Eighteen grants totaling $162,539.24 awarded to local charities. 

On May 23, the Community Foundation hosted our 2019 Spring Grants Celebration. The event brought together donors, volunteers, and community members to recognize the efforts and achievements of this round’s grant recipients.

During the celebration, the Foundation granted $162,539.24 to 18 local charities. This funding will enable the charities to undertake innovative projects that have a direct impact on our community.

Not only will 6,541 people be impacted by these grants, with thousands of others benefitting indirectly, but the broad range of recipients will ensure that this outreach is widespread throughout all fields of interest.

“We are thrilled to be supporting organizations that will be making a tangible difference in the quality of life for our community” says Julie Burch. “We are able to provide grants to all of our fields of interest this round, truly making the Foundation a 360-degree grant maker!”

These fields of interest include: Arts & Culture, Children’s Mental Health, Community Development, Education & Literacy, Environment, Health & Social Services, Heritage Preservation, Recreation, and Youth.

“A common theme we saw in the spring applications were projects that aim to create a sense of belonging in our community,” says Tina Bailey, Executive Director of CFKA. “We are pleased to help so many of these projects provide opportunities for engagement, inclusion and participation, in order to reduce social isolation and promote communal change.”

The Foundation has two community grants rounds per year, to which all local charities can apply. The next application deadline is September 15, 2019.

To learn more about the Community Grants program and how to apply, visit https://www.cfka.org/community-grants-program/.

 

Projects funded this granting round include:

Arts & Culture:

The Kingston Prize Association

Faces of Canada – $5,105.32

From the McArthur Connidis Arts Fund, The Audrey and Peter Scholes Memorial Fund, Robert & Judith Mackenzie Fund

The Faces of Canada Program, a project of the Kingston Prize is a unique educational opportunity for local youth and seniors. The Kingston Prize is a Canada-wide portrait competition and exhibition for contemporary artists embracing the Canadian identity and culture. Thanks to the CFKA grant, this program will give participants an opportunity to discover their own artistic ability and engage in a national event, within their own community, one face at a time.

H’art Centre of Smiles Inc

The Love of Dance – $9,000.00

From the Edward Ratcliffe Fund

From August to December 2019, H’art Centre will engage a Lead Choreographer to audition, supervise and guide six new local dance choreographers who will collaborate with 60 adult dancers with disabilities to create six original dance works for a production to be staged at Isabel Bader Human Rights Arts Festival in April 2020.

Corporation of Loyalist Township

Summer Arts, Culture & Heritage Series – $3,000.00

From the Loyalist Parkway Fund, Edward Ratcliffe Fund

Loyalist Township in partnership with many community organizations and individuals is excited to launch the Summer Arts, Culture and Heritage Series. With the distribution of enhanced promotional materials and the engagement within the community, new and unique arts, cultural and heritage opportunities will be offered throughout the summer months.

 

Children’s Mental Health:

Helen Tufts Nursery School

Multi-sensory Corner – $6,330.68

From the Sunnyside Children’s Fund

With a generous grant from CFKA Helen Tuft’s Nursery School will purchase furnishings and equipment to create an inviting Multi-sensory Corner in their new classroom at the Kingston Boys and Girls Club (downtown). The Multi-sensory comer is inspired by “Snoezelen Rooms”, which provide calming sensory experiences through lighting, colours, tactile materials and music.

Islamic Society of Kingston

Building Resilience in Syrian Refugee Families-Focus on Refugee Youth and Family Mental Health – $18,000

From the Sunnyside Children’s Fund, The Audrey and Peter Scholes Memorial Fund

The Islamic Society of Kingston and Kingston Health Science Centre will implement a series workshops for refugee youth and their families on the resettlement stress and mental health issues they may have. We also aim to facilitate the youth to successfully integrate into the Canadian school system.

 

Education & Literacy:

Queens University Biological Station, Elbow Lake Education Centre

Navigating the Landscape at Elbow Lake – $9,000.00

From the Marion and John Dunn Fund, Environmental Legacy Fund, Douglas Branton Fell Memorial Fund, Marion Meyer Opportunity Fund, Kingston Whig-Standard Literacy Endowment Fund, The Community Fund

The “Navigating the Landscape” program at Elbow Lake Environmental Education Centre will provide the opportunity for youth to actively experience their local environment while learning how to use GPS technology. Using the requested equipment and bus subsidy, youth and new Canadians will access and explore the environment around them. This will inspire local youth to feel connected with the environment around them and be empowered to become environmental stewards.

Lake Effects Robotics

Lake Effect S.T.O.R.M. – $14,870.00

From the Elisabeth Heney Fund for Literacy, Kingston Youth Science and Technology Fund, David Middleton North End Development Fund, Wilson Family Fund, Robert W. Clark Endowment Fund, The Community Fund

Project Lake Effect S.T.O.R.M. is a partnership between local high school members of robotics team 2708 and grade 7 & 8 students who will be attending the new Kingston secondary school. The of aim of project is to increase student engagement and develop positive peer relationships with secondary students that possess a growth mindset towards learning. This will be achieved through the planned involvement of problem-based learning with Robotics and STEM activities.

