Over $500,000 to be granted to 42 community initiatives by local charities

The Community Foundation for Kingston and Area will be granting $503,707.26 to support 42 initiatives by local charitable community service organizations, projected to directly impact 246,565 individuals, including 74,973 youth.

The Foundation’s wide array of granting interests include Arts & Culture, Children’s Mental Health, Community Development, Education & Literacy, Environment, Health & Social Services, Heritage Preservation, Recreation, and Youth.

A full list of the 42 funded projects can be found below.

Funding for these new projects comes from the Foundation’s $33.5 million portfolio of endowment funds – funds established by individual, families, and organizations wanting to build a better place for all. The Community Grants Program was greatly assisted by a team of 16 community-based volunteer reviewers who played an integral role in assessing the grants applications.

 

Fall 2022 Community Grants Recipients:

42 projects totalling $503,707.26

Arts & Culture

Kingston Symphony Association – Up Close & Classical, $7,500

From The Audrey and Peter Scholes Memorial Fund

Following the livestreams of the Kingston Symphony’s Education Partnership in March 2022, Kingston Symphony Association provided participating classes with an opportunity to have a musician from their orchestra visit the students virtually. It is their intention to formalize this program and expand the reach of these visits to connect with young people all through our community, whether that is in schools or through other points of contact such as local youth organizations. Kingston Symphony Association will look at presenting these sessions both virtually and in person. Their new program will also tie into the creation of the second season of their digital program for children, Harmon in Space. Over the past year or so, Harmon in Space became a hit with teachers and children online. They will develop a targeted marketing plan to both promote this series and their musician visits. With this new approach, they plan to host 100 visits.

Impact: 3,200 Individuals, 3,100 Youth

 

The Joe Chithalen Memorial Musical Instrument Library – Operational Grant Request, $10,000

From The Audrey and Peter Scholes Memorial Fund, and the Robert and Judith Mackenzie Fund

The M.I.L.L.’s financial sustainability is an annual concern. COVID has negatively impacted their financial situation. Their main fundraising event, Homegrown, was cancelled for 2 years, and returned on a much smaller scale in 2022. M.I.L.L are unsure as to what the continued impact will be in future years. This grant will support operations and on-going programs.

Impact: 7 Individuals

 

Cantabile Choirs – Guest Artist Residency, $7,500

From Community Fund, and the Robert and Judith Mackenzie Fund

Cantabile has become one of the largest choral organizations in the country and has a large footprint on the artistic and cultural fabric of the Kingston/Katarokwi music scene. This project will promote the artistic, musical, and social development of Cantabile Choirs members and audience by granting access to an internationally recognized Black conductor and offers their platform for the creative expression of historically underrepresented voices in the classical music community.

Impact: 850 Individuals, 100 Youth

 

Kingston WritersFest – Authors4Seniors Kingston WritersFest Pilot Project, $4,170

From Community Fund, and McArthur Connidis Arts Fund

Kingston WritersFest wishes to launch a pilot project – Authors4Seniors, which would select, invite, and confirm three established Canadian writers of fiction or non-fiction, with new or recent books to send into six Kingston area retirement and senior’s residences to present, read to, and converse informally with residents at events FREE to residents and their invited guests (family and friends).

Impact: 300 Individuals

 

Kingston School of Dance – Operational Funding for the Kingston School of Dance, $11,476

From The Audrey and Peter Scholes Memorial Fund

There are three main objectives which Kingston School of Dance intends to address with the funds from the Community Foundation Grant. First, stabilization and sustainability of their employees and admin by helping provide a living wage and sustainability by bringing current pay rates up to be competitive within the market for key operational roles. Finally, capacity building by addressing additional fees for professional service, professional development for staff and/or board as well as, their need for additional space and subsidized tuition opportunities for families in need.

Impact: 14 Individuals, 225 Youth

 

Kingston School of Dance – Equipment Support for KSD, $6,200

From The Audrey and Peter Scholes Memorial Fund

In upgrading the Kingston School of Dance’s administration, sound, and equipment needs, the school will be able to perform at a higher level on all scales. By upgrading the school, the school will be equipped for at least another 15-year period of work in YGK. With the funding, KSD will be able to achieve its full potential in many aspects, including efficiency, safety, and capacity building. Kingston School of Dance plans to invite artists from all over Canada and beyond to train, teach, and experience movement arts.

