About workaid

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The WorkAid Fund Bursary: A Legacy of Resilience and Support

The WorkAid Fund Bursary was created as a symbol of resilience, compassion, and

community responsibility, born from the lived experiences of its founder, Angelo Procopio.

This bursary stands as a tribute to the struggles faced by families impacted by workplace

injuries and aims to uplift the next generation through access to education.

At the age of just five years old, Angelo Procopio sustained a life-altering disability.

Navigating life with this condition shaped his empathy and advocacy for others, particularly

for those whose injuries have been overlooked or misunderstood by systems like the

Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB). But Angelo's story doesn't end there. Both of

his parents hard working individuals trying to build a stable life in Ontario suffered severe

workplace injuries that left them permanently disabled and financially vulnerable.

Like many Ontario families, the Procopio's were forced to battle WSIB for recognition,

fairness, and support. The very system designed to protect them instead became a source of

struggle. During the prime years of their adult lives the time when most individuals earn,

invest, and support their families. Angelo's parents were instead robbed of the opportunity to

work, save, and contribute to their children's futures. The impact of this injustice was

deeply felt when it came time for Angelo to pursue his education. Post-secondary learning,

often taken for granted by others, was a luxury weighed down by financial burden and

hardship.

That experience of watching his family endure pain, bureaucracy, and poverty instilled in

Angelo a lifelong mission: to ensure that other children of injured workers do not suffer the

same barriers to opportunity.

Now, through The WorkAid Fund, Angelo's legacy lives on.

Purpose of the Bursary

This bursary is awarded to support secondary school students in Grades 11 and 12 who are

the children or grandchildren of Ontario injured workers, regardless of when the injury

occurred or the current status of the claim. A WSIB claim number must be available to verify

eligibility. Whether the injury occurred recently or decades ago, the generational impact is

often long-lastingand this fund recognizes that reality.

The bursary can be used toward:

- University or College tuition

- Apprenticeship or trade school enrollment

- Training for a new skill or license

We believe that every child deserves a chance, and every injured workers family deserves

dignity, recognition, and support. By removing even a small piece of the financial barrier,

The WorkAid Fund aims to empower students and honour the sacrifices made by their

families.

Eligibility Requirements

To be eligible for The WorkAid Fund Bursary, applicants must meet the following criteria:

- Must be a student currently in Grade 11 or Grade 12 at a recognized Ontario secondary

school.

- Must be a child or grandchild of an Ontario worker who has an active or historical WSIB

claim.

- A WSIB claim number must be provided for verification purposes.

- Must be planning to attend a post-secondary institution, college, university, trade school,

or skills training program in Canada.

- Must demonstrate financial need due to the impact of a workplace injury within the family.

- Must submit a completed application form, including a short personal essay.

EMAIL; Calista@workaid.ca to Apply.