The Oakville Community Foundation and its Fundholders Intensify Support Enabling Over $270,000 To Individual Projects

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1 Attention: News, Community and Photo Editors The Oakville Community and its Fundholders Intensify Support Enabling Over $270,000 To Individual Projects Oakville, Ontario: April 12, 2016: The s annual Community Granting program, supported by specific Fundholders, have enabled nearly $270,000 in granting. The Community Grants are now awarded annually in Spring, and this year The increased the maximum grant amount per charity to $10,000 (up from $5,000). Funding is directed through one of the following Funds Vital Community Fund (Renamed From Community Fund), Ontario Endowment For Children And Youth In Recreation Fund, Oakville Environmental Fund And The Athena Scholarship Fund. The latest projects ranged from $2,000 to $10,000 in value. Agencies were all required to identify their proposal as meeting one or more of the priority areas from The s 2015 Vital Signs report Mental Health; Affordable Housing; Equity Gap; Inclusion & Diversity. The Board established a new three year strategic plan, with an emphasis around granting with a goal to Increase the share of our dollars to stay locally. All projects receiving funding must all support Oakville residents. Individual project funding is in addition to the Collaborative projects, which received $120,681 in funding. Funding was received again in partnership with our Fundholders, and from our Vital Community Fund. In total, The 's Grantmaking efforts contributed a total of $389,885 to 47 charities. We can t thank our Fundholders enough. Their support this year was exemplary. We had 17 Fundholders directly support grants from their funds. As well, we were honoured to have one our Fundholders provide a Matching contribution. We were also extremely pleased that private donors like the Walmley, a held outside The Oakville Community, directed support to one of the grantees. This is a testament to our Fundholders and donors who truly believe in the work the charitable sector is doing for Oakville residents. Wendy Rinella, CEO. A short description of the 41 individual projects supported, is appended. A list of all agencies receiving support is summarized by Fund. From the Vital Community Fund: Food4Kids Hamilton Halton, CNIB, Home Suite Hope, March of Dimes Canada, The Oakville Strokers, Acclaim Health, Halton Learning, Easter Seals Ontario, Shifra Homes, Oakville Kiwanis Meals on Wheels, Kids help Phone, Wellspring Cancer Support Birmingham Gilgan House, Family Adolescent Straight Talk (FAST), Canadian Mental Health Halton Region Branch, Oakville Public Library, Oakville Hospital, Halton Down Syndrome,,

2 St.Luke's Anglican Church, Halton Catholic Children's Education, (on behalf of the Halton Poverty Roundtable), The Women's of Halton, Halton Family Services. From the Ontario Youth & Recreation Fund: The Oakville Children's Choir, Big Brothers Big Sisters, Canadian Diabetes, Tetra Society of North America, Easter Seals Ontario, Camp Oochigeas, YMCA of Oakville, Crusaders Rugby Club, Oakville Chamber Orchestra, Start2Finish,, ArtHouse for Children and Youth, Oakville Public Library, Canadian Caribbean of Halton From the Oakville Environment Fund: Earth Rangers, Oakvillegreen Conservation, Oak Park, Toronto Wildlife Donations may be made to our Vital Community Fund. Donors supporting this Fund allow The to respond to critical issues in our community as they arise. Donations may be made at or by calling Judy Bonifacio, Manager, Grants & Fund Administration, at x About the Oakville Community The Oakville Community is a leader in philanthropic stewarding and community building. Our Vision is to build a healthy, vital community where everyone has a sense of belonging, and the opportunity to connect, contribute and realize their potential. We invest the generosity of caring residents to build opportunities for generations. For more information contact: Sarah McPherson , ext. 302 Director, Communications & Development sarah@theocf.org The s annual Community Granting program 2016 A short description of all Individual Projects funded Vital Community Fund Grant Allocations Food4Kids Hamilton Halton CNIB Weekends Without Hunger Increasing Inclusion and Well Being for the Blind and Partially Sighted in Oakville To establish a Food4Kids program at 3 remaining Oakville schools, supporting 15 children in need. To provide support to 8 local seniors who are blind or partially sighted. Home Suite Hope HSH Childcare Program To provide child care support, for parents enrolled in employment & life skills training. March of Dimes Canada Non Profit Housing Corporation Accessible Kitchens for People with Disabilities Renovate apparment kitchens for tenants who have accessibility challenges and are on limited income.

