FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Oakville Community Foundation Awards $502,500 in Grants Through the Emergency Community Support Fund
June 30, 2020, Oakville, Ont. – Today the Oakville Community Foundation announced it has awarded $502,500 in grants to 18 local charities for 19 projects. The grants announced today are part of the Emergency Community Support Fund (ECSF), funded by the Government of Canada.
The following charities received full funding for their projects and their work in the Oakville community:
- Acclaim Health
Virtually Continuing Care and Support for Seniors – $11,000 - Canadian Caribbean Association of Halton
Beat the COVID-19 Blues – $45,500 - Central West Specialized Developmental Services
Virtually Together! – $38,123 - CNIB
Virtual Programming: Addressing Isolation During COVID-19 – $5,000 - Community Living Oakville
Stay Connected – $56,200 - Easter Seals Ontario
Equipment Funding Program (Oakville clients) – $11,500 - Fare Share Food Bank
Financial Support to Purchase Food for a Larger Client Base – $50,000 - Food For Life
Leading the Pack – $29,925 - Front Line Outreach
Food Supply Preparation and Summer Day Camp – $15,000 - Let’s Talk Science
The Horizon Project – $824 - Oakville Meals on Wheels
Rising to the Challenge to Meet the Need – $25,000 - Safetynet Children and Youth Charities
Expansion of Safetynet Charities Furniture Program in Response to COVID-19 – $34,000 - Salaheddin Islamic Centre Inc.
DAR Foundation Community Support – $67,600 - The Salvation Army Lighthouse Shelter
Expediting Discharge from Homelessness into Housing Stability and Community Reintegration – $34,715 - Shaarei-Beth El Synagogue Congregation of Halton
Supporting Isolated Seniors in Our Community – $21,112
Increasing Remote Technology Capacity to Deliver Programs – $2,000 - St. Jude’s Anglican Church
Connecting With the Vulnerable – $7,500 - Starlight Children’s Foundation
Play From Home Packs (Oakville clients) – $10,000 - STRIDE (Supported Training and Rehabilitation in Diverse Environments)
Hire Intake Specialist to Address Influx of Referrals – $37,500
All of these charities are working to support vulnerable populations in our community including older persons, children and youth, persons with disabilities and persons experiencing low income. For more information about each project, please see below.
The Foundation has also donated 9,550 personal protective masks to organizations in need in our community, including more than 7,500 masks to charities also receiving funds from the ECSF.
“The Foundation is proud to distribute grants to charities that are supporting vulnerable populations in our community in partnership with Community Foundations of Canada and the Government of Canada,” said Wendy Rinella, CEO of the Oakville Community Foundation. “Since the start of the State of Emergency in mid-March, The Foundation, our Fundholders and Donors, have granted more than $1.1 million to local charities on the front lines assisting those in need, including money distributed from the ECSF and The Foundation’s own Oakville Resiliency Fund.”
“The charities and projects supported by the Oakville Community Foundation grants do so much for so many people in our community,” said Pam Damoff, Member of Parliament for Oakville North-Burlington. “Our government was quick to create the Emergency Community Support Fund to ensure that charities and programs that keep our communities safe and healthy can continue to do so during the COVID-19 crisis. Thank you to all of these organizations for their hard work and for the Oakville Community Foundation for supporting their efforts.”
“Thank you to the Oakville Community Foundation and thank you to all of the organizations that continue to provide assistance to vulnerable members of our community during this trying time,” said Anita Anand, Member of Parliament for Oakville. “It is wonderful that $502,500 in grants are being awarded through the Emergency Community Support Fund to local organizations so that they can continue to support seniors, children, youth, people with disabilities, people experiencing low income and many more. I look forward to seeing the impact these organizations will make with the support of these grants.”
The ECSF is a $350 million fund that is being implemented with Community Foundations of Canada, the Canadian Red Cross, and United Way Centraide Canada, in partnership with local foundations across the country. Its goal is to provide support to charities and non-profit organizations serving vulnerable Canadians.
For a full list of grants awarded through Community Foundations of Canada’s network, visit the CFC website.
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Oakville Community Foundation
The Foundation is a registered charity with more than 25 years of experience Building Community Through Philanthropy. The Foundation has granted more than $46 million to charities since 1994 and supports investments of $110 million in charitable assets. We welcome families, businesses and residents into our community and give everyone the opportunity to be a philanthropist. The Foundation is one of the largest members of a national network of more than 190 Canadian community foundations.