Impact: 14 Individuals, 300 Youth

 

Kingston School of Art – Arts in Education, $11,632From The Audrey and Peter Scholes Memorial Fund

Arts in Education is a proposed partnership program between Kingston School of Art and the Limestone District School Board and will provide arts-based training and peer-to-peer support for teachers.

Arts in Education aims to build student and staff capacity and deepen current understanding of how to incorporate the creative process while creating and presenting artworks; to encourage and apply an equity/social justice lens to every facet of the project; to increase engagement of students facing systemic barriers to arts participation; to expose both teachers and students to artists in a meaningful manner; to share and learn about essential elements and principles in the Visual Arts Strand of the Ontario Curriculum.

Impact: 1,000 Individuals, 985 Youth

 

Kingston Community Health Centres – Serve and Return: The Power of a Parent’s Touch, $5,450.20

From the Getting Started: Supporting Early Childhood Development Fund

The Carnegie Hall Weill Music Institute Lullaby Project will provide expectant parents the opportunity to make music & sing a unique and tailored lullaby to their infant. Music and singing soothes, reduces stress, builds self-esteem, enhances emotional regulation, increases communication & expresses love. It is an inter-generational gift. After the birth of their infant, participants will be invited to attend our second program entry point, called Serve and Return (S&R): The Power of a Parent’s Touch.

Impact: 320 Individuals, 50 Youth

 

Children’s Mental Health

St. Lawrence Youth Association – Specialized Treatment Program (STP) for Youth with Concerning Sexual Behaviour, $25,000

From the Woodbury Entreprises We Care Charitable Youth Fund, The Henry Fund, Sunnyside Children’s Fund, Youth Community Fund, and the Smart and Caring Community Fund

St. Lawrence Youth Association (SLYA) will offer a community-based specialized treatment program for youth ages 12-24 years who demonstrate sexualized behaviour challenges. Some sexualized behaviours that will be treated in this program include unwanted touching, verbal threats, indecent exposure, voyeurism, threats or harassment, promiscuity/high risk sexual behaviours, and issues related to Human Trafficking. The STP program will function through a highly specialized multi-disciplinary team, including graduate-level Clinical Social Workers, a forensic Psychologist, and a clinically supervised Counsellor, who is trained in gold-standard sexualized behaviour treatment modalities. Our treatment approach follows a Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy (CBT) model and includes some aspects of Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT), and Relapse Prevention strategies, based on the literature.

Impact: 25 Individuals, 20 Youth

 

Start2Finish Canada – R&R Club+, $15,000

From the Aaron and Norma Palmer Endowment Fund

The R&R Club+ will address the urgent need for mental health/learning support for children in Kingston’s low-income/equity-seeking communities, especially coming out of COVID-19. The program will directly impact 120 children in grades 1-6 from 3 underserved schools we work with (Molly Brant, John Grave Simcoe, Polson Park), utilizing a trauma-informed approach that will improve physical, mental, social-emotional, and academic well-being.

Impact: 120 Youth

 

Community Development

Kingston Employment and Youth Services Inc. – New Horizon’s Peer Mentoring Newcomer Youth Group, $16,000

From The Bill and Nancy Gray Fund, and the Regina Rosen Fund

Kingston Employment and Youth Services Inc. will use these funds to sustain and expand programming for the whole youth group for the New Horizons Newcomer Youth Peer Mentoring Group. These funds will sustain the weekly programming of the New Horizons Newcomer Youth Peer Mentoring Group. CFKA funds also support a monthly women’s group. New Horizons serves youth aged 18-30, although we can make exceptions for youth aged 16-17. Kingston Employment and Youth Services Inc. will also use CFKA funds to host leadership development opportunities open to all New Horizons newcomer and refugee youth.

