WELLINGTON COUNTY – The Centre Wellington Community Foundation (CWCF) announced on Nov. 7 it will be giving $272,000 in funding to support eight projects in Centre Wellington, Minto, Mapleton and Wellington North.
The funds are available through the Government of Canada’s Community Services Recovery Fund, a one-time investment of $400 million to help community service organizations adapt, modernize and to improve sustainability of the community services they provide.
“We need to have a conversation in the community about supporting the operational side of organizations,” said executive director of CWCF J. Raymond Soucy.
“We’re dealing with local organizations here that provide significant services to our community and so we need to make sure they’re healthy.”
The following organizations will receive money:
- $10,000 to the Mount Forest Curling Club;
- $38,000 for the Children’s Foundation of Guelph and Wellington;
- $37,000 for the Elora Community Theatre;
- $20,000 to the Elora Fergus Arts Council;
- $69,000 to the Community Resource Centre of North and Centre Wellington;
- $40,000 to the Elora Festival Singers;
- $17,550 for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Centre Wellington; and
- $40,000 to the Elora Centre for the Arts.
“We are thrilled to receive this generous grant from [CWCF], a beacon of support for our local community,” stated Karyn Kirkwood, executive director of the Children’s Foundation of Guelph Wellington, in an email to the Advertiser.
“This funding is a tremendous help for the operational backbone of our organization.
“While program funding is crucial, the Community Services Recovery Fund acknowledges the often overlooked operational side, recognizing that streamlined systems are the unsung heroes behind effective services.”
Created in 2009 by 18 individuals, CWCF is a public, charitable foundation created for and by members of Centre Wellington.
These individuals thought the community needed an organization that could do three things: work with donors, grant money and
build partnerships amongst organizations to provide community leadership.
“We wanted to administer the program and have local organizations apply to us, instead of a national portal where they wouldn’t be as known,” said Soucy.
“What was unique about this program, is that it has supported the operational side of organizations. And [that is] very, very rare.”
To receive funding, organizations applied for a particular amount to help its projects.
“If we can, we always try to fund the entire amount that they have requested. And then if we can’t, then we’ll fund a portion of it,” Soucy said.
“This is absolutely amazing,” said Susan Thorning, co-chair of the Elora Fergus Arts Council.
“It’s really a one-time opportunity for a small volunteer organization like the arts council, to really put in place tools that will really help us manage every- thing and manage the activities that we do.”
The Elora Fergus Arts Council is entirely made up of volunteers.
“This grant will really allow the arts council to transform into a much stronger organization supporting arts in Elora and Fergus,” Thorning said.