 

Heritage Preservation:

Clarendon & Miller Community Archives

Unravelling History-One Tombstone at a Time – $6,650.00

From the Robert W. Clark Endowment Fund, Chown Fund, The Smart & Caring Community Fund

“Unravelling History- One Tombstone at a Time” is Clarendon & Miller Community Archives’ creation of a worldwide searchable on-line database providing historical reference and research of the local cemeteries in North Frontenac, with images to link families with their ancestors and village settlements via a website.

 

Environment:

Cycle Kingston

Special Event Bicycle Parking Social Enterprise – $5,075.30

From the Ruth and Stu Barton Environmental Fund, Opportunities Kingston Fund, Smart & Caring Community Fund

Cycle Kingston will launch a safe, secure valet bicycle parking social enterprise staffed by youth seeking job experience. The service will be available for hire by special event and festival organizers as a value-add to their event, to make their event more bicycle-friendly.

Wintergreen Studios

Project Bee – $3,283.00

From the McArthur Connidis Arts Fund, Ruth and Stu Barton Community Fund

Project Bee is a local program with national and international potential. By establishing an apiary at Wintergreen, coupled with year-round workshops, we will educate the general public about maintaining healthy bee populations. Project Bee will also enable local schools to join the Bee City Canada school network. Students will have an opportunity to exchange knowledge with beekeepers in Saudi Arabia through a school in Riyadh, addressing a global challenge through local actions.

 

Recreation:

YMCA of Kingston

Eco Camp – $11,000.00

From the Ontario Endowment for Children and Youth in Recreation Fund, Larry Gibson Community Fund

Through the YMCA- ECO CAMP, local children will discover what previous generations took for granted:

that outdoor exploration and play is critical to overall wellbeing and happiness. With generous funding from the Community Foundation of Kingston and Area, 175 children aged 6-12 will defy the trends of modern life and establish an active, healthy connection to our natural world.

 

Community Development:

Kingston Community Health Centre- Kingston Immigration Partnership (KIP)

#SayHello Extension – $10,500

From Aaron and Norma Palmer Endowment Fund, The Community Fund

Kingston Immigration Partnership’s #SayHello campaign aims to reduce racism, discrimination and exclusion in Kingston. The second phase of the campaign will include the production of videos and promotional material to invite residents to learn and reflect on what they can do to make our city a place where everyone feels welcome, accepted, included and valued. KIP, in partnership with other organizations, will deliver a retreat for local high school students who will then become inclusion advocates in their school.

 

Health & Social Services:

Ongwanada

Accessible Community Garden – $14,000

From the Marion and John Dunn Fund, Helping Hands for those with Disabilities Fund, Russell and Susan Park Memorial Fund, Smart & Caring Community Fund, Sandiford Family Fund

The Ongwanada Community Garden will be renovated to reduce barriers improve accessibility and create new opportunities for meaningful participation. The garden will have multiple raised garden beds (for front and side access), vertical gardens, large scale sensory elements and accessible seating (with and without shade). The garden is will be an inclusive space, welcoming new and experienced gardeners alike.

Breast Cancer Action Kingston

Lymphedema Management for Breast Cancer Survivors – $14,770.00

From The Tragically Hip Community Fund, Smart & Caring Community Fund

Breast cancer survivors very often develop lymphedema, a condition which may lead to life threatening infections or cancer. The funds will help sufferers manage their condition with special compression garments, massage, special exercises and swimming, and make them able to maintain function of their arms and hands. This will substantially enhance the quality of life of lymphedema sufferers and their families.

South Frontenac Community Services Corporation

Home Making Services for Rural Seniors – $10,041.20

From Theda Anderson Fund, Richard Moorehouse Fund, Seniors Community Grant Fund, Jim and Julie Parker Fund, The Community Fund

Southern Frontenac Community Services will be able to provide Home Making services to more physically and financially vulnerable seniors, allowing them to remain living at home safely.

Rural Frontenac Community Services

Share the Ride So No One Gets Left Behind – $5,500.00

From the Anonymous #2 Endowment Fund, Ruth and Stu Barton Community Fund, Ellen Shepherd Community Fund

Rural transportation has been an issue for decades in Frontenac County. With this ride share program we can connect more residents to social events, medical appointments and shopping so more people can participate fully in the community. Without this service, some residents will continue to be isolated, food insecure and lonely, especially low-income individuals and families. 

R.K.Y Camp

Commercial Kitchen Equipment – $8,946.06

From the Bill and Gladys Kelly Community Fund, Ontario Endowment for Children and Youth in Recreation Fund, Larry Gibson Community Fund

It is said that a kid’s camp marches on its stomach. Purchased in 1984, the current flat top grill and oven have reached the end of their service life. Providing 600 nutritious and delicious meals to active RKY campers each and every day is highly dependent upon commercial grade cooking equipment. The new 36” flat-top griddle with an oven and holding cabinet will enable the camp to continue to hire knowledgeable cooking staff dedicated to cooking healthy meals for youth and kids.

 

Youth:

Camp Outlook

Youth Leadership Program – $7,467.68

From the Ontario Endowment for Children and Youth in Recreation Fund, Cameron & Laurie Thompson Fund

Camp Outlook offers young people a chance to develop their inner strength, self-worth and capacity to succeed. Since 1970, Camp Outlook has provided back-country canoe tips at no cost to youth from the Kingston Area. We are excited to be offering a growing program this year, to build leadership skills and community engagement with youth from the Kingston area, on a nine-day canoe trip in Algonquin Provincial Park.