Impact: 120 Individuals, 20 Youth

 

The Friends of The Spire – The Spire Transformation Project, $16,000

From the Valerie Robertson Women in Theatre Fund, The Audrey and Peter Scholes Memorial Fund, the Smart and Caring Community Fund

The Spire Transformation Project initiative has received funding for the hiring of a person with project management and technical skills to oversee a large-scale technology solution installation, which will convert space to a fully-fledged performing arts facility. The project includes evaluation, sourcing, installation of audio, lighting, projection, and video streaming capability needed to transform space at The Spire to that of a professionally equipped, mid-size performance hall venue catering to diverse community arts and organization needs including rehearsal, performing, recording, and streaming capability.

Impact: 10,000 Individuals, 4,000 Youth

 

Loving Spoonful – Community Harvest Kingston, $25,000

From the Smart and Caring Community Fund

Food produced in the CH Gardens is distributed through the following channels:

1) Community Harvest Markets (affordable access): Tuesdays at Kingston Community Health Centre in Rideau Heights, and Thursdays at Calvin Park Branch Library.

2) Loving Spoonful’s Local Food Market Stands (no-cost access): Currently, we operate ten Local Food Market Stands, located within various social service agencies across Kingston.

3) Loving Spoonful’s Community Kitchens programs: Our various Community Kitchens programs use our produce to prepare fresh, seasonal meals. Participants cook and eat together and are invited to take excess produce home with them for cooking throughout the week.

4) Shared amongst CH volunteers.

Impact: 1,400 Individuals, 500 Youth

 

Loving Spoonful – Gleaning and Grow A Row, $16,000

From the Community Fund, and the Aaron and Norma Palmer Endowment Fund

The funding received will be used to support the Gleaning and Grow a Row Facilitator staff position. Historically, this role has been combined with the Local Food Access Coordinator position. However, due to a significant increase in the volume of local food being donated by local home gardeners, community gardeners, and local farmers in recent years, Loving Spoonful are seeking to increase the efficiency of our operations by creating a new, separate part-time staff position to coordinate these long-standing and successful programs.

Impact: 2,000 individuals, 500 Youth

 

The Governing Council of The Salvation Army in Canada – The Salvation Army Rideau Heights Community Support Services, $25,000

From the Aaron and Norma Palmer Endowment Fund, and the Tragically Hip Community Fund

The Salvation Army Rideau Heights Community Support Services are planning to start up a Newcomers, community Group for immigrants and refugees in our community. They will include a couple of mornings a week for a Caregiver and Tots connect, but the Primary would be “Newcomer Fridays” where from 9:00 am to 9:00pm they will host Newcomers in the community connecting them with each other, with agencies, creating friendship and mentorship opportunities and building relationships with Newcomers and their families and connecting through conversation, meals, sports. Relationship and Community building, including advocacy for and empowerment of newcomers through sharing information and life with people on a regular basis providing a safe fun space to connect to and with the various services and supports available as well as walking alongside our neighbours while building relationships and ultimately raising up future community leaders.

Impact: 500 Individuals, 250 Youth

 

Education & Literacy

Kingston Community Health Centres – GRAD Connector at Pathways to Education, $15,000

From the Alcan Endowment Fund

Pathways to Education Kingston is a community program designed to empower North-Kingston Youth with the tools to succeed in school, work, and life. Their dynamic team works to support 265 high school students by using the Pathways Canada methodology of: Financial support (covered by Pathways Canada and includes Grocery Store gift cards), Tutoring (after school three days a week), Mentoring, and Advocacy. The program was established in 2010, following a needs-based assessment that noted high school graduation rates in our neighbourhood to be 15% lower than the rest of the city. It is common for the students to face tremendous barriers to learning, many of which are directly related to their environment, support system, and the socioeconomic circumstances of their families. Their goal is to establish a network of caring, consistent, and unconditionally supportive adults to help support them through navigating high school and their next steps.