For more information please contact:
Sarah McPherson – Director, Philanthropy & Communications
sarah@theocf.org | 905-844-3562 x302
More About the Projects
Acclaim Health
Virtually Continuing Care and Support for Vulnerable Seniors – $11,000
Acclaim Health has been Halton’s most trusted home care provider for over 85 years. Their primary focus is to provide support and care to vulnerable seniors and their families with a full spectrum of programs. These programs support physical and mental well-being through independent living, reduced social isolation, innovative dementia care, end of life care and bereavement support.
Acclaim Health is working to continue to support their clients through a new virtual project. This project will safely continue care for vulnerable seniors by providing nursing, bereavement, hospice and friendly visiting support virtually, therefore limiting the spread of COVID-19.
Canadian Caribbean Association of Halton
Beat the COVID-19 Blues – $45,500
The Canadian Caribbean Association of Halton is a non-profit charitable organization serving the residents of Oakville, Milton, Halton Hills, and Burlington. They are dedicated to promoting diversity and inclusion, supporting cultural development, encouraging civic engagement through volunteering, and offering arts and educational programs.
This project has two components, provided from July to September – 12 weekly, one-hour virtual interactive performances and activities by professional artists and performers in Caribbean and African music traditions, as well as 400 Caribbean meals – both for isolated seniors and front-line workers and their families in need during COVID-19.
Central West Specialized Developmental Services
Virtually Together! – $38,123
Central West Specialized Developmental Services (CWSDS) provides a wide range of residential and non-residential services for individuals and families. CWSDS will fill the need for socialization of individuals with developmental disabilities who have complex needs through virtual technology and expertise to enable virtual meetings with family and friends, presentations and activities to reduce social isolation and to encourage good mental health.
CNIB
Virtual Programming: Addressing Isolation During COVID-19 – $5,000
The CNIB Foundation is a non-profit organization driven to change what it is to be blind today. They deliver innovative programs and powerful advocacy that empower people impacted by blindness to live their dreams and tear down barriers to inclusion.
Canadians impacted by blindness rely on virtual programming to reduce increased social isolation associated with the COVID-19 pandemic and physical distancing measures. CNIB has expanded its virtual program offerings (e.g. career support, tech training, book clubs, youth groups) and resources for Canadians impacted by blindness.
Community Living Oakville
Stay Connected – $56,200
Community Living Oakville is an organization that includes individuals, families, staff & volunteers dedicated to making sure that people with developmental disabilities are able to enjoy their right to lead active and productive lives in their communities.
The Stay Connected project will connect people through virtual online platforms in order to engage, educate, unite and inspire others and in turn reduce social isolation.
Easter Seals Ontario
Equipment Funding Program (Oakville clients) – $11,500
Easter Seals Ontario provides programs and services to children and youth with physical disabilities across Ontario to help them achieve greater independence, accessibility and integration.
This project will fund in-home equipment for six Oakville children and youth with physical disabilities who are isolated and under served as a result of the COVID-19 restrictions. This will ultimately benefit 24 persons in Oakville.
Fare Share Food Bank
Financial Support to Purchase Food for a Larger Client Base – $50,000
Fare Share Food Bank is non-profit organization run entirely by volunteers, and has been helping Oakville families in need since 1987. They currently serve 400 to 450 families per month from their Oakville location.
Between March 10 and June 1, the number of households that Fare Share Food Bank provides food for has increased by 60% from 400 to 650. This funding will allow Fare Share to serve their larger client base and continue to support those in need in our community.
Food For Life
Leading the Pack – $29,925
Food for Life is the collaborative leader in sourcing, sorting and sharing fresh food in Halton Region and Hamilton. Through 107 Food for Life programs and agencies, Food For Life serves more than 18,000 people struggling with hunger each month.
The Leading the Pack project provides essential staff support for three new positions created due to COVID-19. These positions are needed for daily food bagging as they continue their pre-pack model through to March 2021.
Front Line Outreach
Food Supply Preparation and Summer Camp Day – $15,000
Front Line Outreach helps local churches and organizations connect with local subsidized housing communities for the purposes of poverty relief and community investment. Their primary objective is to address the symptoms of poverty and to invest in children and youth to enable them to break free from poverty. This project will purchase, prepare and deliver food and provide a free day camp for families who live in low income subsidized social housing.
Let’s Talk Science
The Horizon Project – $824
In a world increasingly driven by innovation, the demand for people who can fill science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) related jobs will only continue to increase but the reality is that most Canadian students disengage from STEM courses before graduating high school. Let’s Talk Science is committed to preparing Canadian youth for future careers and citizenship demands in a rapidly changing world.
