And thanks to an $8,500 grant from the Whistler Blackcomb Foundation kids who might not be able to afford to take part in club sports in Whistler will get the chance to.
"It means the kids can be just someone else and it is all done confidentially so neither the child or parents are embarrassed," said Sheila Mozes, co-ordinator of Whistler Kidsport.
"Imagine telling your kid you can’t play soccer, or do gymnastics. It would be heartbreaking."
The foundation has been the title sponsor of Kidsport for the last six years. Over those years it has helped over 1,800 kids play hockey, soccer, do gymnastics, martial arts and other club sports.
The Kidsport grant is part of more than $260,000 in charitable grants the Whistler Blackcomb Foundation has just awarded to Sea to Sky non-profit organizations. Applications were received from 40 organizations totalling more than a half a million dollars in requests.
"We received more applications than usual from many dedicated local non-profit groups," said Executive Director, Louise Lundy.
"Our mandate is to provide support to lasting community projects that benefit children, youth and families in the Sea to Sky corridor. The foundation’s board of directors really feel these grants will achieve that goal and greatly enhance our communities."
The Whistler and Pemberton Health Care Foundations are the two biggest recipients, receiving $100,000 towards the completion of the teleradiology project in both the Whistler and Pemberton Health Care Centres. This state of the art equipment will allow X-rays to be produced in digital form so they can be enhanced, stored and e-mailed to specialists anywhere.
It will also act as the foundation for adding other high-tech diagnostic equipment in the future, such as a CT Scanner.
The Mount Currie Xit'olacw Community School will receive a $25,000 matching grant to purchase computer equipment for the high school as well as another $2,500 for their very innovative JUMP (Junior Undiscovered Math Protégé) program.
The Mount Currie Band will also receive $10,000 towards the purchase of a new boiler for the community gymnasium. During last October’s floods many gathered in the community gym to stay warm and dry. But a faulty boiler meant heat was intermittent at best.
In Squamish, the Garibaldi Highlands Elementary School will receive $25,000 towards a new playground. The only playground for the entire community is more than 30 years old and is no longer safe to use. The school’s PAC is working hard to raise the remainder needed to complete the project.
The foundation has also committed $25,000 each towards the fundraising campaigns for skateboard parks in Pemberton and Squamish.
The other successful recipients include The Crisis Intervention and Suicide Prevention Centre of B.C., The Kelty Patrick Dennehy Foundation, a donation of $3,000 was pledged to the Whistler Blackcomb employee’s relay team in the B.C. Lions 24-Hour Relay for Kids, the Garibaldi Paddle Sports Association in Squamish, the Whistler Gymnastics Club, Outward Bound, Zero Ceiling Society, Whistler and Pemberton Secondary Schools, and the Squamish Food Bank.
In addition, $11,722 will go to match employee contributions donated to the Whistler Blackcomb Foundation Environmental Fund. This fund is for Whistler Blackcomb employee-driven initiatives to protect the environment.
The Whistler Blackcomb Foundation supports programs that improve the quality of life for residents within the Sea to Sky Corridor. Since 1993, the Foundation has given out more than $2.7 million dollars in grants. Application submission deadlines are Oct. 1 st and April 1 st of each year.
