Community organizations in Waterloo Region, and Wellington and Dufferin Counties will benefit from grants recently ratified by the Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF).
Ontario Minister of Culture Aileen Carroll said many of the 31 grants, totalling $1,690,700, will help organizations enhance community spaces. Funding will improve accessibility and comfort, increase energy efficiency or be used for innovative technology.
“The Ontario Trillium Foundation is one of the few funders of capital improvements for Ontario’s not-for-profit sector,” said Donald Bourgeois, grant review team chairman. “We have listened to community groups when they have told us how much they value our capital grants, and we continue to recognize the importance of these grants.”
In addition to community grants, Carroll announced that the OTF Board approved more than $6.7 million in province-Wide funding, providing 38 grants to umbrella organizations.
Community grants
There were a number of grants for Wellington County communities.
The Township of Guelph-Eramosa will get $75,000 over a year to purchase and install a splash pad and other equipment in Rockmosa Park.
The Brain Injury Association of Waterloo-Wellington gets $72,000 over 18 months for staff, consultants and administration to strengthen the organization’s ability to respond to a significant growth in demand for services.
Community Living Guelph Wellington will get $40,400 for indoor Sports equipment in order to offer accessible and affordable physical activities to persons with intellectual disabilities. Affordable rentals will also be made available to other community organizations.
The Elora Rocks Lawn Bowling Club will receive $12,800 to purchase new equipment that will ensure the safety of volunteers and better maintenance of the club.
First Light Theatre and the John Howard Society anti-bullying initiative in the care of First Light Theatre gets $11,800 for staff and administration to produce an educational play on bullying, performed by students in Guelph and Wellington County. A classroom activity manual for teachers and debriefing sessions for students will also be included.
Guelph Neighbourhood Support Coalition, through the Family and Children’s Services of Guelph and Wellington County gets $14,900 to buy office and technology equipment to be shared among five neighbourhood volunteer associations.
The Guelph Rowing Club got $91,500 over three years for an administrator and coach and computer equipment to help build the organization’s sustainability.
John Howard Society of Waterloo-Wellington receives $62,000 for an elevating lift, entrance improvements, and an accessible washroom in a newly acquired facility in Cambridge.
This will enable youth and adults of all abilities to gain access to the organization’s programs and services.
Opening Doors, through the United Way Community Services of Guelph and Wellington, gets $115,000 over two years for outreach workers and a service planner to support a drop-in centre in Guelph and Wellington County.
The Orangeville Hawks Basketball Club, through the Ontario Basketball Association gets $14,000 to purchase shot clocks in order for a basketball club in Orangeville, Centre Wellington, and Guelph to meet the new International Basketball Federation (FIBA) regulations and maintain the sport of basketball for children and youth.
The Palmerston Lions Club will receive $75,000 over one year to build a splash pad with water and sprinkler play equipment as part of a seven-year redevelopment project of the Palmerston Lions Heritage Park.
The Shelburne District Agricultural Society receives $12,200 to help purchase a mobile centre to launch Farmapalooza. That interactive agri-cation program will provide 1,000 children annually with education on agricultural practices in Shelburne, Grand Valley, Orangeville and Dundalk.
The Township of Wellington North gets $6,600 to purchase new tables and chairs for the Damascus community centre.
Trees for Mapleton Steering Committee c/o Kinsmen Club of Drayton $149,900 over three years to involve rural landowners in strategic tree-planting on their properties.
The Ontario Trillium Foundation is an agency of the Government of Ontario. Ontario’s 2008 spring budget boosted the Foundation’s annual funding to $110 million from $105 million, which will be further increased to $120 million by 2009-2010. To learn more about OTF programs, visit www.trilliumfoundation.org.
