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Nanaimo Foundation doubles funding handouts for local non-profits

Jun 30, 2017 | 3:09 PM

NANAIMO – Several mid-island non-profit groups have another reason to celebrate this Canada Day long weekend after the Nanaimo Foundation (NF) came through with significant financial support.

In honour of Canada 150, NF is delivering $70,000 in community grants, double what the organization typically hands out. Foundation grants director Tim Mawdsley said they were also able to increase the number of grants.

“There’s a lot of great opportunities out there,” Mawdsley told NanaimoNewsNOW. “We’re very pleased with the number of applicants that came in. It can be tough. There are so many great organizations in this city.”

Foundation executive director Laurie Bienert said they’re not focused on a specific field of interest, but rather back projects that will have an enduring impact.

The NF manages charitable gifts from donors, creating income-earning funds to be distributed to local organizations which apply for financial assistance. Between 1982 and 2015, the NF handed out 296 grants, totaling more than $2.5 million to registered charities in Vancouver Island.

 

Nanaimo Foundation grant recipients this year:

  • Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Vancouver Island: Community Canoe – $5,000
  • Gabriola Arts Council: Heritage Arts Centre – $10,000
  • Gabriola Historical and Museum Society: Gabriola Inspires! 150 years – $5,050
  • Ladysmith Resources Centre Association: Innovative Affordable Housing Project – $10,000
  • Nanaimo Association for Community Living: Actions Community Inclusion Project – $10,000
  • Nanaimo Loaves and Fishes Community Foodbank: Community Food Security – $6,150
  • Nanaimo Senior Citiziens’ Hosing Development Society: Vancouver Island Art Project – $6,000
  • PacificSport – Vancouver Island: Nanaimo Aboriginal Active for Life Initiative – $15,000
  • Vancouver Island Regional Library: Canada’s 150 Oral History Project – $2,800

 

daryl@nanaimonews.com

On Twitter: @5minMajor