Impact: 265 Individuals and Youth

 

Learning Disabilities Association of Kingston – Supporting Families and Children with Learning Disabilities in the Kingston Area, $14,350

From the Community Fund

The Learning Disabilities Association of Kingston is a registered charity that supports local individuals and families living with learning disabilities, educators, and professionals. They do this by undertaking core activities such as:

• Gathering, assessing, and disseminating information on the latest developments in LD Issues
• Sharing information via social media postings, their website (ldakingston.com), free webinars, workshops, and their annual Speak Up for Ability Forum.
• Free workshops on strategies for helping children learn at home.
• Consultations with parents and care givers about their children’s learning issues and options to address those issues, both on an individual and education system level.
• Referrals to other community service providers.
• Tools to help families advocate for their children within educational and social services structures.
• Plain language information on the rights and responsibilities of school boards when it comes to educating students who have learning disabilities.
• They advocate for our community through participation in other organizations such as the Learning Disabilities Association of Ontario, the International Dyslexia Association, the Special Education Advisory Committee of the Limestone District School Board, and they collaborate with other not-for-profit service providers in the Kingston area.
• Offer summer camps, robots and reading workshops, and literacy tutoring as funding permits

Impact: 500 Individuals, 300 Youth

 

Queen’s University – QUILLS (Queen’s University Indigenous Land-Based Learning STEM) Program at Elbow Lake, $17,150

From the Aaron and Norma Palmer Endowment Fund

Over the past two years Queen’s University have developed a new educational program that, working with local Knowledge Keepers, brings Indigenous knowledge to the forefront, marrying this to western science within the Ontario curriculum. They refer to this new program as QUILLS (Queen’s University Indigenous Land-Based Learning STEM). Lesson plans for Grades 7 through 10 focus on some of the most pressing environmental issues, using Indigenous perspective to help guide us in finding solutions. The received funds will apply towards honoraria for Indigenous Knowledge Keepers as they share their teachings and give guidance in our professional development workshops. Transportation costs continue to increase, and bus subsidies for school groups reduce economic barriers. Funding will also allow them to hire a much-needed part-time educator to assist with delivering the in-person Indigenous programming to teachers and students.

Impact: 800 Individuals, 750 Youth

 

Let’s Talk Science – Engaging Kingston and Area Youth with STEM Learning , $1,414.43

From the Kingston Youth Science and Technology Fund

This project will enhance Let’s Talk Science’s (LTS’s) science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) programs in Kingston, expanding the site’s reach and scope, to support and deliver more STEM-learning opportunities for youth. LTS Outreach in Kingston connects preschool to high school youth and educators with outstanding volunteers who lead meaningful hands-on/minds-on STEM learning in schools and community settings. Through LTS Outreach at Queens University, LTS connects youth and volunteer role models to inspire the next generation of creative, critical thinkers. LTS Outreach volunteers acts as mentors, motivating and inspiring youth to explore STEM in everyday life, build critical STEM skills and keep their options open by pursuing STEM studies.

Impact: 5000 Individuals and Youth

 

Environment

Sandy Pines Wildlife Centre – Love Wildlife Education Program Expansion, $6,392.00

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

With support of the Community Foundation for Kingston & Area, Sandy Pines Wildlife Centre will offer:

1. Virtual presentations linked to the Ontario curriculum, namely in science and social studies.
2. Create a new on-demand presentation for Grade 6-8 on wildlife of Turtle Island in partnership with Mohawks of the Bay of Quinte (MBQ).
3. Deliver a new in-person program for Grade 1-3 at Little Cataraqui Creek Conservation Area in partnership with Cataraqui Conservation.
4. They also wish to create a new learning package for this program, so teachers can extend the learning beyond the field trip.

Impact: 3,465 Individuals, 3,300 Youth

 

Cycle Kingston Inc. – Cycle Kingston Program Manager 2023, $11,252

From the Ontario Endowment for Children and Youth in Recreation Fund

Cycle Kingston would like to hire a Program Manager to oversee all its activities in 2023. Cycle Kingston has grown since its inception 15 years ago to the point where the number of tasks and activities are beyond the capacity of the volunteer board members and temporary student staff who typically work May to August. The Program Manager will work a 10-month contract from February to November, working an average of 20 hours per week (25-30 hours per week in high season; 10-15 hours per week in low season) and will be responsible for planning and scheduling annual programs, promoting cycling education and outreach, hiring and supervising summer student staff, and administrative tasks for Cycle Kingston and its two social enterprises, Gear Up Recycled Bikes and Bicycle Valet Kingston.

