Health, Wellness & RecreationAnnouncement made during Annual Celebration, where The Foundation revealed unprecedented 2019 fiscal results.
For immediate release: At its Annual Celebration held today at the Spence Neighbourhood Association Magnus Eliason Recreation Centre, The Winnipeg Foundation announced new strategic grants support totaling $5.27 million for charities that work in mental health, addictions and community safety. It also announced results of its unprecedented 2019 fiscal year. This impact is only possible thanks to the generous donors who support our community through The Winnipeg Foundation.
Mental health, addictions and community safety support
The challenges Winnipeg has been facing in the areas of mental health and addictions are complicated and inter-connected. While The Foundation has long supported prevention, the current situation calls for a more immediate and coordinated effort.
Mental health and addictions are often linked to inequality, poverty, and colonialism, and can also lead to concerns over community safety. Based on feedback from the charitable sector and community leaders through focus groups and ongoing conversations, The Foundation has developed a strategic response falling under four pillars: Prevention, Crisis Intervention, Treatment and Post-Treatment. Today, The Foundation announced $5.27 million in grants support for mental health, addictions and community safety programming.
“This approach has given The Foundation the opportunity to collaborate with other organizations serving the City in the areas of mental health, addictions and neighbourhood safety in our community,” says Doneta Brotchie, Chair of The Winnipeg Foundation Board of Directors. “With support totaling $5.27 million, The Foundation’s strategy aims to augment and enhance existing services provided by frontline organizations, and also to invest in long-term treatment and recovery facilities, to help address these urgent community issues.”
“We know this investment will not eliminate mental health and addictions challenges in our community, nor will it address every neighbourhood safety issue, however we are confident this strategy will better equip the organizations dealing directly with their pressing community issues. As a community, we must work together,” Brotchie added.
“When we consulted with frontline service providers, they told us about the hurdles they face when addressing the challenging demands placed on them daily,” says Megan Tate, The Foundation’s Director of Community Grants. “We are optimistic this support will help them address these new demands.”
List of mental health, addictions and community safety grants announced
* Supported by the Moffat Family Fund, a Donor-Advised Fund held at The Foundation.
| Organization | Amount | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Main Street Project | $750,000 | Crisis Intervention. $500,000 capital support; $50,000/year for five years operating support. |
| Bruce Oake Recovery Centre | $750,000 | Treatment. $500,000 capital support; $50,000/year for five years operating support. |
| Tamarack Recovery Centre* | $1,754,171 | Treatment and Post-Treatment. Capital and programming support. |
| St. Raphael Wellness Centre* | $766,050 | Post-Treatment. Programming support. |
| Dakota Ojibway Child and Family Services* | $500,000 | Treatment and Post-Treatment. Support for families struggling with addiction who are engaged with the child welfare system. |
| St. Boniface Hospital | $100,000 | Treatment. Capital support for the McEwen Building, to provide a better healing environment for those seeking treatment for mental illness. |
| TOTAL | $4,620,221 |
One-time, unrestricted grants for front line organizations.
| Organization | Amount |
|---|---|
| 1 Just City | $75,000 |
| Bear Clan Patrol | $50,000 |
| Chalmers Neighbourhood Renewal Corp | $50,000 |
| Ka Ni Kanichihk | $50,000 |
| Nine Circles Community Health Centre | $50,000 |
| North End Community Renewal Corp | $50,000 |
| North Point Douglas Women’s Centre | $50,000 |
| Resource Assistance for Youth (RAY) | $50,000 |
| Spence Neighbourhood Association | $75,000 |
| Sunshine House | $50,000 |
| Thunderbird House | $50,000 |
| West Broadway Community Organization | $50,000 |
| TOTAL | $650,000 |
For more details on the grants, please see the backgrounder.
2019 fiscal results
The Winnipeg Foundation is built on the premise that it’s not the size of the gift but the act of giving that’s important. And for the past 98 years, generous people from all walks of life have together created a strong base for ongoing impact. In 2019, because of these gifts, grant distributions to the community totaled more than $57.5 million – an increase of more than $16 million over 2018 totals.
“The Foundation is a 360-degree funder, which means we support all types of charities in our community,” says The Foundation’s CEO Rick Frost. “Whether it is an $800 grant to a daycare to purchase a stove, a $1 million grant to Manitoba’s Museum’s new Winnipeg Gallery, or something in between, this kind of support makes a huge difference in our community.”
Also in 2019, The Foundation received approximately 8,800 gifts – more than any previous year. The Foundation’s support for the community is only possible because of generous donors.
“While the reason each donor gives is extremely personal, all share The Foundation’s vision of creating ‘A Winnipeg where community life flourishes for all,’” Frost adds. “Because gifts to The Foundation are endowed, those who gave nearly 100 years ago are still supporting our community today, just as today’s gifts will continue to support our community forever.”
Read more in The Foundation’s 2019 Financial Highlights, Because The Winnipeg Foundation is For Good. Forever. This report is available online – Foundation Publications – or by contacting our office to request a printed copy. Thanks to generous gifts, The Foundation is able to support the community’s changing needs and emerging opportunities, including increased support for charities working in the areas of mental health, addictions and community safety announced today.
Download a copy of this media release and the backgrounder – The Winnipeg Foundation announces $5.27 million in grants support for mental health, addictions and community safety programming [PDF].
The Winnipeg Foundation is For Good. Forever. We help people give back to our shared community by connecting generous donors with Causes they care about For Good. We’re are an endowment-based public foundation, so gifts are pooled and invested, and the annual earnings are distributed back to the community Forever. Formed in 1921, we are proud to be the first community foundation in Canada.
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Media inquiries/questions:
LuAnn Lovlin, CFRE
Director of Communications & Marketing, The Winnipeg Foundation
Email LuAnn
T: 204-944-9474 ext. 232
C: 204-781-9336