Troy Shantz
Forty-nine groups and individuals have received grants totaling more than a quarter million dollars from the Sarnia Community Foundation.
The money will be used to support initiatives ranging from theatre renovations and recreational subsidies, to helping people out of poverty and understanding the nature of bees.
One of the recipients was the Women’s Interval Home, which received $4,000 from the 35-year old Foundation. The grant will produce information for women and children in crisis, said executive director Michelle Batty.
“Finding funds for print material is always a challenge,” Batty said. “We’re truly grateful to be recipients, especially as the Foundation was able to increase the funding beyond what we applied for.”
The Sarnia Community Foundation began in 1983 with a $25 donation and since continued to bank donations, most of which are less than $100 and come from all walks of life.
A portion is returned annually in the form of community grants, but the principal has been allowed to build and accumulate to pay even bigger dividends.
“In the past five grant years, the Foundation has been able to return well over one million dollars to the communities of Lambton County through grants from its endowed funds and special flow-through projects,” said executive director Jane Anema.
Grants of $236,000 were handed out last month and the total is expected to hit $300,000 by year-end, she added.
Some initiatives with Sarnia connections include:
Aamjiwnaang First Nation: $2,500
Awesome Grants: $2,000
Blue Eyes Big Heart Josh Alderton Scholarship: $750.
Canadian Cancer Society: $1,500
CARDUS: $20,000
City of Sarnia- Summer Festival Series: $5,000
CMHA – Suicide Prevention: $3,000
Community Living Sarnia-Lambton $8,167
County of Lambton – Circles Program: $14,200
Goodwill Essex Kent Lambton: $500
Grace United Church: $1,177
Harmony: $900
Huron House: $1,781
Inn of the Good Shepherd: $3,576
International Symphony Orchestra: $1,850
John Howard Society: $916
Joanne Klauke Labelle Memorial Scholarship: $2,500
Lambton College: $100
Lambton Community Sings $500
Lambton Youth Choir $400
MADD Sarnia/Lambton: $4,500
Gloria Dawn McLeod Award: $200
Susan Moffatt Memorial Scholarship: $4,000
Moore Agricultural Society: $5,000
Organization for Literacy In Lambton: $5,802
Pauline McGibbon School: $5,000
Rayjon Sharecare: $606
Sarnia Airman’s Club (Sarnia): $6,600
Sarnia Christian School: $20,000
Sarnia Historical Society: $5,000
Scouts Canada: $2,600
Seaway Kiwanis Scholarships: $4,000
Society of Saint Vincent De Paul: $1,081
St Clair Child & Youth Services: $4,850
St. Joseph’s Hospice: $4,172
Steeves & Rozema Scholarships: $14,000
Theatre Sarnia: $10,000
Theatre Sarnia for Hidden Talents: $400
United Way of Sarnia Lambton: $2,009
Women’s Interval Home: $4,000
YMCA (Sarnia-Lambton ): $9,528
