Fondation Desjardins Awards $30,000 to Six Organizations for their
Outstanding Social Commitment

MONTREAL, Oct. 20 /CNW Telbec/ - Fondation Desjardins awarded six prizes of $5,000 to six non-profit organizations for their outstanding commitment to social causes. The following winners will receive their prize from their Desjardins caisse during Cooperation Week:

Youth Assistance
Les Amis du Jardin de Doris, Matane
Les Amis du Jardin de Doris is an organization that was founded in May 2002 by a group of people working in the horticultural sector in Matane. Since then, they have carried out several rehabilitation projects, including among others, the Horti-jeunes project that helps young students acquire basic horticultural and woodworking skills. In partnership with Les Jardins de Doris and using the garden as a work setting, a tourist attraction was created which now ranks among the top 50 most beautiful gardens in Québec, according to the daily newspaper La Presse.

Economic Development
Village d'accueil des Hautes-Laurentides, Kiamika
Since 2006, Village d'accueil des Hautes-Laurentides has been offering short stays to French-speaking tourists who are looking for a typical Québec experience. Travellers stay with families, which promotes camaraderie and human contact and provides travellers with the opportunity to discover rural areas through activities that are tailored to their interests. In 2009, Village d'accueil des Hautes-Laurentides matched 1,490 tourists with 78 host families.

Community Service
Coalition des familles homoparentales, Montréal
Coalition des familles homoparentales defends the rights of children of gay parents and of  future gay, lesbian, bisexual and transsexual parents. This organization fights for the legal and social recognition of these families. Various intervention methods are used, such as the training activity "Regards sur les familles homoparentales", to raise awareness on this issue and to better meet children's needs. Approximately 60 training activities were held in Québec's 11 administrative regions.

Support for the Elderly
Centre d'aide et d'action bénévole de Charlesbourg
Centre d'aide et d'action bénévole de Charlesbourg (CAABC) provides support to people in need, particularly the elderly who live alone and are isolated. The organization offers many services and promotes volunteerism and community action. In 2007, the "Aînés-nous à nous aider!" project enabled 148 isolated seniors to find out about and take advantage of the services available to them to improve their quality of life.

Cultural Services
Musée des beaux-arts de Mont-Saint-Hilaire
Musée des beaux-arts de Mont-Saint-Hilaire fine arts museum works to preserve the memory and the legacy of artists Jordi Bonet, Paul-Émile Borduas and Ozias Leduc. Its goals also include the democratization of contemporary art through educational and cultural activities while providing a prestigious showcase for artists from the region and beyond. The Musée presents seven or eight solo and group exhibits per year as well as the popular competition exhibit that brings together 150 visual artists.

Sustainable Development
Coopérative de solidarité de la Réserve de la biosphère du Lac St-Pierre, Baie-du-Febvre
The mission of Coopérative de solidarité de la Réserve de la biosphère du Lac Saint-Pierre is the sustainable development of tourism. The organization works with and for the benefit of the region's community. The Coopérative proposes community projects that focus on interdisciplinarity, intergenerational relationships and participative governance to achieve sustainable development.

Six other mentions of excellence have been awarded to:

• Le Journal de la Rue, Montréal
• Les Premiers de cordée, Québec City
• L'Écrit Tôt, Saint-Hubert
• L'arrière-scène, dramatic arts centre for youth in Beloeil, in the Montérégie Region
• La Corporation du Domaine du Seigneur Taschereau, Ville Sainte-Marie
• Conseil des organismes francophones de la région de Durham (COFRD), Oshawa

Since 1975, Desjardins Annual Prizes reward and support the actions of local organizations that make a difference in their communities through their innovative and original programs. To date, nearly 1 million dollars have been distributed among 169 organizations.

About Fondation Desjardins

Fondation Desjardins has been fulfilling its mission to provide educational support for the past 40 years. In Québec, Fondation Desjardins is well known for distributing more university bursaries than any other private foundation. It encourages research, training, acquiring skills and employability. The Fondation rewards cooperative spirit, volunteerism and entrepreneurship. As a component of Desjardins Group, the largest cooperative financial group in Canada, the Fondation will distribute nearly $750,000 in 2010. Over the last four decades, it has granted nearly $12 million to more than 9,300 people. To find out more, consult www.desjardins.com/en/fondation.

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