Ontario Trillium Foundation to honour organizations for exceptional projects
TORONTO, March 20, 2012 /CNW/ -
NEWS
The Ontario Trillium Foundation today named the eight recipients of the prestigious 2012 Great Grants Awards. The awards recognize charitable and not-for-profit organizations that have had an exceptional impact in their communities.
These organizations exemplify excellence, innovation and leadership in building healthy, vibrant communities. The 2012 Ontario Trillium Foundation Great Grants Awards will be handed out in the presence of Ontario Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport Michael Chan at a ceremony in Toronto March 23.
The Ontario Trillium Foundation 2012 Great Grants Award recipients are:
TechSoup Canada - Minister's Award
Providing tech tools and resources for the voluntary sector
Not-for-profits organizations often feel left behind when it comes to finding the resources to adopt - and adapt to - the constant stream of new technologies, software and Internet tools. TechSoup Canada partners with the private sector to help more than 13,000 organizations access information, products, services and IT support that make their work more effective and efficient. Funding from the Foundation helped TechSoup establish itself as the go-to repository for IT resources and training for the not-for-profit sector. Collaborating with other organizations, Tech Soup has managed to distribute more than $68 million worth of software to Canadian voluntary organizations.
Community Diversity Leadership, a collaborative led by Harmony Movement (Peel) - CEO's Award
15,000 youth and young adults participated in this program designed to foster cultural awareness and understanding of diversity, promoting harmony and mutual respect among youth in schools and the wider community. Harmony Movement partnered with the Multi-Cultural Agency of Group of Peel to deliver several diversity leadership programs, workshops, events and school assemblies. Most of these were delivered for and by the students themselves. The initiative is to be replicated elsewhere in Peel Region, which has one of Ontario's largest populations of newcomers.
Kashechewan First Nation Youth Video Project c/o Nishnawbe Aski Nation - Chair's Award
Many youth in this remote community on the James Bay Coast face significant school drop-out rates, drug and alcohol abuse, and a high risk of suicide. The prospect of employment is low, so acquiring skills that can be used locally is life changing. Thanks to training with a video expert, youth participants developed skills, while engaging the whole community on issues important to youth.
Durham Sustain Ability - Environment Award
This not-for-profit social enterprise focuses on educating residents and businesses, and develops practical sustainability programs for communities and municipalities. The Foundation's funding helped Durham Sustain Ability engage with more than 7,000 Durham Region citizens through its various educational and outreach programs like EcoHomes, EcoMunicipalities, EcoBusiness and EcoSchools. It was also retained by three north Durham municipalities to coordinate the development of an Integrated Community Sustainability Plan, the first multi-municipality collaboration of its kind in the province.
Club Action Hearst - Human and Social Services Award
In a community of 5,600 people, Club Action Hearst for seniors serves no less than 650 members and involves 13 partnerships. In addition to the well-being of its seniors, this innovative leader is now helping local youth. It is initiating intergenerational partnership projects to help youth develop skills to better access the work place, start their own businesses or pursue a higher education. Seniors in Hearst are looking out for all and setting a path for sustainable collaboration.
Jumblies Studio - Arts and Culture Award
Like individuals, even organizations benefit from mentorship. This OTF grant to Jumblies Studio provides mentorship and training programs for emerging community arts leaders. Through its unique pairing of community engagement and artistic expression, Jumblies assists community members to weave their diverse stories and perspectives into creative events that use theatre, puppetry, music, dance, writing, story-telling and a range of presentation techniques, while working with the challenges of diversity of culture, age and ability.
Girls on the Run (York Region and GTA) - Sports and Recreation Award
The popular after-school social recreation program for Grades 3 to 8 girls combines training for a non-competitive 5K event with developing self-esteem and strong values. Girls on the Run relies on mentoring relationships and physical and life skills training delivered through an active collaboration with students and their parents, schools, volunteers, staff and the community. Seventy-five schools are already signed up for the spring of 2012, ready to change young girls' lives one kilometre at a time.
TALK - Teams of Adults Listening to Kids (Niagara) - People's Choice Award
TALK, or Teams of Adults Listening to Kids, brings adults together to listen to, and support youth; to discuss and address youth victimization, including bullying, racism, dating violence, and homophobia. The project also promotes an understanding of mental health and substance use issues among young people. More than 2,500 people annually participated in TALK forums and workshops. Integral to the work of TALK are the tenets that children and youth have the power, when engaged and supported, to change their schools, their community and their world.
QUOTES
"The Great Grants Awards recognize remarkable organizations across Ontario whose efforts have a profound positive impact on the people and communities they serve," said Michael Chan, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport. "Inspired and innovative, these organizations contribute to arts and culture, sports and recreation, social services, environmental initiatives, job skills and youth engagement throughout the province. Congratulations to all our Great Grants Awards recipients - your contributions help cultivate vibrant communities for Ontario families."
"The Foundation is honoured to have such a worthy field of recipients reflecting our granting sectors and all parts of the province," said OTF Acting Chair Janet Passmore. "We thank them for their dedication and their spirit of innovation."
QUICK FACTS
- Ontario Trillium Foundation Great Grants Award recipients were selected from among some 4,500 groups that received OTF support between April 2006 and December 2010
- The eight Great Grants recipients, along with 27 nominees, will be honoured at an awards luncheon March 23 in Toronto
- The OTF grants funding to approximately 1,500 organizations each year
MORE
View photos of Great Grants Awards recipients
View profiles of all Great Grants Award finalists
Learn more about the Great Grant Awards
Learn more about the Ontario Trillium Foundation
Angela Kooij
Ontario Trillium Foundation
1.800.263.2887 ext. 217
[email protected]
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