Vancity community grants worth $326,450 support 38 local organizations

Vancouver, June 16, 2009 – Vancity is awarding more than $326,450 to 38 local organizations that support community projects in Metro Vancouver, the Fraser Valley, and Vancouver Island. The grants will be used to fund a variety of initiatives that benefit the social, environmental and economic well-being of the community.

In the last six months, Vancity has distributed $612,867 to community organizations across BC in the form of community project grants. It is one part of the credit union’s community investment program, which is funded from a proportion of Vancity’s annual profits. Since 1994, Vancity has given back close to $150 million in Shared Success dollars, with membership dividends now standing at over $100 million and over $50 million in grants to community organizations.

“Supporting our members and our communities is a part of who we are,” says Vancity’s director of community leadership Andrea Harris. “These organizations are dedicated to building healthy, sustainable communities and we are thrilled to support their initiatives.”

Three sample initiatives of the 38 projects supported by the grants are:

The North Shore Neighbourhood House will use its $10,000 grant to fund the Edible Garden Project. The mission of the project is to create a network of communities where locally grown food is collected and distributed to organizations that provide food to low income families and individuals.

Junior Achievement of British Columbia received $10,000 for the Economics for Success (ESIS) project. The grant will be used to deliver 61 ESIS courses to grade 9 and 10 students in Richmond and Surrey. In total, 1,800 local youth will receive guidance in personal finance, education, and career options.

Based in the Downtown Eastside, Tradeworks Training Society helps foster sustainable independence by providing job-related skills training, counseling, and work opportunities. The Society will use its $10,000 grant to grow Tradeworks Custom Products, a social enterprise that provides women who are facing multiple barriers to employment with real-world work experience.

The full list of recipients, by community:

Langley – Langley Environmental Partners Society.

Maple Ridge – The Haney Farmers Market Society and Leave Out Violence BC.

New Westminster – Fraserside Community Services Society and the Centre of Integration for African Immigrants.

North and West Vancouver – BC Wildlife Federation, Deep Cove Rowing Club, and the North Shore Neighbourhood House.

Surrey – Dream Rider Theatre Society, Green Timbers Heritage Society, OPTIONS: Services to Communities Society, Surrey Food Bank, Surrey Parks, Recreation & Culture, Surrey Urban Farmers Market Association, and Junior Achievement of British Columbia.

Richmond – Evergreen and the Steveston Community Society.

Vancouver – Better Environmentally Sound Transportation, Stanley Park Ecology Society, Vancouver Fruit Tree Project Society, Vancouver Native Health Society, Catching the Spirit Youth Society, Chrysalis Society, Mount Pleasant Neighbourhood House, The SFU Writers Studio, Working Gear Clothing Society, Changing Climates Educational Society, Neighbours Food Cooperative, Pacific Community Resources Society, The Firehall Theatre Society, and Tradeworks Training Society.

Victoria – Edward Milne Community School Society, Solid Roofs and Autonomous Roots Housing Co-operative, Bridges for Women Society, Victoria Community Health Cooperative, Centre for Non-Timber Resources, and the Greater Victoria Volunteer Society.

Additional information for local non-profit groups, including how to apply for future community project grants, can be found at www.vancity.com/grants. Vancity’s next granting deadline is September 30, 2009. Vancity funds one grant application per organization in a given calendar year.

Photos of the latest community project grant recipients are available upon request.

Media enquiries:
Communications, Vancity
Phone: 778-837-0394
Email: mediarelations@vancity.com

Vancity is Canada’s largest credit union, with $14.1 billion in assets, 410,000 members, 61 branches throughout Metro Vancouver, the Fraser Valley and Victoria, and two Squamish Savings branches. Vancity owns Citizens Bank of Canada, serving members across the country by telephone, ATM, and the Internet. For further information, visit: www.vancity.com.