Success means little if it isn’t shared.
That belief is what inspired Valnet, together with Valsoft and Valsef Capital, to create the Valsef Dream Big Foundation in 2021.
Before the Foundation officially came to be, the founders of the Valsef Group were already committed to giving back. Each supported causes that mattered to them, contributed generously, and continually looked for meaningful ways to make a positive impact.
But they wanted more!
A Belief That Became a Foundation
By co-founding the Valsef Dream Big Foundation, they brought together the strength of the entire Valsef ecosystem to invest in initiatives where they knew they could make the greatest difference. As entrepreneurs who had spent their careers building businesses with purpose and long-term vision, they wanted to go further: to understand community needs, build meaningful relationships, track the impact of every dollar invested, and ensure that impact was tangible and lasting.
For our CEO, Hassan Youssef, who co-founded the Foundation and sits on its Board of Directors, giving back has always been a personal commitment, one he carries into everything he does.
“I made a pledge to myself to never stop giving back and to never stop helping.”
And that pledge remains central to the Foundation’s direction today.
Four Pillars, One Mission
The Valsef Dream Big Foundation started with a simple goal: to make Montreal a better place to live. In its early years, the Foundation channeled that through charitable donations. Over time, the approach evolved, with four pillars anchoring the work: Education, Health, Sports, and Community.
Today, it proactively identifies community needs, builds strategic partnerships, and develops its own programs. Rather than directing funds to a single organization, our foundation invests in a curated portfolio of rigorously vetted nonprofits carefully selected for their measurable results, strong leadership, and alignment with its pillars. We partner only with organizations where we know every dollar will create real, lasting change.
That commitment is reflected in our pledge to donate up to 1% of Valnet’s after-tax revenue to the Foundation, in addition to participating in and hosting several fundraising events throughout the year.
A Culture Built on Purpose
One of the things that makes our Foundation unique, and one of our greatest sources of pride, is that it isn’t powered solely by financial contributions.
At Valnet, we believe there are always ways to contribute, and we encourage our employees to actively participate in volunteer events, fundraising campaigns, and initiatives like the Valsef Championship Series.
Through our employee matching program, all Valnet employees can also submit a request to match the funds raised by their own initiative, up to $5,000 per project, doubling the impact of every contribution.
Together, we’ve supported local schools, raised funds for children’s hospitals, packed food, built playgrounds, participated in community events, and strengthened the organizations that serve the people we care about. We are proud of every employee who has given their time, energy, and compassion to make that. Their commitment is at the heart of everything our contribution to the Foundation stands for.
Stay up to date on Valnet’s community impact, from new partnerships and fundraising milestones to volunteer initiatives and Foundation updates.
What We've Built Together
The Valsef Dream Big Foundation continues to support dozens of organizations across Quebec through funding, volunteerism, and long-term partnerships, notably with Make-A-Wish Canada, Montreal Community Cares, Réseau Réussite Montréal, St-Raphael Palliative Care, Fondation Sablon and so on.
One of our proudest milestones came in November 2025, when the Foundation’s fourth annual gala raised more than $786,000 for Make-A-Wish, making it our most successful fundraising event to date.
“I’m incredibly proud of how far Valsef Dream Big Foundation has come. Our 150% growth over the past year has enabled us to reach more children and communities and deepen the lasting impact of our work. Our latest initiative, Dream Big Playgrounds, is a powerful example of that commitment. By pledging over $1 million to build new and revitalized play spaces, we’re creating places where children can move, learn, connect and thrive. Seeing our impact grow year after year is incredibly rewarding, and it only strengthens our ambition to dream even bigger.”
Since incorporation in 2021, it has directed over $3.84 million in total donations toward the people in our communities. Those funds have directly supported 19,748 beneficiaries and reached more than 104,000 people annually through 52+ local organizations and nonprofits across Montreal and Quebec.
Learn more about the Valsef Dream Big Foundation’s impact in the 2024-2025 Annual Report.
Every child deserves the chance to dream big.
And We're Only Getting Started
As the Foundation grows, so does our ambition. New community partnerships, expanded programs, employee initiatives, and larger projects are already underway, all driven by the same belief that inspired the Foundation from the beginning:
Success creates the opportunity to give others the chance to dream bigger.
