Ryerson Community School is located in the heart of downtown Toronto in an area considered by many as undesirable. Since the early 1980s, Ryerson school administrators have worked to develop community partnerships and to design programs that support and enrich the lives of Ryerson students and their families. Ryerson has the largest integrated International Language Program in the province, providing daily language instruction in seven languages (in addition to English and French). This commitment to supporting students' cultural heritage formed the backdrop against which other programs developed. Recent educational funding changes are threatening the survival of Ryerson's language programs, and administrators have responded by establishing a nonprofit organization called 'Friends of Community Schools' to raise program funds. Recently awarded the Ruth Atkinson Hindmarsh Award in recognition of its efforts to improve the lives of needy children, Ryerson Community School stands as a shining example of caring and commitment.