“Strengthening our Community one grant at a time”

The Community Foundation was pleased to award 15 Community Grants totaling $150,445 to local charities at our December 11 Grants Celebration. Congratulations to the 14 organizations who received grants which will enable them to undertake some great projects in our community.

Long-time Foundation volunteer and donor, Gini Rosen, put it well when she commented that “the role of the Foundation is to amplify the efforts of community groups”. With these grants expected to benefit 3,677 people, we are very proud that our grants are helping organizations reach so many! This includes refugees, children, seniors, artists, those facing barriers, those experiencing a loss – and many others.

A full list of the projects funded is below and you can see video highlights here.

In addition to Community Grants, two other grants were also announced – the Nan Yeomans Award for Artistic Development and the Regina Rosen Food First Fund. These are two other great ways we have a positive impact on Kingston and area.

The grants were awarded at an event held at The Spire at Sydenham Street United Church attended by over 80 grant recipients, donors, volunteers, and community members. The event itself provided a chance for networking, increasing community development opportunities, and showcased a new fully accessible space in our community.

To date, the Foundation has funded 339 unique local organizations and invested over $2Million in local charities through our Community Grants Program.

Now that’s some serious amplification! To learn more about our Community Grants join us at the upcoming information session on January 11, 2018.

Projects funded include:

H’art Centre, The Box: Residency: $7,500
From the Helping Hands for those with Disabilities Fund, the McNevin Family Fund, the Frank & Sarah Good Memorial Fund and the Ruth & Stu Barton Community Fund

H’art Centre will provide two emerging inclusive art practitioners (with or without disability) with the time, space, and resources to pursue an inclusive art project in THE BOX while mentoring up to 30 adults with intellectual disabilities during weekly art workshops.  The result will be a public showing of their collaborative mixed-ability work at a major event highlighting H’art Centre’s 20^th Anniversary Celebration April 19-20, 2018 at the Isabel Bader Theatre Isabel Human Rights Arts Festival.

Agnes Etherington Art Centre (Queen’s), Listening to our Communities: Story-telling through the Arts: $8,550
From the Jim & Julie Parker Fund, The Regina Rosen Fund, The Edward Ratcliffe Fund and the Larry Gibson Community Fund

This project partnership between the Agnes Etherington Art Centre and Four Directions Aboriginal Student Centre focuses on the transcendent power of storytelling to bridge communities through public events and arts-based courses for Indigenous youth.  The project invites a local response from Katarokwi/Kingston communities to Kent Monkman’s nationally touring exhibition, “Shame and Prejudice: A Story of Resilience”.

Music Mates, Skills ‘n Music for Helen Tufts Nursery School: $3,663
From the Getting Started Fund and the Sunnyside Children’s Fund

In partnership with the Community Foundation of Kingston & Area and Helen Tuft Nursery School (HTNS), MusicMates is pleased to create a customized music-based skill development program for children aged 4 and under.  Features of the program include social skill development, cooperation, movement to music and much more!  Programming will be delivered to the children of HTNS by MusicMates musicians and staff twice a month.

Kingston Community House for Self Reliance (KCHSR), Community House Window Replacement: $5,666
From the Ruth & Stu Barton Community Fund and the Community Fund

Kingston Community House at 99 York Street.  Things have warmed up at 99 York Street!  The Kingston Community House at 99 York Street is replacing three windows thanks to a grant from the Community Foundation of Kingston & Area. This much needed renovation will allow us to continue to offer warm, comfortable meeting space to our members.

Kingston Employment & Youth Services Inc. (KEYS), Government-Assisted Refugee Volunteer Initiative (GARVI): $21,904
From the Bill & Nancy Gray Fund, The Skolnik Family Fund, The Larry Gibson Community Fund, the Smart & Caring Fund and the Community Fund

The GARVI pilot project will help government-assisted refugees (GARs) to become active volunteers with the Kingston community.  The project will harness the experience and goodwill of recently-arrived GARs to provide orientation and settlement support for newly-arriving GARs.  The project will also help GARs find suitable and supportive volunteer placements with local community organizations – to contribute to their new community, build job skills and expand their social networks.

Kingston Employment & Youth Services Inc. (KEYS), Begin Again Group (BAG) Initiative: $15,905
From the Opportunities Kingston Fund, the Tragically Hip Community Fund, the Ronald & Mildred Grant Family Fund and the Community Fund

The Begin Again Group (BAG) initiative supports local refugee women to build community and develop financial independence.  A group of 8 local refugee women have come together to develop a micro-enterprise designing and fabricating unique hand-made bags made from recycled rubber inner tubes!  With the support of KEYS Job Centre and Bon Eco design, the BAG collective will develop skills and relationships to run a successful business in Canada.