The Every Horizon project will continue these goals by providing learning packs to students. These learning packs will include: hands-on STEM and literacy activities, an age-appropriate book, supplies and manipulatives. Their goal is to distribute 100 Horizon learning packs in Oakville before September 2020, with support from the local Food Bank.
Oakville Meals on Wheels
Rising to the Challenge to Meet the Need – $25,000
Oakville Meals on Wheels delivers nutritious meals to residents of Oakville who are unable to attend to their own nutritional needs, but wish to continue living independently in their community. This project will respond to the needs of the increasing number of seniors and those confined to their homes in the Oakville community who require a warm and/or frozen meal, as well as wellness checks to ensure their continued health and safety.
Safetynet Children and Youth Charities
Expansion of Safetynet Charities Furniture Program in Response to COVID-19 – $34,000
Safetynet provides programming that encourages independence and helps to break the cycle of poverty. Safetynet will support and expand their Furniture Program by hiring an additional full time employee in response to urgent need in the community. This funding will allow Safetynet to continue to support the most vulnerable members in our community.
Salaheddin Islamic Centre Inc.
DAR Foundation Community Support – $67,600
The DAR Food Bank program has been operating for about 7 years and is serving more than 80 families that are in dire need of this service. Due to the impact of COVID-19, many community members are not able to go to stores to purchase their essential supplies as they are at risk. DAR has launched the DAR Family Intake page on their website to allow members to request delivery or general help. This funding will allow DAR to continue supporting their community in a larger capacity.
The Salvation Army Lighthouse Shelter
Expediting Discharge from Homelessness into Housing Stability and Community Reintegration – $34,715
The Salvation Army Lighthouse Shelter provides safe, secure, short-term accommodations to individuals who are experiencing some type of housing crisis.
The Lighthouse Shelter will support individuals experiencing barriers to housing placement, retention and community integration by providing solutions to practical and immediate needs. Funds will be used for additional staffing and client assistance costs associated with housing and reintegration during the pandemic with the goal of getting individuals out of congregate settings and into individual units as soon as possible.
Shaarei-Beth El Synagogue Congregation of Halton
Supporting Isolated Seniors in Our Community – $21,112
Increasing Remote Technology Capacity to Deliver Programs – $2,000
Shaarei-Beth El is a Reform Jewish congregation dedicated to the teachings of Torah and the principles of Judaism serving the community of Halton. In keeping with their vision “to be the vibrant centre of Jewish life in Halton Region,” Shaarei-Beth El is looking to continue to support their congregants as well as deliver their programs in an online format. Shaarei-Beth will meet these goals through two projects:
Firstly, they will support isolated seniors in their congregation by hand delivering baskets, providing learning materials, kosher foods they cannot access locally and other items to help them feel engaged and connected. Secondly, they will increase their remote technology. Funding for this project will assist their Rabbi and Education Director to upgrade their technological capacity in order to better support their congregants and deliver their programs.
St. Jude’s Anglican Church
Connecting With the Vulnerable – $7,500
St. Jude’s Anglican Church is dedicated to serving the local community. Through their project, St. Jude’s will use teleconferencing to connect with seniors and those isolated during the pandemic, allowing those without computers or those without computer skills the opportunity to talk to someone. This project will bring peace and comfort to those in isolation and assure them that their church friends and community care about them.
Starlight Children’s Foundation
Play From Home Packs (Oakville clients) – $10,000
Starlight Children’s Foundation Canada creates priceless smiles and memories for seriously ill children and their families. For over 30 years, Starlight Canada has been spreading joy to sick kids across the country through a unique blend of hospital to home programs designed for the whole family.
During COVID-19, these children are in strict isolation due to being immunocompromised. In response, the Starlight Children’s Foundation created an emergency program called Play From Home Packs. These packages contain board games, crafts, and tons of other interactive activities for the whole family.
STRIDE (Supported Training and Rehabilitation in Diverse Environments)
Hire Intake Specialist to Address Influx of Referrals – $37,500
STRIDE is the only Halton-based organization whose primary purpose is to serve the employment needs of individuals facing mental health and addiction issues. Due to COVID-19, individuals are struggling with severe mental health challenges; and as a result STRIDE anticipates they will be faced with a huge increase in referrals in the next year, and will hire an intake specialist to help with the influx of these referrals.