Impact: 3,000 Individuals, 2,000 Youth

 

Scott Ecological Fund – Equipment for Scott Ecological Fund, $3,000

From the Smart and Caring Community Fund

Each set of equipment will support a single classroom education environment and extends the learning cycle throughout the academic year rather than the short growing season that would be available during the normal school period.

Impact: 900 Individuals and Youth

 

Wintergreen Studios – Winter Tracks and Traces: What Can we Learn? $3,400

From the Community Fund, the Bill and Gladys Kelly Community Fund, the McArthur Connidis Arts Fund, and the Jim and Julie Parker Fund

Winter Tracks and Traces will offer a window into the beauty and diversity of the winter months in the Frontenac Arch. While many think of winter as a time of hibernation – with not much going on – in fact, the winter months are filled with activity in the woods, the meadows, and the marshes and lakes. In partnership with the Canadian Wildlife Federation, Wintergreen Studios will dovetail with the CWF Below Zero Program, including the recording of tracks in iNaturalist. Winter Tracks and Traces will offer day-long adventures to targeted groups as well as to the public throughout the months of February and March 2023. Targeted groups will include local schools, the Sistema Kingston organization, university-aged students, and local families. Participants will have a host of opportunities to explore Wintergreen’s 200-acre sanctuary, taking part in activities that highlight the rich diversity of life on the land in the winter months.

Impact: 175 Individuals, 120 Youth

 

Health & Social Services

Family and Children’s Services of Frontenac, Lennox, and Addington – First Nation, Inuit, and Métis Cultural Services, $16,000

From the Smart and Caring Community Fund

There is a large overrepresentation of equity seeking groups served by child welfare and Family and Children’s Services of Frontenac, Lennox, and Addington have focused their work on addressing the overrepresentation and offering culturally responsive services. Despite representing approximately 4% of KFL&A population, the Indigenous community is grossly over-represented as a demographic which receives services from their agency; 39% of FACSFLA’s current child in care population and 34% of FACSFLA’s young people receiving continued care and support from the organization carry Indigenous identities. They hope that the programming offered will provide opportunity for improved sense of Indigenous identity, improved self-esteem, skill acquisition, inspiration or broadened horizons, development of healthy relationships and role models, and improved connection to multiple generations in community for children and youth who participate.

Impact: 75 Individuals, 30 Youth

 

Outreach St. George’s Kingston, Lunch by George – New Range Vent Hoods, $6,391.20

From The Tragically Hip Community Fund, and the Dr. Samuel S. Robinson Charitable Foundation Flow Through Fund

Outreach St. George’s Kingston – Lunch by George will use this funding to purchase a new pair of stove range vent hoods, as only one of their current vent hoods works. Both are suffering from years of long use in a kitchen environment, even though they are regularly cleaned, and the baffles sterilized. Without proper venting of gas ranges, there is some recently discovered danger from air pollution in the form of nitrogen dioxide and methane gasses. As many of their volunteers are seniors, air pollution, especially in the form of nitrogen dioxide can exacerbate COPD and other respiratory ailments such as asthma. They wish to provide the safest possible environment for their staff and volunteers, as well as their clients, many of whom experience respiratory issues as well.

Impact: 150 Individuals, 6 Youth

 

Lionhearts Inc. – Feeding Their Potential, $36,000

From the Smart and Caring COVID-19 Fund, the Smart and Caring Community Fund, the Sandiford Family Fund, the Peter Hartel Community Fund, the Skolnick Family Fund, the Regina Rosen Fund, and the K-Town Tri Legacy Fund

Lionhearts’ will receive funds for two of their most essential programs: operational funding for the Community Food Redistribution Warehouse (CFRW) and equipment funds to upgrade the kitchen used for the Community Nutrition Program. The key objective of each of these programs is to reduce food insecurity in KFL&A. Lionhearts is the Managing Partner of the CFRW which opened in March 2021 and has become an essential link in the food ecosystem of the region.

