Two dozen Vancouver Island youth programs received a big boost from Coast Capital Savings last week to help improve financial literacy, spur on entrepreneurs and get more young people volunteering in the community.
The Coast Capital Savings Youth Leaders Community Council is granting more than $257,000 to 24 organizations on the Island that are impacting youth for the better.
"The council for youth, by youth," said Victoria resident Ivan Watson, who chairs the Island council. "Anti-bullying is a priority area we've funded, as well as financial literacy and other areas where we can make an impact."
The community council began in Victoria last year and has since spread to Vancouver and Surrey. The innovative model allows a team of eight young professionals under 30 to evaluate grant applications from organizations in their own community, said Wendy Lachance, Coast Capital’s director of community leadership.
"We're extremely proud of the way these young leaders have come together, and the discipline they've really put together to follow the evaluation criteria we've put in front of them," she said.
Local organizations that received funding for youth programs include the Greater Victoria Volunteer Society, KidSport, Power to Be, Community Micro Lending and the Victoria READ Society.
Coast Capital has granted about $773,000 to non-profit organizations in B.C. so far in 2013.
In August, the financial institution will begin considering community investment grant applications for the fourth quarter of 2013. The deadline to submit an application is Aug. 23. For details, visit bit.ly/R6LK5.
dpalmer@vicnews.com