RBC After-School Grants Project calls for grant applications

Deadline to apply is February 26, 2010

TORONTO , Jan. 15 /CNW/ - The RBC After-School Grants Project today announced its call for grant applications for the 2010-2011 school year. In its 12th year, RBC is offering more than $2.5 million in grants to fund first-time and renewed grant recipients.

The grants are awarded by regional community panels made up of experts in the fields of youth and education. Each organization should have a mandate to keep students in grades K-12 safe as well as positively engaged through an enriched curriculum after their classes end each day. RBC After-School grants of up to $40,000 are provided by the RBC Foundation to programs in at-risk or underserved communities. The deadline for funding applications is February 26, 2010 , and grant recipients will be advised by June 2010 .

"Through our RBC After-School Grants Project we are looking to continue to fund the best after school programs in Canada that focus on giving kids the 3S's - safety, social skills and self esteem," said Shari Austin , executive director, RBC Foundation. "Currently RBC is funding 90 programs in 53 cities and we are hoping to expand this network in 2010."

To qualify for a grant, after-school programs should offer structured, supervised activities five days a week and focus on offering a variety of activities, such as, computer instruction, sports, literacy tutoring, music and art lessons, nutrition guidance, and help with homework.

RBC has been funding after-school programs since 1999, with almost $20 million via 656 grants to 198 different organizations that have helped almost 20,000 children. RBC After-School Grant applications can be downloaded from www.rbc.com/afterschool.

For further information: Media contact: Chethan Lakshman, RBC, [phone], [email protected]; Charities wishing information about RBC's After-School Grants program may contact Frances Bedford-Jones at [phone], [email protected]