Vancity contributes $424,250 to 49 local community projects

Local not-for-profit organizations awarded grants to build community well-being

Vancouver, BC, February 14, 2011: Forty-nine not-for-profit organizations in Metro Vancouver, the Fraser Valley and Vancouver Island communities have been awarded community project grants from Vancity. This third round of grants in the 2010 program awarded $424,250 to organizations that are working to improve social, economic and environmental well-being in the community. In the last 12 months, the total in community project grants awarded to not-for-profit organizations is over $940,000.

“Together with our members, Vancity is pleased to be able to help our community groups make a specific impact on the needs of individual neighbourhoods,” says Vancity Board Chair Patrice Pratt. “We are happy to be able to share the success of our financial cooperative and support the work of our members and groups in their communities.”

Vancity is committed to reinvesting 30 per cent of the credit union’s profits through the Shared Success program. The community grants program provides up to $10,000 for individual projects focused on poverty reduction, climate change and growing the social economy.

Some initiatives that received funding are:

• The Dogwood Initiative in the Victoria/Gulf Island region received $10,000 in funding for the Imagining a Sustainable Region project. The project aims to bring together residents and organizations in the Capital Regional District (CRD) to work together to create a community based "action plan for regional sustainability" in support of the CRD’s Regional Growth Strategy.

• The Julien House Society in the Burnaby/Tri-Cities region will use its $10,000 grant to support its staff training program. The house offers support and a safe place for adult women recovering from addiction and the funding will provide further addiction counseling skills and fundraising management education for staff.
• The Kettle Friendship Society in the Vancouver/North Shore region received a $10,000 grant for the Kettle’s Micro Street Cleaning project. The funds will support the employment of 12 individuals living with mental disabilities.

• Mission Community Services Society in the Fraser Valley region will use its $10,000 grant to strengthen a non-profit network focused on food security and sustainable agriculture initiatives in Mission. The grant will benefit its program, Cultivating a Food Future for Mission.

• Richmond Women’s Resource Centre Association in the Surrey/Richmond region received $10,000 to fund the Canadian Work Experience for Immigrant Women training program. The program aims to provide immigrant women with job readiness skills including computer and office training, English writing, practicum placements and interviewing skills.

Community project grants are awarded three times a year. Information for local not-for-profit groups, including how to apply for future community project grants, can be found at www.vancity.com/grants. For the full list of recipient organizations, please contact Vancity Media Relations.

About Vancouver City Savings Credit Union

Vancity is Canada’s largest credit union, with $14.4 billion in assets, more than 414,000 members, and 59 branches throughout Metro Vancouver, the Fraser Valley, Victoria and Squamish. Vancity is guided by a commitment to improving the quality of life in the communities where we live and work.

Media Contact:
Vancity Media Relations
mediarelations@vancity.com
778-837-0394