3 The Oakville Strokers Acclaim Health Halton Learning Easter Seals Ontario Shifra Homes Oakville Kiwanis Meals on Wheels Kids help Phone Wellspring Cancer Support Birmingham Gilgan House Family Adolescent Straight Talk (FAST) Canadian Mental Health Halton Region Branch Oakville Public Library Oakville Hospital Halton Down Syndrome St.Luke's Anglican Church Halton Catholic Children's Education The Oakville Strokers' Program Cargiver Life Transformation Eliminating Financial Barriers for Students 2016 Financial Assistance Program Residential Program & Seeds of Hope Program A program of aquatic exercise, recreation and socialization for stroke survivors, funding will be to offset rising costs of facility use. To increase capacity to support most at risk caregivers, providing them with strategies they need to care for themselves and their loved one with dementia. Uses funds to directly support students who are facing economic challenges that affect their engagement with school. Funds will allow at least 3 children and youth to receive financial assistance to obtain equipment. Shifra Homes is only maternity residence for young, pregnant homeless women in Halton. Residential Program serves above mentioned and their babies Meals on Wheels New program that prepares 1001 free hot meals through 10 months to low income clients living with family, spouses or alone. Live Chat Counselling for Improved Youth Mental Health Short Term Counselling and Peer Support Change In Direction Free Walk in counselling Clearview Kids N Me program Seniors Mental Health Support program Handwriting Without Tears Seniors Drop in St. Luke's Community Student Guardian Program Youth Prosperity Education Initiative With increased demands of supporting youth, funds would be used to hire additional counsellors and resources, to reach children ages With the increased demands on volunteers, these funds will be used to provide ongoing specialized training for volunteers. This new project will provide concurrent mental health and substance use treatment to young people in Halton who are involved in or are at risk of being involved in the justice system. To support a weekly free walk in counselling service at head office, funding will support staffing and other associated costs for counselling services. Funding received from both Vital Community & Ontario Youth & Recreation Funds. Funding will provide a literacy based preschool program in a high need neighbourhood. Specialty resources for seniors' mental health within Halton are needed, and funding will support the recruitment of new resources, and implement augmented clinical services. Will help children with Down syndrome master handwriting quicker and with less frustration, providing the program with workshop materials. Funding to enable transportation to seniors to attend a free program, focused on increasing quality of life through exercise, educational speakers, healthy lunch and socialization. A growing need for programs and services geared to those isolated and low income households, will be developed and funding will support the coordinator position Support will go to students, who through various life situations, are facing economic challenges that affect their engagement with school. In partnership with Halton Poverty Roundtable, 3 Oakville high schools are participating in providing students an alternative/supplementary education module, to help in lowering the current dropout rate.

4 The Women's of Halton Halton Family Services S.O.S. Seniors overcoming Stigmas DBT Informed Skills Group The project assists older adult women through life transitions by supporting senior women, engaging them in various physical activities. Funds will pay for specific training in this specialized couselling modality of Dialectical Behaviour Therapy. Ontario Youth & Recreation Fund Grant Allocations The Oakville Children's Choir Big Brothers Big Sisters Canadian Diabetes Tetra Society of North America Chorister Bursary Fund Group Recreation and Big Fit Health Education for children and and youth with type 1 diabetes at Camp Huronda Tools for Tykes Program To allow all qualified bursary applicants to receive assistance for chorister tuition fees. Funds will support costs of various activities in the matching of 25 mentors and children. Funds will be used to help subsidize children and youth from Oakville to attend 2 week program, which has extensive associated medical and professional costs. Tetra connects people with cognitive, mobility and dexterity impairments with highly skilled volunteers. This program will design, build and deliver custom assistive devices to children and teens to help gain independence. Easter Seals Ontario 2016 Send A Kid to Camp Funding supports an overnight camp for children and youth with varying degrees of physical disability. Camp Oochigeas Camper Support for campers living in Oakville area Funding supports an camp for children affected by childhood cancer, and funds would support costs of 3 campers from Oakville. YMCA YMCA Youth Exchange This new initiative pilots a youth exchange program within Canada, a 7 day exchange, immersing local living (host houses) to develop greater independence, accountability, leadership skills and employment readiness. Crusaders Rugby Club Purchase of Scrum Sledge To support specific equipment needs to develop proper techniques, in a safe environment. Oakville Chamber Orchestra Start2Finish ArtHouse for Children and Youth Canadian Caribbean of Halton Youth Inspiring Youth Oakville Running and Reading Club Take Five Youth Leadership in Action Funds are in support of their community outreach initiatives, including Youth Concerto Competition, and Instrument Petting Zoo held at the Oakville Public Library. An afterschool program, for children ages 1 6, includes activiites around physical fitness. Geared to the graduates of the 7 12 year old Arthoue program, this initiative intertwines Youth Leadership and Mental wellness using the arts as a learning, therapeutic and coping tool. Project targets low income and newcomer youth to involve in extra curricular activities, providing leadership, knowledge skills will involve a workshop, involving youth.

5 Oakville Environment Fund Grant Allocations Earth Rangers Oakvillegreen Conservation Toronto Wildlife Earth Rangers School Outreach Program Oakville Expansion Urban Forest Stewardship Project Greening Playground Helping Oakville's Wildlife (HOWL) Funds will offset costs associated with show development and delivery at 4 additional Oakville schools of their Assembly interactive presenation for grades 1 6. Project will train and support local volunteers for stewardship activities to improve the health of public trees and woodlands in their neighbourhoods. Funding received from both Ontario Youth & Recreation and Environment funds, this program provides garden space for food bank, which supports 50 families / year. Project will ensure medical and rehabilitative care for sick, injured or orphaned wild animals found in Oakville.