$1,146,000+ distributed to South Island non-profits
Twenty-one local non-profits received grants through the Community Services Recovery Fund, administered locally by the Victoria Foundation, in collaboration between the Canadian Red Cross, Community Foundations of Canada and United Way Centraide Canada.
More than $1,146,000 has been distributed to 21 organizations on Southern Vancouver Island – funds that will help address both immediate community needs and long-term resiliency as local non-profits rebuild from the pandemic.
Funded by the Government of Canada as part of a $400-million nation-wide initiative, the grants were awarded from the Community Services Recovery Fund, administered locally by the Victoria Foundation, in collaboration between the Canadian Red Cross, Community Foundations of Canada and United Way Centraide Canada.
Designed to provide funding to community service organizations, including non-profits, Indigenous governing bodies and registered charities in Canada, the fund responds to what community service organizations need right now and supports them as they adapt to the long-term impacts of the pandemic.
Here on the South Island, the Victoria Foundation focused on applications to the ‘Investing in Systems and Processes’ area.
The 21 local recipients ranged from the Aboriginal Coalition to End Homelessness, which received $27,500 to invest in equipment, digital infrastructure and physical space to support its local housing initiatives, to the Victoria Women’s Transition House, which received $96,300 for staff and volunteer growth, engagement and retention in its work supporting women and children fleeing abuse.
The Sooke Fine Arts Society received $35,750 to help develop and redesign its organizational strategies while the Society of Saint Vincent De Paul Vancouver Island received $100,000 to boost its digital transformation and data capacity to better serve the community.
In all, the 21 grants supported organizations from the Cowichan Valley and southern Gulf Islands to communities throughout Greater Victoria.
Vital Signs launches Oct. 5 – and you’re invited!
Each fall, the Victoria Foundation and community partners release the insightful, easy-to-navigate Victoria’s Vital Signs report – a community check-up that evaluates the Capital Region as a place to live, learn, work and grow.
The result of data gathered from federal, provincial and local sources, a citizens survey on the health of the community, and stories gathered from local organizations and charities, the 18th report measures the health of our city and assigns grades in a number of areas critical to Victoria’s vitality.
For the first time, the local community is invited to join the launch, to be held this year at the Victoria Conference Centre on Oct. 5 from 4 to 6 p.m.
Hosted with presenting partner Coast Capital, the event features keynote speaker Dr. Robyne Hanley-Dafoe, an expert on resiliency and workplace wellness, and after the presentation offers attendees the opportunity to discuss the results of the report with subject matter experts.
Seating is limited. To reserve your spot on Eventbrite, click here.