The Woolwich Community Fund - Impact Stories
Community Band provides Affordable Music Training for All Ages
The Breslau Bloomingdale Maryhill Band is a community-led band that has provided opportunities to learn to play an instrument and perform since 1979. Anyone from age 7 onward is provided with an instrument at a nominal cost, and there are weekly practices for musicians ranging from beginners to advanced. Instruments would be beyond the financial means of many families with multiple family members participating in the band. While minor repairs are done by experienced band members, there are annual costs to maintaining instruments, buying music and keeping the weekly fees affordable.
High School Revitalizes Greenhouse with Eco-Friendly Heating
The revitalization of the greenhouse at Elmira District Secondary School was a community-wide project that The Woolwich Community Fund was excited to fund. In order to run the greenhouse effectively, a heating system was needed. This presented an opportunity for students to learn about and assist with the installation of a geothermal heating system, which is both efficient and eco-friendly. With technical and parts support from Next Energy, a local geothermal company, the school tech department, under Mr. Randy Dyck’s direction, installed a geothermal system that was not only a learning experience for the tech students but also allowed the addition of a horticultural program for the school. The horticultural program provides valuable hands-on experience!
Strong Start Reading Program gives Children a Chance at Lifelong Success - Grant application supported by The Woolwich Community Fund
BIGGER DREAMS AND A BRIGHTER FUTURE - Sean’s Story graciously shared by Carolyn
I want to share the story of how Strong Start changed my son Sean’s life… My story starts with Senior Kindergarten, where I could see Sean losing interest in school. At home, he avoided talking about his class and was very reluctant to read with me. It was like he didn’t understand the concept of reading. No amount of coaching or encouragement by his dad or me made a difference.
When he started Letters, Sounds and Words, Sean knew 26 of 52 letter sounds and three of the 28 words by sight. His beginning reading level was 0.
At first, there seemed to be no change, but by Week 5, it was as if a terrible burden had been lifted. He smiled more and seemed more confident. One evening, as I watched him play a Mario and Luigi game on his Nintendo DS. The game has written prompts, which either his brother or I read to him. On this particular night, Sean read aloud the instruction printed on his DS screen without hesitation. Then he looked over at me, and his big blue eyes opened wide. “Did you hear that?” he asked.
Sean has not looked back. What he gained from this experience goes way beyond learning to read. He is so much more independent and happy. Sean dreams bigger now that he can read. He feels anything is possible. His current career goals are to be a double Olympian, competing in both summer and winter sports, and then to be the manager of the waterpark at Canada’s Wonderland. Strong Start made a significant and positive difference in my son’s life.