As well, the organization funds programs to help emerging Canadian writers; the annual "Margaret Laurence Lecture", given by a noted Canadian writer; writers' residencies at Berton House in Dawson City, Yukon; and the "Woodcock Fund", which provides emergency financial assistance to Canadian writers, named in memory of the Canadian poet George Woodcock. Annual fundraisers include the Writers' Trust Gala in Toronto and Politics and the Pen in Ottawa. Money raised to finance the charitable activities of the Writers' Trust is drawn almost exclusively from the private sector.