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The Niagara Community Foundation invests more than $100,000 in poverty reduction
Foundation invests $100,000+ to
help reduce poverty
St. Catharines, ON, Dec. 17, 2009
The Niagara Community Foundation recently awarded more than$100,000 in grants to programs across Niagara aimed at reducing poverty. “We set the priority early in 2009 to support collaborative approaches to helping neighbourhoods and individuals prosper,” said Brad Hutchings, foundation chair. “The grants we’re making will support a range of projects that will help people and neighbourhoods most in need. It’s an investment in their futures.”
The projects include neighbourhood-based after-school programs, bursaries for college and university students, upgrades to supportive housing units, a drop-in program where community resources are available and help for children and youth from across Niagara facing financial challenges to access sports, recreation and cultural activities. Support to the foundation for these initiatives came from a variety of donors, including the Branscombe Family Foundation, Casino Cares Fund and Meridian Credit Union Fund.
The Niagara Neighbourhood Awakening programs received $20,000 to provide youth in five communities with a nutritious snack, a structured physical activity, and a chance to learn and grow talents within a familiar neighborhood environment.
“We can ask for nothing more than a youth population that understands their community and the positive role they can play within it,” said Mike Lethby, executive director of the R.A.F.T. His agency is coordinating the delivery of this program in partnership with eight other community groups. Each component of the program is developed in consultation with the youth to ensure maximum interest and investment by the participants. The youth are challenged to go beyond themselves and to make choices about what kind of neighbourhood they and their families live in and to take an active role in bringing those visions to life.
To mark the foundation’s 10th anniversary year, a $10,000 grant was given to the Prokids Program. Delivered through a partnership among Niagara Region, the YMCA of Niagara, and more than 200 recreational and cultural organizations, ProKids provides sports and cultural opportunities to more than 2,000 kids from financially challenged families each year. “Thanks to the financial support of individuals donors, Niagara Region, and organizations like the Niagara Community Foundation, ProKids allows kids to learn new skills, make new friends, and engage with positive role models which are all essential to healthy growth and development,” said Steve Butz, CEO of the YMCA of Niagara. “Simply put Prokids changes lives.” Through the foundation’s grant, more than 80 children from across Niagara who require financial assistance will be lined up with an organization providing a sports, recreation or cultural opportunity. These dollars are matched almost on a 2:1 basis by the organization providing the program.
“Leveraging our dollars with other resources in the community increases our impact,” said Liz Palmieri, the foundation’s executive director. “The money that we sent to Brock University and Niagara College for our Niagara Community Foundation bursaries will be matched by a provincial incentive program, thereby increasing financial assistance available each year to Niagara students.”
The United Way of South Niagara brokers the relationship between community agencies that deliver after-school programs in five Welland schools. “Our community’s greatest gift is ensuring its unconditional commitment to and compassion for our children,” said Peter Papp, executive director. The Niagara Community Foundation‘s $20,000 grant to our Welland Neighborhood project will make a tremendous difference to children and families.”
The foundation also gave $10,000 to the Canadian Tire Jump Start Charities program to help children participate in sports programs in Niagara. “We thank the Niagara Community Foundation for their tremendous support,” said Dan Thompson, the charity’s president. “This grant will be used throughout our Niagara chapter network and will help up to 100 children facing financial challenges to participate in a sport and recreation program of their choice in their home town.”
Since the launch in 2000, the foundation has raised more than $12 million, most of which was placed into endowment funds to be held in perpetuity. Through the generosity of many donors the foundation has provided almost $3 million in grants to community projects. The foundation supports charities providing programs and services for arts and heritage, environment, health, social services, education, recreation and community services.
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Contact: Liz Palmieri, Executive Director, Niagara Community Foundation 905-684-8688
Visit www.niagaracommunityfoundation.org for more details
