Over $3 Million provided to 64 Waterloo Region organizations through the Government of Canada’s Community Services Recovery Fund
WATERLOO REGION, ON — Today, Waterloo Region Community Foundation (WRCF) and United Way Waterloo Region Communities (UWWRC) are pleased to announce $3 Million in funding to support 64 projects across Waterloo Region through the Government of Canada’s Community Services Recovery Fund. In addition, there will be funding announced through the Canadian Red Cross.
The Community Services Recovery Fund is a one-time investment of $400 Million by the Government of Canada to help Community Service Organizations, charities, non-profits and Indigenous governing bodies located in Canada. This funding is in partnership with Community Foundations of Canada, United Way Centraide Canada, and the Canadian Red Cross.
Community service organizations are at the forefront of addressing communities’ needs. Since the early phases of the COVID-19 pandemic, they have struggled with increased demand for their services, reduced revenues, declines in charitable giving due to the rising cost of living, and a greater need to make use of digital tools. Many organizations are struggling to recover and adapt their services to the changing needs of Waterloo Region.
For more information, visit the Community Services Recovery Fund website.
The following organizations are being supported in Waterloo Region:
A Better Tent City Waterloo Region
ACCKWA (The AIDS Committee of Cambridge Kitchener Waterloo and Area)
Adventure4Change
African Women’s Alliance of Waterloo Region
Anishnabeg Outreach Employment and Training Inc.
AONation
Bereaved Families of Ontario – Midwestern Region
Bridges to Belonging
Cambridge Cultural Association
Cambridge Food Bank
Cambridge Shelter Corporation
Cambridge Symphony Orchestra
Cambridge Vineyard Christian Fellowship
Cambridge Rowing Club
Camino Wellbeing + Mental Health formerly Carizon Family and Community Services (Children and Youth Planning Table of Waterloo Region)
Canadian Aweil Youth Association
Canadian Mental Health Association Waterloo Wellington
Central Ontario Developmental Riding Program
Child Witness Centre of Waterloo Region
Coalition of Muslim Women of KW
Community Care Concepts of Woolwich, Wellesley & Wilmot Townships
Community Support Connections
Epilepsy South Central Ontario
Extend-A-Family Waterloo Region
Family and Children’s Services Foundation
Freedom in Christ Pentecostal Assembly
Greenway-Chaplin Community Centre
Habitat for Humanity Waterloo Region Inc.
Hope for Community Development
Hospice of Waterloo Region
Interfaith Community Counselling Centre
Islamic Centre of Cambridge
John Howard Society of Waterloo-Wellington
Kitchener Rangers Community Fund
Kitchener-Waterloo Art Gallery
Kitchener-Waterloo Multicultural Centre
Lincoln-Road Chinese Training Association
Lisaard & Innisfree Hospice
Marillac Place
MennoHomes Inc.
MINT Memory Clinic
Multicultural Theatre Space (MT Space)
Muslim Social Services Waterloo Region
Neruda Arts
Nutrition for Learning
Porchlight Counselling and Addiction Services
Rare Charitable Research Reserve
Reception House Waterloo Region
Sanguen Health Centre
SHORE Centre
Smart Waterloo Region Innovation Lab
Somali Canadian Association of Waterloo Region
St. Stephen Lutheran Church and Christ Evangelical Lutheran Church
Sunbeam Community & Developmental Services
The Healing of the Seven Generations
The Working Centre
Thresholds Homes and Supports
Unwrap Theatre
Volunteer Waterloo Region
Waterloo Region Family Network
Wilmot Family Resource Centre
Women’s Crisis Services of Waterloo Region
Woolwich Community Health Centre
YW Kitchener-Waterloo
Quotes:
“We hear from local organizations that funding to support their capacity is difficult to find. And the need to strengthen internal operations is now more critical than ever due to the pandemic. We are pleased WRCF could play a part in bringing funding to local charities, non-profits, and Indigenous Governing Bodies.”
– Eric Avner, President & CEO, Waterloo Region Community Foundation
“United Way WRC quarterly funding keeps us closely connected with the critical needs of organizations in our community. It was an honour to collaborate with WRCF and the Red Cross in the allocation of the Community Services Recovery Fund, funded by the Government of Canada, across Waterloo Region. This additional funding stream has allowed for much needed investments in innovation and resilience building in local Community Service Organizations.”
– Joan S Fisk, CEO, United Way Waterloo Region Communities
“The Government supports a more inclusive model of economic growth that creates opportunities for everyone in Canada as the long-term recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic continues. The Community Services Recovery Fund will strengthen the ability of charities and non-profits to deliver services and resources where they will have the most impact. Because of the National Funders’ strong connections with local organizations, they will ensure funding is distributed efficiently to organizations that provide services to communities in need across Canada.”
– Karina Gould, The Minister of Families, Children and Social Development
“Community service organizations are at the heart of communities like Waterloo Region, creating a sense of belonging from coast to coast to coast. The Community Services Recovery Fund will enable organizations that serve our diverse communities to adapt and modernize their programs and services and to invest in the future of their organizations, staff and volunteers. Together, we can rebuild from the isolation of the COVID-19 pandemic and build a more just and equitable future for those in Waterloo Region.”
– Jenna Sudds, Minister of Families, Children and Social Development
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About Waterloo Region Community Foundation
Waterloo Region Community Foundation (WRCF) collaborates with partners to create sustainable, equitable and thriving communities. We connect regionally and locally, working with three cities and four townships – to include the people and places across our region. Together, we develop forward-thinking innovative solutions and seize opportunities to meet current and future needs of our community. We make philanthropy easy for individuals and companies to support organizations and issues they care about. WRCF is focused on Granting, Impact Investing and Convening to make measurable and sustainable impacts. Gifts are directed to WRCF's endowed funds that drive positive change through grants with the income generated being distributed in partnership with Fundholders to support a wide range of charitable causes within our community. A portion of the endowed funds are also used for impact investments that deliver both financial returns as well as positive social or environmental outcomes. As a leading community-building organization we also work to amplify voices and issues of importance by convening conversations and sharing information, while approaching our work with an equity mindset. www.wrcf.ca
About United Way Waterloo Region Communities
United Way Waterloo Region Communities is dedicated to helping people live better lives in every one of the seven communities we serve, and we focus on understanding issues and solutions unique to our community. Thanks to generous donors and partners, we are privileged to collaborate with people, non-profits, and businesses to empower multiple innovative, impactful and measurable solutions. We are fundraisers and local community builders that support a network of agencies whose programs and services are locally focused, informed, connected, and deeply invested in helping people reach their full potential. To ensure critical agencies, programs and services get the funding they need, and to ensure donors have a clear line of sight to the work we do, we have focused on cause-based giving. Campaign for a Cause is a targeted community campaign that provides the opportunity for you or your workplace to give back in a way that aligns directly with your values and goals. To learn more, connect with us at www.uwaywrc.ca
For additional information about this release or to schedule an interview, please contact:
Lynne Short
Vice President, Waterloo Region Community Foundation
519-725-1806 x 204
lynne@wrcf.ca
Amanda Melnick
Senior Director, Impact and Stewardship, United Way Waterloo Region Communities
519-888-6100 x 210
amelnick@uwaywrc.ca
