The Whistler Blackcomb Foundation has awarded more than
$100,000 in charitable grants to Sea to Sky non-profit organizations.
“This year there was a marked increase in requests for funding
and it was difficult for our board to choose from so many worthy applications,”
said Executive Director, Mei McCurdy.
“We are pleased to be in a position to help and believe that
these grants will provide support to lasting community projects that benefit
children, youth and families in the Sea to Sky Corridor.”
In addition to the $40,000 donated to establish the newly
formed Arts & Culture Legacy Fund, other recipients included:
• Lions Bay Fire & Rescue received $12,500 for their Sea to
Sky Road Rescue Services. The monies received will be used to purchase a
hydraulic generator to operate the jaws of life, extrication cutters and a ram
for emergency response to motor vehicle accidents.
• Myrtle Philip elementary school and all of the high schools
in School District No. 48 received funds to purchase Sound Field Systems for
their classrooms.
• Teddy Bear Daycare in Millennium Place received almost $5,000
to complete the installation of rubber safety tiles for their outdoor
playground.
• Whistler Community Services Society received $5,000 to
replenish the food bank with fresh food and non perishable items for the
upcoming season.
• Pemberton Secondary received a grant to buy additional
equipment for their Outdoor Recreation Program. Initially funded by the
Whistler Blackcomb Foundation in 2001, the program has become extremely popular
and increased enrolment has made the purchase of additional equipment
necessary.
• Xit’olacw Community School in Mount Currie received funds to
buy workbooks and teachers manuals for their very successful JUMP Program,
aimed at developing numeracy in elementary aged children.
• Each year a large number of local community and theatre
groups apply to the Foundation for various items to help them with their
productions. In order to help these groups and reduce their costs, the Whistler
Blackcomb Foundation will be buying equipment that will be accessible and
beneficial to all community groups. The equipment will be available for use at
Millennium Place.
• The Zero Ceiling Society received $2,000 for graduate
packages for at-risk youth which includes warm clothing, bedding and food and
grocery certificates.
• Ecole la Passerelle received a grant to purchase microscopes
for their Science Program.
• Whistler Childrens Chorus received funds to purchase a
powered monitor for their sound system.
The Whistler Blackcomb Foundation has two major fundraising
events each year, a golf tournament in September and the Telus Winter Classic,
to be held Jan. 27-28, 2006.
The Whistler Blackcomb Foundation is dedicated to providing
financial support to registered non-profit organizations whose activities
provide benefit to residents of the Sea to Sky corridor in the areas of health,
human services, education, recreation, arts and culture and the environment
with an emphasis on children, youth and family programs.
Since 1993, the Foundation has given out more than $3.5 million
in grants. Application submission deadlines are October 1
st
and
April 1
st
of each year.