UWBC – Southern Interior Region announces the grantees for the 2021-2022 Community Fund

46 local charities will receive investments to ensure a stronger community

Kelowna, BC – United Way announced that it will award $550k in 2021-2022 Community Fund grants to strengthen vital connections among our communities. 46 charitable organizations across the Southern Interior, including Central, South & North Okanagan, Similkameen, Columbia & Shuswap areas, will receive these investments. Individuals and families in our communities are facing a wide range of social challenges, which have been exacerbated by the pandemic. The services and supports offered by these charitable agencies are crucial to meet the ever-growing needs of our community members. Over the last several months, 45% of charities reported increases in demand for their services.

The United Way Community Fund is an annual funding program offered to charitable organizations in the communities we serve. Any registered charity that demonstrates need and impact in one or more of the United Way’s mission and priority areas is encouraged to apply for the Community Fund. Each year Community Impact Teams, made up of volunteers from our communities, come together to select agencies to be awarded the grants, using pre-defined criteria. This year, the Community Fund supported agencies that provide services focusing on four priority areas: Mental Health & Addictions, Children & Youth, Poverty, and Capacity Building.

“Our work at United Way is to ensure our donor dollars are invested locally and wisely in a way that it will actually make an impact,” says Kim Winchell, Provincial Director, Community Impact. “We do our work through the Community Fund grant process and conduct a deep analysis of the agencies by analyzing their financial stability, program results, and community partnerships. That way, we can guarantee that funds are invested in making a greater difference. Our Community Fund investments provide local support to local vulnerable people who need it most.”

UWBC – Southern Interior Region is excited to announce the 2021-2022 Community Fund grantees:

• BrainTrust Canada
• Canadian Mental Health Association Kelowna & District Branch
• Canadian Mental Health Association South Okanagan Similkameen
• Central Okanagan Elizabeth Fry Society
• Central Okanagan Emergency Shelter Society (Kelowna Women’s Shelter)
• Central Okanagan Food Bank
• Central Okanagan Region Nutrition Society (Meals on Wheels)
• Cherryville Community Food and Resources
• Childhood Connections
• Community Connections (Revelstoke) Society
• Community Dental Access Centre (North Okanagan) Society (CDAC)
• Community Recreation Initiatives Society (CRIS Adaptive Adventures)
• Connect Counselling & Therapy Society (Kelowna Family Service Ctr)
• Desert Sun Counselling
• Dragonfly Pond Family Society
• Elevation Outdoors Experiential Programs Association
• Enderby & District Community Resource Centre Society
• Family Resource Centre Society for the North Okanagan
• Freedoms Door (Resurrection Recov Resource Soc)
• John Howard Society Okanagan & Kootenay
• Hope for the Nations – Food for Thought
• HOPE Outreach
• Independent Living Vernon
• Karis Support Society
• Kelowna & District Share Society
• Kelowna Gospel Mission
• Launch Financial Education Society
• Literacy Society of North Okanagan
• Lower Similkameen Community Services Society
• New Opportunities for Women (NOW) Canada Society
• Boys & Girls Club Okanagan
• OneSky Community Resources
• OSNS Child & Youth Development Centre
• Ozanam Recovery House
• Pathways Addictions Resource Centre
• Peachland Wellness Centre
• Penticton and Area Access Centre
• Penticton Recovery Resource Society (Discovery House)
• Project Literacy Kelowna Society
• Reach Out Counselling & Support Services
• Shuswap Children’s Association
• South Okanagan Similkameen Brain Injury Society (SOSBIS)
• South Okanagan Similkameen Volunteer Centre
• Spinal Cord Injury BC
• Whitevalley Community Resource Centre
• YMCA of Okanagan