After an incredibly challenging year, charities and good causes across Niagara will have a little help to continue to provide essential and necessary services to Niagara, thanks to the first series of the 2021 grants from the Niagara Community Foundation.
The Foundation is awarding a total of $222,525 through the following grants this spring:
- Twenty-six Community Grants, totaling $199,500;
- Including four grants from the Niagara Casinos Endowment Fund totaling $36,900 providing food supports;
- Thirteen summer camp grants, totaling $19,275 supporting 232 kids in financial need; and
- Five mini grants, totaling $3,750.
“As an organization, we are aware that the need in our community and in the charitable sector is still great and we are doing our part to answer this need with funds from these grants,” says Bryan Rose, the Foundation’s Executive Director. “We continue to be grateful for the generosity of our fund holders and donors who make it possible for us to support the extremely important work being done by our charity partners. They continue to serve the members of our community needing a helping hand during these tumultuous times.”
This wave of grants includes a number of projects relating to COVID-19 adaptation and recovery. Whether it is expanding food rooms to allow for social distancing (Community Care West Niagara) or increasing the number of front-line staff to address the growing concerns of children’s mental health (Pathstone), the primary focus of these grants has been helping charities in Niagara adapt to the new realities resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Niagara Community Foundation will be awarding its second round of grants this fall, including the fall Mini Grants and David S. Howes Grants. It is also participating as the secretariat for the second round of the federal Canada Healthy Community Initiatives funding. Second-round applications are due June 25th and can be found at https://communityfoundations.ca/initiatives/chci/
Created in 2000, the Niagara Community Foundation has raised nearly $65 million and has granted in excess of $18 million to charities working in the arts, heritage, environment, social services, health, education and community development sectors.
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