Impact: 250 Individuals

 

Ryandale Shelter for the Homeless (Ryandale Transitional House – Agency) – Operational Funding Staff Salary, $16,000

From the Terry Harris Endowment Fund, and the Smart and Caring Community Fund

Ryandale provides up to one year of supportive housing and services to men in the Kingston area who are experiencing homelessness after a history of health challenges or incarceration. Over the past few years, specifically post-COVID, Ryandale staff have observed an increase in the acuity levels of current residents and new applicants. These individuals need specialized support for issues including psychosis and addiction relapse. Often, this support is needed at times when there is no staff coverage. Funding for the housing support worker position will allow Ryandale to increase staff coverage at times when needs are highest and minimize risk to the house occupants and staff.

Impact: 20 Individuals

 

Bereaved Families of Ontario – Kingston Region – Expanding Staff Hours, $10,712

From the Anonymous #2 Endowment Fund, and the Sandiford Family Fund

Bereaved Families of Ontario – Kingston Region has been growing. The number of new clients supported in a year has more than tripled compared with 2017. To keep up with the demand, BFO-Kingston has been recruiting more volunteers, providing more support and more volunteer hours. This has created more work for the Office and Program Administrator, BFO-Kingston’s only paid staff member. The position used to involve 20 hours per week, and then another 15 hours per week working for Hospice Kingston. The partnership with Hospice Kingston came to an end as of August 31, 2022, due to their merger with Providence Care, which gave BFO-Kingston the opportunity to increase the Office and Program Administrator position to 30 hours per week. This means that there is more time available for volunteer recruitment and management, event planning, program planning, and addressing client needs.

Impact: 200 Individuals, 10 Youth

 

Victim Services of Kingston and Frontenac – Rural Community Worker, $16,000

From the Eric Dewar Neuman Fund, the Aaron and Norma Palmer Endowment Fund, and The Tragically Hip Community Fund

Victim Services aims to continue and expand on a Rural Community Worker role who would have an expertise in supporting the needs of those in rural. This worker will work closely with OPP detachments and other community services within the Frontenac area to ensure the needs of the victims within rural areas are met. These needs could include safety planning, financial support, emotional support, practical assistance, referrals and more. Having a worker who could support clients from a rural satellite office within the community would enable Victim Services of Kingston and Frontenac to continue the expansion of the service as well as make it more accessible to our rural communities.

Impact: 26,677 Individuals, 2,000 Youth

 

Kingston Community Health Centres – PORCH – Portable OutReach Care Hub, $25,000

From the Larry Gibson Community Fund

PORCH, the Portable OutReach Care Hub, is a program designed to remove barriers and improve access to vital services and supports for community members in Kingston and the greater area. The current services offered include: testing (Hep C, STIs, etc.), basic wound care, psychiatry, RAAM (Rapid Access to Addiction Medicine), and connection to treatment (in-take). While at this time, they only have the capacity to offer services a few days a week, they hope that our community partners will allow them to expand their services to better serve those who need it most. This will have a tremendously positive impact on the care of those experiencing homelessness, using substances, and those isolated by their geographic location.

Impact: 400 Individuals, 20 Youth

 

KFL&A Public Health – Dental Treatment Assistance Fund – Dental Treatment Assistant Fund of KFL&A, $16,000

From the Community Fund, and the Larry Gibson Community Fund

The short-term objective of DTAF is to provide access to urgent and essential dental care for KFL&A adults in need, to relieve their pain and suffering.

The longer-term objectives are to:

1. Reduce the number of oral health related ER visits among KFL&A residents,
2. Encourage regular preventive dental care visits by assisting adults in need of support to find a “dental home” or dentist,
3. Improve clients’ self-esteem related to their oral health.

Impact: 80 Individuals

 

Canadian National Institute for the Blind – CNIB Kingston Seniors Programming, $16,000

From the Community Fund

CNIB Seniors programs in Kingston help break social isolation for seniors and older adults (54+) with sight loss while also providing opportunities to learn new skills, stay active, and connect with the community. Popular programs include The Kingston Seniors Peer Support Group; Vision, Tech, and Rec Mates; Sport & Recreation programs; and Accessible Technology programs.

