LCF Announces This Year's Community Vitality Grant Recipients

Today, the London Community Foundation announced $943,900 in grants as part of its annual Community Vitality Grant program. Funded by LCF’s Community Fund, this program supports high-impact, innovative, and collaborative initiatives that create systemic change in the London and Middlesex region.

Community Vitality grant recipients are chosen through a months-long deliberation process in which a panel of community volunteers, along with LCF staff, discuss and review project proposals put forward by local agencies.

Grant StoryGuest UserOctober 22, 2020honouring community vitality, community vitality

COVID-19 Grants: N'Amerind (London) Friendship Centre

The N’Amerind Friendship Centre is a non-profit organization committed to the promotion of physical, intellectual, emotional and spiritual well-being of native people and in particular, urban native people. For many Indigenous Peoples living in London, the N’Amerind Friendship Centre is a safe, non-judgmental place where they can seek support for everything from pre-natal care to accessing employment and training opportunities.

Personal, face-to-face contact is a key component of every N’Amerind program, and with the pandemic forcing them to shut their doors, this essential aspect of their programming has been lost. And while social isolation is an issue in and of itself, many clients also lost access to food when N’Amerind’s regular programming ceased.

COVID-19 Grants: Regional HIV/AIDS Connection

Regional HIV/AIDS Connection (RHAC) is dedicated to positively impacting the lives of individuals and diverse communities living with, at-risk for, or affected by HIV/AIDS and Hepatitis C (HCV). RHAC offers a comprehensive array of programming, counselling services and educational resources designed to erase stigma, support those affected by HIV/AIDS, and prevent its transmission.

Factors such as stress and precarious access to medication can make navigating the pandemic especially difficult for People Living With HIV/AIDS (PHAs), resulting in increased anxiety around risk of vulnerability to COVID-19.

Q and A with Ken Fleet Choral Conducting Scholarship Recipient Victor Cheng

The Ken Fleet Choral Conducting Scholarship is awarded annually to an Ontario choral conducting student, helping them pursue educational opportunities above and beyond their established academic curriculum. Usually a $1,000 award funded by the Ken Fleet Choral Conducting Scholarship fund and administered in partnership with London Pro Musica Choir, Medway High School and Amabile Choirs of London, this year’s award was increased to $2,000 thanks to the generosity of the Wilson Family Foundation at LCF.

We sat down with this year’s Ken Fleet Choral Conducting Scholarship recipient, Victor Cheng, to chat about his career aspirations, Ken Fleet, and the beauty of the human voice.

Grant StoryGuest UserAugust 20, 2020victor cheng, ken fleet, ken fleet choral conducting scholarship

COVID-19 Grants: Thames Valley Education Foundation

The Thames Valley Education Foundation (TVEF) is a registered charitable organization affiliated with the Thames Valley District School Board (TVDSB) that fosters, supports and builds relationships in the community to provide enhanced learning opportunities for TVDSB students. The Caring Fund, one of TVEFs primary initiatives, was established to support students facing issues related to poverty or during emergencies.

The ripple effects of school closures and the economic slowdown caused by the pandemic were immediately felt by families throughout the community. Within just a few weeks, the number of requests for support through the Caring Fund had quadrupled.

COVID-19 Grants: DeafBlind Ontario Services

DeafBlind Ontario Services provides accessible residential and customized support services across the province, supporting adults with a combined loss of hearing and vision. They take a holistic approach to providing Intervenor Services that are customized to each individual’s unique needs, method of communication, and goals to increase their independence and enrich their life.

The pandemic has hit DeafBlind Ontario Services’ clientele particularly hard. Since much of the communication between intervenors and people with deafblindness is done through touch, social distancing has been all but impossible.

Grant StoryGuest UserAugust 11, 2020deafblind ontario services, COVID-19, LCF COVID-19 Response Fund

COVID-19 Grants: Indwell

Indwell is a faith-based charity based out of Hamilton dedicated to creating affordable housing communities that support people seeking health, wellness and belonging. What makes them unique is their supportive housing model – it also means they are far more hands on than a traditional housing agency would normally be. Because of this, the COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on their support services.

