The Community Foundation for Kingston and Area got out its chequebook again this week and awarded a total of $150,445 in grants to 15 local charities and organizations.
The money is expected to help and support 3,677 people, the foundation said in a news release.
Topping the list of grant recipients was Kingston Employment and Youth Services Inc. (KEYS), which received a total of $37,809 for two projects: the Government-Assisted Refugee Volunteer Initiative (GARVI), which received $21,904, and the Begin Again Group Initiative, with $15,905.
The GARVI pilot project will help government-assisted refugees to become active volunteers with the Kingston community, a news release said. The project will harness the experience and goodwill of recently arrived refugees to provide orientation and settlement support for the newly arriving refugees. The project will also help government-assisted refugees find suitable and supportive volunteer placements with local community organizations to contribute to their new community, build job skills and expand their social networks.
The Begin Again Group Initiative (BAG) supports local refugee women to build community and develop financial independence.
KEYS is supporting a group of eight local refugee women who have joined together to develop a micro-enterprise designing and fabricating unique handmade bags made from recycled rubber inner tubes.
With the support of KEYS Job Centre and Bon Eco design, the BAG collective will develop skills and relationships to run a successful business in Canada.
The grants were awarded at an event held at the Spire at Sydenham Street United Church on Monday afternoon and was attended by more than 80 grant recipients, donors, volunteers, and community members.
The Foundation has two community grants rounds per year, to which all local charities can apply. In May, 19 organizations shared more than $150,000.
Tina Bailey, the foundation’s executive director, called the event another great funding round.
“What I love about this is there’s lots of diverse subjects funded,” she said in a telephone interview on Wednesday. “Big and small [groups] in all areas of need.”
Bailey said the grant processed served every geographical area the foundation served.
“We actually funded projects in all three Frontenac [townships], which was great for us,” she said.
Bailey said even a small grant can have an impact and go a long way for an organization.
“It’s not always the full dollar value; it’s what that dollar value will allow them to do,” she said.
Any registered charitable group in the area is welcome to apply for a grant, Bailey said, and the next deadline to apply is Feb. 15, 2018. Information on how to apply and details on the foundation’s community grants program and the projects it has funded can be found on its website at www.cfka.org.
The foundation manages $20 million in assets and has distributed almost $11 million to a wide variety of charities since 1995.
Other organizations to receive funding were:
H’art Centre, The Box: Residency: $7,500 for two emerging inclusive art practitioners (with or without disability) with the time, space, and resources to pursue an inclusive art project in The Box while mentoring up to 30 adults with intellectual disabilities during weekly art workshops.
Agnes Etherington Art Centre (Queen’s), Listening to our Communities: Story-telling through the Arts: $8,550
Music Mates, Skills ‘n Music for Helen Tufts Nursery School: $3,663. MusicMates is creating a customized music-based skill development program for children aged four and under.
Kingston Community House for Self Reliance at 99 York St. window replacement: $5,666
Queen’s University Biological Station, Winter Ecology at Elbow Lake: $13,104. The Winter Ecology program at Elbow Lake Environmental Education Centre will provide the opportunity for youth to actively learn and research about winter.
Kingston Literacy and Skills, Helping Parents, Helping Children: $7,006 for a workshop series offered by Kingston Literacy and Skills to provide parents with practical learning and teaching techniques and information about community and digital resources.
Southern Frontenac Community Services Corporation (SFCSC), 10-quart bench mixer for commercial kitchen: $3,658
Resolve Counselling Services Canada, Individual and Family Counselling Walk-In Clinic and Workshop Series: $18,517
Bereaved Families of Ontario-Kingston Region, Helping Young Adults/Post-Secondary Students through the Grieving Process: $10,538. The program will support a grief support group at St. Lawrence College and at the local Bereaved Families of Ontario office.
Township of Central Frontenac, Business Plan for the Hinchinbrooke Community and Recreation Centre: $2,597 to assess the feasibility of saving and retrofitting the former Hinchinbrooke school to formulate to a multistage plan for a vibrant community recreation and cultural centre for the Township of Central Frontenac.
Seniors Association Kingston Region, Here We Grow with Rideau Heights: $11,012 for the Seniors Association’s new location at the Rideau Heights Community Centre.
Winter Warmth (Program), Winter Warmth: December 2017 to November 2018: $12,000 for providing clothing and footwear to Kingston and area children in need. Needs are identified through the schools by youth workers and social workers. In 2016, the program filled requests for 634 children.
Northern Frontenac Community. Services Corp operating as Rural Frontenac Community Services, Let’s Get Drumming!: $8,825 for a percussion program that features children and youth using bucket drums to create sounds, rhythm and songs. This project addresses the need for free, fun musical activities in North, Central and South Frontenac townships.
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