Impact: 50 Individuals

 

Well Suited Kingston – Well Suited Suiting and Agency Sustainability, $3,274.78

From the Community Fund, the Aaron and Norma Palmer Endowment Fund, the Opportunities Kingston Fund, and the Smart and Caring Community Fund

Well Suited Kingston is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing support, guidance, and mentorship to men in need in Kingston and the surrounding community. Their mission is to promote the economic independence of men in need by providing suitable attire and career development tools. They also provide job readiness and essential life skills that help them enter the workforce, stay employed, and become role models for their families and communities. They work to achieve their mission through their suiting and career services.

Impact: 50 Individuals, 5 Youth

 

Kidney Foundation of Canada- Kingston Branch – Providing Financial Support for Low-Income Kidney Patients, $2,000

From the Regina Rosen Fund

The Kidney Foundation of Canada is the national volunteer organization committed to eliminating the burden of kidney disease through funding innovative research, providing education and support to prevent kidney disease; advocating for improved access to health care; and increasing public awareness and commitment to advancing kidney health and organ donation.

As part of their mission The Kidney Association seeks to mitigate financial hardships experienced by kidney patients as a result of their diagnosis and treatment. 40% of kidney patients live at or below the poverty line due to the impact of their disease on their physical health and disruptions in their professional life from illness and ongoing treatments.

Impact: 50 Individuals

 

Tetra Society of North America – Tetra Kingston Chapter – Devices Breaking Barriers,  $3,000

From the Eddie Bak Memorial Fund, the Gordon Barr Ltd. Fund, the Frank and Sarah Good Memorial Fund, the McNevin Family Fund, Annie and Bill Patterson Community Fund, Phil Quattrochi Memorial Fund, David C. Riley Fund, and the Smart and Caring Community Fund

With this funding Tetra Society of North America – Kingston Chapter with be able to achieve the following goals:

• Kingston Chapter Community Outreach – increase community awareness of the service which the Tetra Kingston chapter provides to the disabled community with no charge for any labour.
• Increase Request for Assistance – The Tetra Society aims to increase the number of requests for devices from people with disabilities by 10% over 2022.
• Increase Custom Devices Built for Kingston & Area residents- As a result of the Kingston chapter outreach, there will be an increase in the number of Request for Assistance received by the Tetra Kingston chapter.
• Increase Tetra Kingston Volunteers – with an increase in demand for custom assistive devices, the Tetra Kingston chapter will be requiring additional volunteers to meet demand.

Impact: 8 Individuals, 2 Youth

 

Resolve Counselling Services Kingston – Kingston Frontenac Anti-Violence Coordinating Committee (KFACC) Community Engagement Project, $4,993.35

From the Jim and Julie Parker Fund

The first step in this project is to hire a dedicated Outreach Coordinator who will identify, contact, and bring community representation to the table from groups such as Indigenous, newcomers, refugees, 2SLGBTQ+, disabled, Francophone and seniors to ensure all voices are heard during the development process. The Outreach Coordinator will also develop onboarding documents to introduce community groups to the CSDS andd promote the CSDS into the community at large. KFACC is a volunteer group working together that includes 16 agencies providing services directly for survivors of SA/DV and 22 other affiliated agencies, groups, and community members; sectors include shelter/housing, health/counselling support, law enforcement, military, and justice. Working together to sustain a coordinated community response to SA/DV, we problem-solve, develop projects to help identify gaps in services, create public awareness, and develop community resources.

Impact: 161,780 Individuals, 31,420 Youth

 

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Kingston, Frontenac, Lennox and Addington – Inclusion Focused Mentoring for Equity Deserving Groups, $2,500

From the Assante Wealth Management – Johnson St. Branch Endowment Fund

The goal of this project is to create a specific curriculum for equity deserving groups and expand access to Big Brothers Big Sisters of Kingston, Frontenac, Lennox and Addington Community Based Mentoring Programs (One-to-One and Group programs, such as Big Bunch) to these groups. The project is multi-tiered and focused on curriculum development, training delivery, and program delivery. Target Groups include:

• Non-exclusive list of underrepresented/equity deserving groups
• Newcomers to Canada/ First generation Canadians
• 2SLGBTQ+ Community
• Youth in Care
• Racialized individuals
• Indigenous Community
• Individuals with Complex Needs/Neuro Diverse individuals

