a woman, and as a professional.
At the start of the pandemic, Lara championed our cause to family and friends to generate emergency funds to address the extreme need for technology as students across the country were abruptly sent home to engage in online learning. Her fundraising efforts were critical to the survival of our organization and our ability to successfully serve our recipients where they were in most dire need.
In over 20 years of operations, Lara has never drawn a salary from Sky’s the Limit. She volunteers her time, energy, and service to our cause and in doing so has given us unique advantages and opportunities to continue our mission to benefit youth in need. Truly, without Lara, Sky's the Limit Youth Organization would not be what it is today. We certainly wouldn't have been able to help the over 5000 youth we have helped without her industrious dedication.
Caroline McIntosh
Former Executive Director
Sky’s the Limit Youth Organization
As Sky’s the Limit Youth Organization’s first employee, I joined the team of Sky’s the Limit volunteers in 2007, eventually becoming the Executive Director. I was with Sky’s the Limit for more than seven years, as well as serving a term as a Board Member. I still have extremely fond memories of my time at Sky’s the Limit and I am very proud of what they have accomplished to date.
Lara Tavares, the Founder of Sky's the Limit Youth Organization, is a passionate and innovative philanthropist. Her vision to provide technology to youth across Canada has continued to live on for almost two decades, due to her foresight and ambition. Founding an organization from scratch requires a pioneering spirit, as well as a varied and diverse skill set, all of which she brings into everything she does.
Rema Sinclair
Former Executive Director
Sky’s the Limit Youth Organization
I have been a part of Sky’s the Limit Youth Organization since 2007, joining them after receiving a computer donation while participating in Youth In Motion’s employment internship program.
Through my employment, I became an integral part of Sky’s the Limit’s team and early success. My commitment to Sky’s the Limit began when I volunteered to participate in the annual fundraising event. My enthusiasm and dedication to the cause resulted in my quick transition from volunteer to employee. I stepped into the roles of Administrative Assistant (2008-2012), Junior Project Coordinator (2012-2013), Project Coordinator and Administrator (2013-2014).
As an individual with Cerebral Palsy, I created and managed the Sky’s the Limit Youth Organization’s Cerebral Palsy Project, partnering with the Ontario Federation of Cerebral Palsy to offer specialized laptops for individuals with disabilities. After my time with Sky’s the Limit, I completed my Master of Divinity and Master of Arts. I am currently enrolled in my Master of Education to pursue a career in counselling.
Lara’s innovative leadership has not only impacted the lives of the youth that she has served through Sky’s the Limit, but also on those who were part of the team. It was through Lara’s invitation to become a part of STL’s team that I was able to experience the joy of what it means to serve others. I believe that I would not be where I am today without my time at Sky’s the Limit.
Lara’s dedication and commitment have provided access to the digital world for those who would not have been able to access it for themselves. As many who know Lara would say, I am proud to call her my mentor and a friend who has led me to places beyond my wildest imaginations.
Yae Won Han (Grace)
Former Administrative Assistant
Former Junior Project Coordinator
Former Project Coordinator
Former Administrator
Sky's the Limit Youth Organization
Testimonials from Our Partners
Pathways to Education and Lara Tavares have built a model that supports the students who are most in need. The opportunity to build and change more lives is of the utmost importance. Students are not just getting a computer from Lara’s organization, Sky’s the Limit, they receive tutoring on how to operate the software and the basic fundamentals on how to put their computer together. Pathways and Lara are uniquely situated and making a difference to the human potential. That is the power of community succession and changing not just one person’s life but communities across Canada.
O’Neil Edwards
Former Coordinator of Mentoring
Pathways to Education Program, Toronto, Ontario
Bright, engaging, beautiful, generous and talented Lara Tavares had it all. As a well paid twenty something professional, she was rapidly climbing the corporate ladder. Access to computers had given her so much and opened up a world of possibilities for her and her peer group. She insisted that any child denied this access would face almost insurmountable odds in our new digital world. She ultimately decided that providing computers for under-resourced youth in her community was more important and relevant than her own personal success. That's when she launched Sky's the Limit, to address the Digital Divide and make the impossible, possible for youth in underserved communities.