Grant StoryGuest UserAugust 7, 2020indwell, LCF COVID-19 Response Fund, COVID-19

COVID-19 Grants: John Howard Society of London and District

The John Howard Society of London and District (JHS London), is a not for profit, charitable organization that works with individuals who are at risk of, or who have come into conflict with the law. The John Howard Society strives for effective, just and humane responses to crime and its causes.

As an essential service, JHS London’s office remains open despite the pandemic and continues to provide critical justice and social services. Serving some of the most vulnerable individuals in our community, many of JHS London’s clients are experiencing poverty and homelessness, unable to find shelter during the pandemic as beds are full all over the city.

LCF awards $898,030 in grants through the Emergency Community Support Fund

Today, London Community Foundation (LCF) awarded $898,030 in grants to 30 local charities to support groups and individuals who are experiencing heightened vulnerability during the pandemic. The grants announced today are part of the Emergency Community Support Fund (ECSF), funded by the Government of Canada.

Grant StoryGuest UserJuly 21, 2020COVID-19, emergency community support fund, ECSF

COVID-19 Grants: Childcan

With a significant portion of Childcan’s services delivered in person, COVID-19 impacted operations greatly. Public health guidelines restricted the organization from meeting families and providing meal vouchers, emotional support and volunteer tutoring services.

Grant StoryGuest UserJuly 20, 2020childcan, COVID-19, LCF COVID-19 Response Fund

COVID-19 Grants: Across Languages

Across Languages (AL) is a non-profit organization providing professional interpretation and translation services for refugees and newcomers in our community. Interpreters are trained for many different types of encounters and hold expertise in medical, legal and social services terminology, leveling the playing field and removing barriers to services for refugees and newcomers.

Across Languages had been exploring video and remote interpretation solutions before the pandemic with the intention to gradually roll out the updated program over the coming months. COVID-19 forced AL to rethink their timeline and move quickly to ensure their clients have access to AL’s vital services during this highly stressful and complicated time.

Grant StoryGuest UserJuly 15, 2020across languages, COVID-19, LCF COVID-19 Response Fund

COVID-19 Grants: Family Service Thames Valley

Family Service Thames Valley (FSTV) is an organization that provides counseling, advocacy and system navigation that helps people to deal with stressful life situations and build resilience. FSTV has historically supported women and children impacted by domestic violence as well as individually counseling men through the Caring Dad’s program. However, because of the social distancing and isolation practices recommended for curbing the spread of the coronarivus, many couples and families are experiencing an increased risk.

COVID-19 Grants: Atlohsa Family Healing Services

Atlohsa Family Healing Services is a non-profit, charitable organization, dedicated to strengthening community through Indigenous-led programs and services that offer holistic healing and wellness. When COVID-19 forced organizations throughout the area, including Atlohsa, to temporarily shut down their programming, many community members were left without meals they relied on.

Grant StoryGuest UserJuly 8, 2020atlohsa, COVID-19, LCF COVID-19 Response Fund

COVID-19 Grants: YFC London

YFC London is a faith-based organization that has been supporting youth in our community since 1963 with sports, recreation, food security and outreach programs aimed at creating a safe and supportive environment for youth to connect with each other, build positive relationships and learn from mentors.

When the self-isolation orders were given in March due to the COVID-19 pandemic, YFC London was forced to adapt their services.

Grant StoryGuest UserJune 24, 2020yfc london, youth for christ, COVID-19, LCF COVID-19 Response Fund

COVID-19 Grants: Mission Services of London

For over 65 years, Mission Services of London has supported thousands of people in our community experiencing homelessness with programs addressing mental health, addictions, and food security. The COVID-19 pandemic forced them to rethink how they offered their services.

Grant StoryGuest UserJune 16, 2020mission services, COVID-19, LCF COVID-19 Response Fund

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