A grand gesture is changing lives

Picture of Girls playing

Arthur Lightfoot’s support of more than 100 children through CCFC lives on beyond his death

Giving back came naturally to the late Dr. Arthur Stanley Lightfoot. He enlisted in the navy to help his country, served his community through his medical practice and expressed his philanthropy by supporting more than 100 children through Christian Children’s Fund of Canada (CCFC), among other charities. Now, 15 years after the 80-year-old’s death, his devotion to the cause lives on in the 15 children still benefiting from the funds he left behind.

The journey

Lightfoot attended medical school at the University of Toronto, thanks to scholarships and a job as a paper boy. He eventually moved to Flint, Mich. and opened a medical practice where he brought hundreds of babies into the world.

Serving his country

Lightfoot enlisted in the Royal Canadian Navy in the forties and was posted to a hospital in Dartmouth, N.S. where he attended to Atlantic Command sailors until the end of the Second World War.

Sponsored children

Lightfoot was sponsoring 105 children when he died. Since then, thanks to the bequest he left, the number of children he has helped — in countries, including India, Paraguay and Ethiopia — has ballooned to 183. Interestingly, he only became a CCFC sponsor in August 2000, months before he passed away New Year’s Day, 2001.

For more information on planned giving, visit ccfcanada.ca.

Lasting change: (l to r) Ethiopia’s Bethelhem, Neima and Kalkidan still benefit from funds the late Dr. Stanley Lightfoot left to Christian Children’s Fund of Canada in 2001

About Children Believe

Children Believe works globally to empower children to dream fearlessly, stand up for what they believe in — and be heard. For 60+ years, we’ve brought together brave young dreamers, caring supporters and partners, and unabashed idealists. Together, we’re driven by a common belief: creating access to education — inside and outside of classrooms — is the most powerful tool children can use to change their world.

Inspiring Stories

September 2019

WHO: healthcare not accessible to half of the worl...

Conflict, fragility, and disasters hinder healthcare access for over 2 billion people. Join us at Christian Children’s Fund to provide emergency medical aid.

September 2022

A climate-smart initiative is creating a better wo...

Canadian initiative supports youth leadership in India for climate action, fostering eco-friendly practices and sustainable environments for better lives.

July 2023

Malala Yousafzai: a beacon of hope and courage

Celebrating Malala Yousafzai's birthday, a beacon of bravery and education equity. Her global impact inspires us at Children Believe to empower girls worldwide through education, echoing her vision for a brighter, inclusive future.