People are losing out on careers because of math.

Did you know that struggling with math can prevent people from getting into college or university programs connected to medicine, business, engineering, psychology, tech, and so many other fields? Maybe that person was your child, a friend, a classmate, a colleague, or even you.

And what about the next generation? There are kids in school right now who are already falling behind, before they’ve even had a chance to dream about what they want to become.

For too long, math has acted as a gatekeeper, shutting people out of opportunities not because they lacked potential, but because they lacked the right kind of support. I’ve dedicated my life to changing that.

Who I Am

Hi there. I’m Sa’diyya (pronounced Sa-dee-ya) Hendrickson. Thank you so much for being here. I'm a first-generation university student, lifelong educator, and PhD student with over 20 years of experience teaching and reimagining how we teach and learn mathematics.

Start Here

If you only have a minute, please begin with the 3-minute audio summary at the top of this page (or click the link below). It gives the heart of the story, and why I’m asking for support. https://youtu.be/LFi9qI-7Ifo

This summary is just a snapshot. The following link has the full, 6-part audio series, which dives deeper into my journey. (https://bit.ly/SadiyyaMathStory)

Why I’m Fundraising

I’ve dedicated over 20 years to making math more accessible, from developing free resources, to helping students learn math with confidence through my LEAP in Math™ framework.

Along the way, I’ve done everything I can to secure funding (e.g. applying for scholarships, maintaining a strong academic record, and building a teaching career). But many of the scholarships require you to show evidence of opportunities or achievements that I simply haven’t had access to because I’ve spent all of my academic life navigating the challenges that come with a low-income background and disability.

I’m requesting $50,000 CAD per year for 3 years — the bare minimum I’ll need to survive in Toronto, one of the most expensive cities in the world.

Securing this amount would allow me to return to my PhD program at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE) at the University of Toronto, after spending five years on an approved leave of absence. While $50,000/yr would cover only the essentials, any additional support would help move me from survival to stability and create space for improved health and the capacity to fully engage in my research.

How the Total Was Calculated

Base need ($50,000 × 3 years): $150,000 CAD

GoFundMe platform fees (approx. 3%): ~$4,635 CAD

Estimated tax reserve (20%): ~$30,000 CAD

Total Fundraising Goal: $184,635 CAD

Note: As a funded student, my tuition is fully covered by the university. This campaign is solely to cover basic living expenses so I can return to my research without compromising my health or well-being. Any additional funds are greatly appreciated and will help cover conference travel, collaboration, and the long-term development of math equity initiatives.

What You Can Do

You don’t need to be in academia or know anything about math to help. You just need to care about fairness, access, and opportunity.

Here’s how you can support:

Transparency Notes

I’m not a registered charity, so tax receipts won’t be issued. Donations may be considered income in Canada, so I’ll be setting aside a portion for taxes. I’ve factored fees and taxes into the total so your contribution goes as far as possible.

Thank You

Thank you for showing up, listening, and caring. Your support, in any form, is helping me finish what I started and make math more accessible for future generations.