CommunityDonors’ generosity makes it possible for The Foundation to support a variety of organizations and projects in our community.
The following grants were announced between January 2018.
Vision Impaired Resource Network (VIRN)
Active Living program
$17,500, drawn from the Helen and Ewart L. Brisbin Memorial Fund and anonymous flow-through funds
VIRN focuses on the needs of the visually impaired through peer support, public education, active living, and training. It promotes an active, independent lifestyle while focusing on individual needs and personal goals. The Active Living program provides a variety of indoor and outdoor recreational activities, including cycling, paddling and curling.
Neneth Bañas, Community Grants Associate
“Active Living program participants will be working with volunteers who are trained to work with people with impairment issues. This program will increase the currently-limited recreational opportunities available to people who are visually impaired. It will allow participants to build connections with peer mentor volunteers and continue to build social and mobility skills.”
St. Matthews Maryland Community Ministry (SMMCM)
Art program and health program for senior
$25,000, drawn from Community Building Funds
SMMCM provides a safe place where those in need can seek sanctuary and assistance. Programs address physical, social, spiritual and psychological needs while maintaining a focus on social justice concerns. SMMCM is partnering with Art City to offer art programming, and with West Broadway Community Ministry to offer exercise programming. Programming will rotate from week to week.
Noah Erenberg, Community Grants Associate
“SMMCM is really like a home away from home for many people in our community especially in the inner-city. The art and exercise programs will help to reduce isolation and other challenges people within our inner-city and the West Broadway community have. This is a way to increase their health and to really address one of the main citizen priorities identified in Winnipeg’s Vital Signs 2017.”
Crescent Fort Rouge United Church
Artistic and community building hub
$25,000, drawn from Community Building Funds and the Lloyd Axworthy Tribute Fund)
A part of the United Church of Canada, Crescent Fort Rouge United Church has been in Osborne Village for 134 years. The church welcomes a wide variety of people and supports multiple spiritualities. The program will provide a space for people to engage in the arts and build community.
Rick Lussier, Senior Grants Associate
“The church is becoming a community hub both for social and artistic reasons. They’re considered an acoustic gem in the City of Winnipeg and a lot of arts groups use the church to perform and rehearse. What the church is trying to do is make their space available at a very low cost to encourage emerging and existing artists to compose, perform and rehearse there, and then ultimately perfect their craft.”
Facing History and Ourselves (FHO)
One-day workshop and video series
$15,000, drawn from the Darcy and Myrtle Sundberg Education Trust Fund and the Haraldur Victor Vidal Field of Interest Fund
An international educational and professional development organization, FHO works with students to examine racism, prejudice and anti-Semitism. Its goal is to develop a more humane and informed citizenry. This program will help educators explore meaningful approaches to reconciliation.
Kerry Ryan, Community Grants Associate
“FHO’s goal is to reduce racism through education. This project trains Winnipeg teachers to enable them to better deliver curriculum around reconciliation and the residential school experience. It’s really going to help empower teachers to present this material to kids in a meaningful way.”
Multiple charities
Extreme Cold Weather Strategy
$30,000, drawn from Community Building Fund
The Cold Weather Strategy is a collective effort of approximately 30 community organizations to provide a response plan to the increasing number of lives lost due to our extreme climate. The strategy offers a short-term solution to homelessness in Winnipeg during the winter months by expanding and opening warming centres, increasing patrols, growing public knowledge of available resources and improving access for youth, women and the LGBT2SQ+ community.
Megan Tate, Director of Grants
“Winter for some Winnipeggers can be critically tough. When beds are at a premium in our shelters, we need to ensure that additional safe, warm spaces are available during the winter season. With the help of 30 community organizations, our City and Province, we can work towards a long-term solution.”
This story is featured in the Summer 2018 issue of our Working Together magazine. Download or view the full issue on our Publications page.