Community Foundation Grey Bruce hands out more than $215,000 in grants at Kincardine event

By: Liz Dadson November 3, 2015 1787

Community Foundation Grey Bruce hands out more than $215,000 in grants at Kincardine event

The Community Foundation Grey Bruce distributed grants totalling more than $215,000 at its Fall Grant Presentation and Annual Dinner held at the Best Western Plus in Kincardine.

But that wasn't the highlight of the evening. The headlining act was a magnificent performance by the Lighthouse Players which includes supported individuals, staff and volunteers with Community Living of Kincardine and District, one of the recipients of a foundation grant.

Through narration, props and a great stage presence, the Lighthouse Players told the true story of Ian Campbell who moved to Kincardine because he fell in love with the Kincardine Scottish Pipe Band, and to this day, he continues to support and follow the band at every Saturday night parade in the summer.

Congratulations to director Elaine Slade and her company for a job well done.

Aly Boltman, executive director of the foundation, said this past year saw the Municipality of Kincardine come onboard with a Kincardine Community Fund, seeded with $5,000 from the municipality.

Kincardine councillor Andrew White, chairman of the fund committee, said the group met in July and discussed the benefits for the entire community.

"This fund is a perpetual source of income for local groups and organizations," he said, "rather than depending on the municipality for grant money. The goal is to have $100,000 in the fund by the end of 2016, with enough revenue generated to support grants for community projects, programs and charities. Now, we must educate the financial institutions and the community about the benefits for donors and sponsors of the fund."

Jim Grant of the Saugeen Cottagers's Association Inc. announced a new education endowment fund of nearly $100,000 to support Saugeen First Nation students' efforts to obtain their GEDs (high school equivalency), opening the doors to increased employment opportunities and greater community stability.

Saugeen First Nation councillor Lester Anoquot spoke on behalf of band chief Vern Roote, expressing gratitude for the assistance and praising the growing relationships amongst the association, the foundation and the band, as a result of this development.

Lana Splettstoesser of the Kinetic Knights Robotics Team 781, thanked the foundation for the $5,000 capital grant received to support the expansion of the team's youth mentorship programming.

Miranda Miller of HER Grey Bruce spoke about the group's Get To Know Family Responsibility Office (FRO) project which created an educational resource for parents who receive child support. The group is also working to better understand the needs of disadvantaged families who rely on child support to meet their basic needs.

St. John Ambulance, The Women's Centre, Community Living of Kincardine and District and other organizations also discussed their funded projects.

In total, more than $215,000 in grants was awarded to 42 different community non-profit organizations to support projects, programs and capital expenditures. All grants support the charitable sector's vast and varied efforts to improve quality of life in Grey-Bruce communities.

The recipients are as follows:

Kinetic Knights Robotics Team 781 - $5,000 for outreach program with First Lego League teams
Community Living of Kincardine and District - $3,000 for expressive arts program
Women's House Serving Bruce and Grey - $2,753 for transition and second-stage housing
The Meeting Place Tobermory - $7,500 to build multi-use outdoor space for leisure and active recreation
Bruce Peninsula Bird Observatory - $14,000 for capital infrastructure repairs to Cabot Head Research Station site
Georgian Shores United Church - $17,350 for covered outdoor ramp
Home and Community Support Services of Grey-Bruce - $10,000 for enhanced entrance to Hanover Day Away program
Habitat for Humanity Grey Bruce - $9,000 for habitat trailer
Owen Sound and North Grey Union Public Library - $7,500 for ideas lab - creation stations
Flesherton and Community Food Bank - $10,650 to renovate the facility
Maadookii Seniors Group - $7,000 for renovations
The Women's Centre (Grey and Bruce) - $12,000 for acquisitions to improve stay of children and youth at the shelter
United Way of Bruce Grey - $25,000 for emergency funds for homelessness and the heat and hydro program
United Way of Bruce Grey - $5,000 for Alpha Street Sharing Equipment Together playground
United Way of Bruce Grey - $2,500 for Starting Off Strong program
United Way of Bruce Grey - $1,500 for Rock 'n' Writing program
Autism Ontario Grey Bruce - $3,000 for ASD playspace accommodations
Big Brothers of Owen Sound - $3,675 for a strategic plan, fund-raising, marketing and communication
Bruce Peninsula Family Centre - $5,000 for a secure physical space for children
Canadian Mental Health Association Grey Bruce - WES for Youth On-line - $3,000 for the WES Mobile moving billboard
Durham Art Gallery - $4,620 for upgrades
Easter Seals Ontario - $5,000 to send a kid to camp
Federated Women's Institutes of Ontario - $4,000 for a Rural Women's Health Support Initiative
Owen Sound Festival of Northern Lights - $3,000 for opening night ceremonies
Friends of the Dundalk Library - $4,900 for special programming
Georgian Bay Secondary School - $3,542 for backpacks for learning
Georgian Bay Symphony - $3,500 for music lessons for youth
Heart and Stroke Grey Bruce - $1,000 for bussing to a skipping demonstration
Owen Sound Crisis Pregnancy Centre - $750 for a strategic plan
Owen Sound Roselawn Bowling Club - $1,000 for marketing
Parent Advisory Committee for Autismgreybruceroadmap.ca - $2,500 to expand resources
PRANCE - $1,200 for Helmets on Our Heads
Safe 'n Sound Residence - $4,740 to upgrade fire alarms and emergency lighting
Safe 'n Sound Residence - $1,200 for training
St. John Ambulance, Grey Bruce Huron branch - $3,000 to recruit medical first response volunteers, especially youth
Shallow Lake Skating Club - $2,937 to help cover the cost of ice rental
The Marsh Street Community Centre - $5,000 to engage youth in the arts
The Women's Centre (Grey and Bruce) - $3,000 for transportation
Walkerton Lawn Bowling Club - $2,500 for siding
Youth Roots of Hanover and surrounding area - $5,000 for youth summit

Prior to the evening’s festivities, Kim West, chairperson of the foundation’s board of directors, these grant presentation events showcase the creativity in our community in addressing local need, and give vital opportunities for donors to see their generosity transformed into tangible action.

"There is nothing more rewarding than seeing the result of community philanthropy at work and getting to share in the celebration of our achievements with people from every corner of Grey Bruce and the First Nations Territories," she said.

Besides the grants, Boltman spoke of the first annual Random Act of Kindness Day, slated for Friday, Nov. 6, in Walkerton and Owen Sound. This is a day to celebrate acts of kindness in our community, with the collective goal of "paying it forward" to foster a sense of belonging and well-being throughout Grey Bruce.

Communities other than Owen Sound and Walkerton are welcome to participate. To increase awareness of the day, Kincardine has included posts to Kincardine Community Fund and Tourism social media (Facebook, Twitter) and posters are being placed at the municipal administrative centre, Davidson Centre, Fire Hall and Underwood office.

Below, is a link to the foundation's website. For those non-spontaneous types, the website provides 101 ideas for a Random Act of Kindness: http://www.communityfoundationgreybruce.com/news_item.php?NewsID=153

Community Foundation Grey Bruce is a public charitable organization founded in 1994, with a mandate to strengthen Grey and Bruce communities through endowment building, grant making and community partnerships.