The Toronto Police Mounted Unit is favoured by those who donate funds to help the cash-strapped city.
Concerned Toronto residents have made thousands of donations worth more than $1 million to help improve City services or programs.
Almost 6,400 citizens donated more than $1.06 million last year, according to a Summary of the City’s Donation Activity for 2024 in a report for the Executive Committee.
The report will be considered on July 16.
The City said donations were made by individuals and organizations mostly from Toronto, but some funds came from across Canada and the U.S.
City officials do not send tax receipts from donations under $20 and gifts from foundations or in-kind donations or when a tax receipt is not requested, according to the report.
The City said most of the donations are for use with specific programs, services or City initiatives. City officials will accept donations up to $500,000 once it is reported to Council.
Toronto Animal Services also received hundreds of donations from concerned residents last year.
“Most donations were received from individuals,” the report stated. “While several individuals and organizations have donated on more than one occasion, donors usually give once to a particular cause.”
The report said more than 5,100 of the donations were for $100 or less, about 11 were for more than $5,000 each, five for $15,000 each and two with a value of more than $50,000.
Most of the donations, almost 5,800, were directed to Municipal Licensing & Standards, primarily Toronto Animal Services, which obtained more than $250,000 in donations.
The City’s Parks and Recreation Commemorative Tree & Bench Program racked up $380,698, the City of Toronto Archives $248,370, followed by Toronto Paramedics Services Safe City Program.
More than $840 was donated to help the High Park Zoo and more than $11,000 to the Toronto Police Mounted Unit.