Mike "Pinball" Clemons
Vice Chairman, Toronto Argonauts Football Club
Co-Founder, Mike “Pinball” Clemons Foundation
Lara’s achievements and contributions in helping under resourced children and schools demonstrate the kind of selfless dedication that is seen so rarely in our society today. Lara made a strong impression on me with her openness and strong conviction in her beliefs. Utilizing her intellect, business savvy and big heart, Lara grew a small initiative into what Sky’s the Limit is today. I have seen her inspire the people in her life as well as mine – her energy is quite contagious! Lara’s passionately selfless personality is seen in everything and everyone she touches. I think her greatest gift is her ability to see in all people their incredible potential and I feel that this is what motivates her in her work and personal life. All who are touched by Lara cannot help but be affected by her selfless work.
Lisa S. Louie
Canadian Center for Philanthropy
Toronto, Ontario
Working with Lara Tavares as a Sky's the Limit Ambassador was a truly humbling experience. She is one of those awe inspiring people who lights up a room the minute she enters it. Her tireless dedication and passion towards helping underprivileged youth makes everyone around her want to do better and be better. It was my absolute pleasure to work with her.
Lisa McPhee
Former Assistant Director
Capgemini North America
I am incredibly inspired by my best friend Lara Tavares. She is a true activist who founded an important philanthropic youth organization in Toronto, Canada called Sky's The Limit. Watching her cause being embraced in the philanthropic world taught me so much about the power of one woman's passion and dedication. She has become my mentor, and one of my biggest supporters. In many ways, she is the opposite of me, yet we balance each other on so many levels. We want the same thing - to serve humanity.
Natasha Jean-Bart
CEO and Creative Director at WÄTTSSOUL INC
Testimonials from Our Recipients
I am an honour roll student attending Secondary School in Brampton, Ontario! I am currently in my last year of high school and intend on graduating with double honour. However, my educational journey has been a trying one, as I am currently without a computer. I have struggled on numerous occasions trying to find different ways to access a computer, just so I wouldn't lose any marks because my work wasn't typed. I have also not been able to keep up with many class assignments, and have been at a disadvantage when I am assigned a task, as these tasks all require a computer. I have now also come to the realization that university is not going to be any easier than high school and in fact, having a computer is a definite must for all students. I cannot imagine not having access to a computer for my future endeavors as an athlete, mediator, singer, poet, and so much more. As our world becomes more and more dependent on technology, it is evident that eventually I would have been left behind while attempting to hand write my work. STL has given me a tool that has played a large role in being the first in my family to attend university and make my family proud. My heart is filled with gratitude.
Brittiany
the 2000th recipient of a Sky's the Limit laptop
Testimonials from Our Donors
Like most people connected to charitable causes, Lara is very committed to making a real difference in other people’s lives. She truly has made it her passion to see Sky’s the Limit grow on a national basis and therefore influence as many lives of underprivileged Canadian kids as possible. She has a very strong business acumen and is also very down-to-earth in terms of her expectations. I find this combination works extremely well in running an organization with such lofty goals. Lara is entirely comfortable, regardless of the role she is in or the cause she is supporting. She is equally adept at making strategic decisions as she is with handling individual situations. She is the consummate “roll up your sleeves and get it done” type of person.
Terry Power
Former President
Sapphire Canada Limited
LANd Acknowledgement
Sky’s the Limit Youth Organization, a non-Indigenous organization, is committed to ensuring that all youth have access to technology and the opportunity to expand and heighten their knowledge and skills. We acknowledge our role as settlers in this land on Turtle Island. We are grateful to be able to live and work on the traditional territory of many nations including the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation, the Anishinaabeg, the Haudenosaunee Confederacy and the Wendat Peoples. We recognize the enduring presence of all First Nations, Métis and the Inuit peoples. We recognize the injustices of colonization and how we, as settlers, have directly benefitted from a colonial culture that has overseen the genocide, systematic oppression, and exploitation of Indigenous peoples. We commit to working toward safe, inclusive, just, equitable and healthy communities for all.