Downtown OTF grants announced

Gilda’s Club takes a chunk for outreach

Community organizations in neighbourhoods across Toronto will receive $5,137,200 in community grants from the Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF). The 44 grants announced today by Caroline Di Cocco, Ontario’s Minister of Culture, will help organizations make a difference in their communities.

“Ontarians live better lives thanks to the valuable services charitable and not-for-profit organizations provide in their communities,” said Minister Di Cocco. “By investing in community organizations, the Foundation helps bring people together, address local needs and improve service and infrastructure. Year after year, OTF continues to play a vital role in building healthy and vibrant communities in Ontario.”

“Behind each of these grants is an important project or organization committed to community growth and development,” said Alexander Waugh, Grant Review Team Chair. “Funding from the Ontario Trillium Foundation ensures that many different interests and needs are being met in the community.”

OTF grants make a difference in Toronto neighbourhoods. Gilda’s Club Greater Toronto will be awarded $135,600 over two years to expand the organization’s outreach and organizational capacity by developing a volunteer services program. CJRT – Jazz.FM91 will receive $116,500 over two years to increase community involvement with jazz music by making JAZZ.FM91’s new location accessible and developing educational programming for children, students and seniors.

Minister Di Cocco also announced that 38 groups will receive over $6.2 million in grants from OTF’s Province-Wide program. Many of these groups are umbrella organizations that lead large-scale projects, provide leadership and resources and help member groups build their capacity. Community Living Ontario will receive $245,000 over three years to create employment opportunities for people who have intellectual disabilities. Partnerships will be established with Rotary Clubs across the province that will identify jobs and local service providers who will supply candidates and support.

A list of Province-Wide grants announced today is available at: http://www.trilliumfoundation.org/cms/en/2006_2007_PW.aspx

Central Toronto neighbourhood community grants ratified by the Ontario Trillium Foundation Board of Directors on October 26, 2006 include:

ArtReach: Youth Engagement through Arts Funders Collaborative Project c/o The Laidlaw Foundation (grant has citywide impact) $225,000 over three years for a collaborative granting program to increase engagement and participation in quality arts opportunities by Toronto youth aged 12 to 25 years who have experienced exclusion.

Arts and Learning in Toronto’s Priority Neighbourhood Schools c/o Inner City Angels (grant has citywide impact) $160,500 over three years to provide arts-based learning opportunities in 20 elementary school classrooms in under-served neighbourhoods. This will increase the exposure of teachers, students and their parents to professional visual artists.

Gilda’s Club Greater Toronto (grant has citywide impact) $135,600 over two years to expand the organization’s outreach and organizational capacity by developing a volunteer services program.

Laboratoire d’art (grant has citywide impact) $125,000 over two years to build the operating and administrative capacity of the organization, and to renovate the existing Distillery District space for the enhancement of programs and services toward a sustainable future.

Southern Currents and Video Collective (grant has citywide impact) $145,000 over three years to build the capacity of the organization through restructuring and strengthening human resources. This will help maximize administrative, operation and financial operations for long-term sustainability and growth.

Street Health Community Nursing Foundation (grant has citywide impact) $148,500 over two years to enhance organizational capacity to conduct monitoring and evaluation, engage in community-based research and involve the homeless in southeast Toronto in research on issues that affect their lives.

Women’s Art Resource Centre (WARC) (grant has citywide impact) $100,000 over two years to support the Youth Leaders in the Arts Phase II program, a series of comic-book-style publication workshops for youth that relate to community issues such as violence prevention, AIDS awareness and body/self image.

YYZ Artists Outlet (grant has citywide impact) $8,000 over six months to fund a program of strategic planning to build YYZ’s organizational capacities through growth and innovation.