Queen’s University Biological Station, Winter Ecology at Elbow Lake: $13,104
From the Marion & John Dunn Fund, the Environmental Legacy Fund and the Ontario Endowment for Children & Youth in Recreation

The Winter Ecology program at Elbow Lake Environmental Education Centre will provide the opportunity for youth to actively learn and research about winter.  Using the requested equipment and bus subsidy, youth and new Canadians will access and study winter ecology first hand.  They will learn what is happening above and below the snow and ice.  This will inspire local youth to feel connected with the environment around them and be empowered to become environmental stewards.

Kingston Literacy & Skills, Helping Parents, Helping Children: $7,006
From the Kingston Whig Standard Literacy Fund, the Elizabeth Heney Fund for Literacy and the Larry Gibson Community Fund

Helping your child with their homework can be a very stressful experience.  Unfortunately, many parents also lack the skills and confidence needed to do this.  Helping Parents, Helping Children (HPHC) is a workshop series offered by Kingston Literacy & Skills to provide parents with practical learning and teaching techniques and information about community and digital resources.  All our community benefits when children succeed in school.

Southern Frontenac Community Services Corporation (SFCSC), 10-quart bench mixer for commercial kitchen: $3,658
From the Assante Financial Management Fenlon Division Fund

SFCSC will purchase a professional 10-quart mixer for its commercial kitchen, which will improve efficiency and safety for staff and volunteers who produce 150 meals weekly for seniors in our rural community.  The improved equipment will allow us to consider expanding our Hot Meals on Wheels program, broaden our meal variety with new recipes for Adult Day Program clients, and reduce physical strain on seniors who volunteer in our kitchen.

Resolve Counselling Services Canada, Individual and Family Counselling Walk-In Clinic and Workshop Series:  $18,517
From the Alcan Endowment Fund, the Anne & Bill Patterson Community Fund and the Community Fund

Through the generous financial support of CFKA, Resolve Counselling Services Canada is pleased to offer residents of KFL&A single session walk-in counselling clinics and group workshops.  Funding for the walk-in clinic lifts the financial barrier that individuals who seek counselling often experience and eliminates wait-lists that can be counterproductive to a client’s wellness needs.

Bereaved Families of Ontario – Kingston Region, Helping Young Adults/Post-Secondary Students through the Grieving Process: $10,538
From the Sunnyside Children`s Fund, an anonymous fund and the Community Fund

Bereaved Families of Ontario (BFO) – Kingston Region will be developing and implementing bereavement services geared specifically to young adults aged 16-29 in the Kingston Region and at local post-secondary institutions.  This program will support a grief support group at St. Lawrence College and at BFO.  We strive to provide support for young adults who have suffered the loss of a loved one and help them learn to live with grief.

Township of Central Frontenac, Business Plan for the Hinchinbrooke Community and Recreation Centre: $2,597
From the Michael Potter Memorial Fund and the Ruth & Stu Barton Community Fund

Thanks to a grant from the Community Foundation for Kingston & Area received last year, our community group was able to assess the feasibility of saving and retrofitting the former Hinchinbrooke School. The current grant will enable us to reach out to all those who have expressed a past interest in using the centre and recruit new partners to work together to commit to a multi-stage plan for a vibrant community recreation and cultural centre for the Township of Central Frontenac.

Seniors Association Kingston Region, Here We Grow with Rideau Heights: $11,012
From the Theda Anderson Fund, the David Middleton North End Development Fund, the Ellen Shepherd Community Fund and the Ruth & Stu Barton Community Fund

Seniors Association launches a new location at the Rideau Heights Community Centre.  We will offer a variety of courses and activities to exercise the body, stimulate the mind, and nourish the spirit.  The Association will be delivering programs that will be designed by the community that will be inclusive for older adults of the neighbourhood and area to enjoy.

Winter Warmth (Program), Winter Warmth: Dec 2017 to Nov 2018: $12,000
From the Dr. Samuel S. Robinson Charitable Foundation

Winter Warmth provides clothing and footwear to Kingston and area children in need.  Needs are identified through the schools by youth workers and social workers.  Items are purchased and delivered back to the youth worker.  In 2016 the program filled requests for 634 children.

Northern Frontenac Com. Services Corp operating as Rural Frontenac Community Services, Let’s Get Drumming!: $8,825
From the Woodbury Enterprises WE Care Youth Fund and the Sunnyside Children`s Fund

LET’S GET DRUMMING! Is a percussion program that features children and youth using bucket drums to create sounds, rhythm and songs.  This project addresses the need for free, fun musical activities in North, Central and South Frontenac Townships that encourage rural youth to learn an instrument, be active and connect with a group in their own community in a fun environment that promotes inclusion.