A record amount of funding is to be distributed among 17 non-profit and charitable collaborations in the Capital Region, thanks to the Victoria Foundation’s Community Grants Program.
Shared via the organization’s Collaboration Stream, $721,318 will help organizations work together to address solutions to the complex challenges facing the region.
Among the 17 organizations chosen to receive funding are Alliance to End Homelessness in the Capital Region, Gorge Waterway Action Society, Mental Health Recovery Partners Society South Vancouver Island and Soap for Hope Canada.
Flourish! School Food Society will use their grant of $15,000 to help the organizations working at the Mustard Seed's Food Security Distribution Centre in Esquimalt to "strategically align their efforts and activities,” said Matthew Kemshaw, executive director.
As well as distributing donated grocery store supplies to around 75 Greater Victoria social service agencies, the Esquimalt-based distribution centre partners with Flourish! School Food Society to deliver meals to schools in the district.
“We hope this will lead to an increased capacity to process and distribute food to support school and community food programs,” he added.
Sport for Life says their grant of $42,000 will provide newcomers to Greater Victoria with opportunities to engage in sports and other physical activities while connecting with others in their new community.
“By connecting Victoria’s leaders, this grant helps foster inclusion, community building and safety and opportunities for employment and well-being,” said Kabir Hosein, director of strategic initiatives for Sport for Life. “The collaboration will help break down barriers to participation and create a supportive environment for newcomers to stay active.”
This year, a record 39 applications were submitted for a total request of $2.4 million, according to a release from the Victoria Foundation. Twenty-five of the submissions were from first-time applicants.
“The record amount of funding requested from the community underscores the increasing need for support in the sector,” said Sandra Richardson, Victoria Foundation CEO. “It also conveys the ambition and eagerness of local organizations to put their minds and resources together to create lasting change. The community knows that great things can happen when we work together.”
For a full list of successful applicants to the Collaboration Grant stream, visit the website: https://victoriafoundation.bc.ca/cgp-collaboration-stream-distribution-2024/.