The Saturday Program was established in 1996 by University of Toronto medical students in partnership with the U of T Faculty of Medicine Office of Student Affairs and the Toronto District School Board (TDSB). The pilot program was designed to foster the education of groups predominantly underrepresented in the university system. Specifically, Aboriginal, Black, and Portuguese high school students from designated inner city schools were invited to the university on Saturday mornings to receive tutoring from medical students in math, science, and English and to participate in enrichment activities, at no cost to the students.  The initial pilot program was a great success.

Since then, The Saturday Program has flourished and it now supports students of all cultural backgrounds who have the potential to succeed but do not have the financial or social support to realize their academic goals.