Niagara's TALK voted the People's Choice

News provided by

Ontario Trillium Foundation

Mar 05, 2012, 10:40 ET

TORONTO, March 5, 2012 /CNW/ -

NEWS

TALK (Teams of Adults Listening to Kids) of Niagara has been voted the People's Choice through an online vote held February 13-29 by the Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF).

TALK was among 18 youth-focused initiatives nominated for People's Choice Award from among hundreds of recent grants awarded by the Foundation. All nominated initiatives were led by, or serve, youth ages 13 to 18, and were selected in November 2011 by more than 300 OTF grant review team volunteers.

TALK brings adults and community organizations together to listen to, and support, youth to 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.

View the TALK video

In 2007 the Ontario Trillium Foundation provided a grant of $224,800 over three years for communication materials, administrative costs and a project co-ordinator. The grant supported a collaborative led by Niagara Pride Support Services.

The People's Choice Award is a new addition to the Foundation's prestigious Great Grants Awards. For receiving the most votes, TALK will receive a day of strategic consulting, courtesy of Deloitte, and a trip to Toronto to collect the People's Choice Award at the OTF Great Grants Award luncheon March 23 in Toronto.

QUOTES

"Today, I spoke with a student who has moved on from high school and is now studying theatre because of the encouragement and support provided him by TALK. This student NEVER would have thought himself capable of going to post-secondary if he had not been given such confidence from various TALK projects and mentors."

- Hugh N, People's Choice Award voter, in a comment left on the People's Choice Award website.

"TALK did a great job of mobilizing youth, parents and supporters to vote online. Their votes are a testament to how people in Niagara value this program and how effective it has been in helping local youth take action to reduce victimization in all its forms."

- Sandra Cruickshanks
Director of Communications and Public Affairs, Ontario Trillium Foundation

ABOUT THE ONTARIO TRILLIUM FOUNDATION

A leading grant maker in Canada, the Ontario Trillium Foundation strengthens the capacity of the voluntary sector through investments in community-based initiatives. An agency of the Government of Ontario, OTF builds healthy and vibrant communities.

LEARN MORE

Alexis Mantell, Ontario Trillium Foundation 1.800.263.2887 ext. 218
[email protected]

Det/Cst Nadine Wallace, TALK Project Coordinator and Youth Justice Co-ordinator
Niagara Regional Police Service 905.688.4111 ext. 5063 [email protected]

Organization Profile

Ontario Trillium Foundation