
Seven Charities Building a Regenerative Economy to Receive a Boost with United Way’s Sustainable Recovery Grant
We are excited to announce the 2021 recipients of the Sustainable Recovery Grant and are grateful for the opportunity to support each of these impactful, charitable organizations with enhancing their capability and long-term sustainability.
Seven Southern Interior BC (Okanagan) charities have been selected to receive the Sustainable Recovery Grant; a one-time grant funding participation in a customized coaching and supportive program that helps charities build financial resilience, enhance impact, and develop leadership skills.
We are excited to announce the 2021 recipients of the Sustainable Recovery Grant and are grateful for the opportunity to support each of these impactful, charitable organizations with enhancing their capability and long-term sustainability.
The Sustainable Recovery Grant is designed to address the emerging and sustainability needs of charities dealing with the impacts of COVID-19. This is a multi-year collaboration among local funders including United Way British Columbia – Southern Interior Region, Interior Savings, Community Foundation of the North Okanagan, the Community Foundation of the South Okanagan Similkameen, and Valley First, a Division of First West Credit Union.
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2021 RECIPIENTS
Canadian Mental Health Association, Vernon & District
The Canadian Mental Health Association (Vernon & District Branch) is a voluntary association that exists to promote Mental Wellness in the community of Vernon, and surrounding areas in the North Okanagan. It is part of a provincial and national organization. They believe in enabling individuals, groups, and communities to increase control over and to enhance their mental health.
Clubhouse Child Care Center
The Clubhouse Childcare Center is a non-profit, charitable organization that delivers outdoor focused childcare programs. The Clubhouse offers preschool, group daycare, school age and spring/summer camp programs. Each program focuses on incorporating children into everyday activities like cooking, gardening, building, and leading. Children are given the opportunity to have independent play with wholesome choices, so their natural capacities can emerge and be celebrated.
Connect Counselling & Therapy
Focused on improving the psychological well-being within the community, Connect Counselling offers affordable professional counselling services to adults, seniors, children, and families. Other services include group, individual, and couples Counselling in order to meet community needs.
Connect Counselling strives to cultivate a safe space that is open, inclusive, and non-discriminatory for everyone no matter their sexual orientation or gender identity.
Grist Mill
The Grist Mill and Gardens is a provincial heritage property operated by Grist Mill CCC with the close support of the Grist Mill Foundation, a volunteer-led charitable organization. The site plays an important role in the community: supporting the development of a strong and integrated local economy, supporting other socially-minded organizations in their own community purposes and providing arts, culture and educational opportunities. The Grist Mill and Gardens has much to offer visitors: explore a working 1877 waterwheel powered flour mill, participate in one of our regular workshops, performances and other special events, enjoy lunch in the kitchen, browse in our unique gift shop, or stay overnight at our creek side RV campground.
IndigenEYEZ / kinSHIFT
kinSHIFT is an Indigenous-led initiative supporting settlers in building respectful relationships with Indigenous peoples and places. Their experiential, arts-based workshops allow participants to learn, practice, ask questions, and make mistakes in a safe environment, all while building a foundation for engaging meaningfully with Indigenous peoples.
kinSHIFT is a project of IndigenEYEZ, a community-based initiative that has been empowering emerging Indigenous leaders since 2013.
Kelowna Gospel Mission Society
Kelowna’s Gospel Mission is a multi-service social agency that reaches out to people experiencing homelessness and poverty in our city. We feed the hungry, shelter the homeless, help the hurting, offer dental services for low-income patients, a thrift store, and much more. KGM ministers to the whole person, spirit, soul and body by sharing Jesus with a servant’s heart.
Penticton Resource Recovery Society (Discovery House)
Discovery House offers two supportive living recovery homes for men located in Penticton, BC, offering 3 live-in recovery beds and 12 recovery beds between its two locations.
Operated by the Penticton Resource Recovery Society (PRRS), we have been helping men to find their path to recovery from drug & alcohol addiction since 2007 and have helped over 300 men change their lives and be restored to their families and communities as productive members of society.
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The pandemic highlights the valuable services charities provide in our communities. Over the last several months, 45% of charities report increases in demand for their services with many seeing demand grow faster than their capacity. Innovation and experimentation inside charities has increased sharply.
“Community organizations that have participated in the Sustainable Recovery Grants program in the past have experienced significant advancements in their social enterprises, leadership and other areas of functioning,” said Kahir Lalji, United Way British Columbia’s Provincial Director of Government Relations and Programs. “We are confident that this year’s grant recipients will strengthen their abilities to serve the community through the pandemic and beyond.”
All seven organizations will receive a one-time grant funding for customized coaching and support through Purppl’s Resilience & Recovery Program. The program enables recipients to work with Purppl, who will match the organizations with experienced “Entrepreneurs in Residence” to help them focus on their specific sustainability needs and opportunities.
The Sustainable Recovery Grant is an adaptation of the pre-existing Social Enterprise Accelerator Fund, continuing with the same shared goal of supporting the capacity and long-term sustainability of charities, especially those with a social enterprise focus.
More information on the United Way’s Sustainable Recovery Grant is available online.
Media Contact:
Kahir Lalji
Provincial Director of Government Relations and Programs
United Way British Columbia
KahirL@uwbc.ca
604-612-1304