Impact: 70 Individuals, 50 Youth

 

Heritage Preservation

Limestone District School Board – Sydenham High School 150^th Reunion Yearbook Digitization Project, $5,222.30

From the Ross and Suzanne Kilpatrick Fund, the Ronald and Mildred Grant Family Fund, the Marin Pest Management Fund, the McNevin Family Fund, the Ellen Shepherd Community Fund

The goals of this project are to:

• Preserve the history of Sydenham High School (SHS) for past, current, and future generations by digitizing yearbooks from 1946-2022
• Foster a sense of identity and wellbeing by connecting students, alumni and staff who attended SHS
• Decrease barriers to access by creating an online repository for yearbooks
• Create an innovative, landmark project to mark the 150th anniversary of SHS in 2023
• Deliverables
• Scan and digitize as many of the 77 SHS published yearbooks and 3 historical booklets as can be located in hard copy
• Upload the yearbooks to the SHS website
• Launch the yearbooks during the SHS 150th Reunion August 24-27, 2023

Impact: 5,000 Individuals, 550 Youth

 

Youth

The Food Sharing Project – Refrigeration Equipment for Student Nutrition Programs, $12,000

From the Smart and Caring Community Fund

The three coolers placed in three large schools would provide 40 cubic feet of storage for refrigerated food at each site, meaning more and a broader range of food items would be available. Typically, around 10+% of a school population access student nutrition program on a regular/daily basis (40% on an occasional basis). By extension, The Food Sharing Project can estimate that about 50 students would access healthy snacks or meals daily at each large school – or about 250 meals per week. Since food is delivered weekly, the cooler would hold fresh fruits and vegetables, milk, cheese, eggs, hummus, and yogurt for preparing 250 meals or snacks per week for each school.

Impact: 16,000 Individuals, 16,000 Youth

 

YMCA of Eastern Ontario – Work Hard, Eat Well Program, $16,000

From The Tragically Hip Community Fund, and the Alcan Endowment Fund

Work Hard, Eat Well program provides no-fee access to a YMCA program delivering physical and food literacy to kids and you in the low-income community. The program is offered in Rideau Heights guarantees children and youth, regardless of race, religion, gender, ability, or family financial circumstance, are able to access this program, benefiting their health and wellness. The primary audience is children and youth aged 6-16 years of age. The focus of the overall program is physical literacy, intended to help kids and youth reach minimum physical activity per week as per the department of health and human services.

Impact: 500 Individuals, 500 Youth

 

Kingston Employment and Youth Services Inc. – KEYS and Kiwanis Club of Kingston: Storage and Transportation Equipment of Household Donations for Refugees, $6,500

From the Eric Dewar Neuman Fund, and the Ellen Shepherd Community Fund

The goal of this project is to have one SeaCan house large furniture donations (sofas, beds, tables & chairs, etc.) while the second SeaCan will house smaller household donations organized with shelves and stackable boxes. Smaller donations have proven difficult to organize and track since they typically arrive in an assortment of cardboard boxes that are awkward to arrange and access amongst the larger furniture donations stored in the SeaCan. Transporting donations continues to be a concern. We estimate that having our own vehicle, despite additional insurance and maintenance costs, will reduce our annual outlay for the donations program and free up funds to further support refugees. Our own vehicle would provide significant flexibility to meet the needs and schedules of donors, refugees, staff and volunteers.

Impact: 300 Individuals, 125 Youth

 

BGC South East – Summer Camp Subsidies for Local Children, $16,000

From the Community Fund

This project will provide 80 subsidies for families in need, to access week-long summer camps in 2023. Camps will deliver developmentally stimulating activities to children ages 4-12, across different locations in Kingston & Area. This project will benefit 1,500 unique children in 2023. Summer camps will provide professional development opportunities to 100 local youth through quality employment experiences.  Summer camps will provide:

– Full day developmental stimulation in variety of areas (sports, arts & science, education)

– Access to caring and positive role models

– High-quality supervision

– Healthy snacks and lunches

Impact: 1,500 Individuals, 1,500 Youth