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Six Valley charities receive grant money

Children’s Health Foundation of Vancouver Island will disburse $705,484 in grants.

Children’s Health Foundation of Vancouver Island announced last week it will disburse $705,484 in grants to programs that improve the health and well-being of children and youth on Vancouver Island.

Thirty agencies and programs from Victoria to Ucluelet to Campbell River will receive funding this year to help cover the costs of running and expanding their programs.

Comox Valley charities receiving assistance are:

• LUSH Valley Food Action Society (Cooking classes for children and youth with mental health challenges);

• Comox Valley Therapeutic Riding Association (research);

• Courtenay Recreation Association (Little Cruisers program for children aged seven to 14 months);

• Cumberland Community Schools Society (mamacentric and group pre-natal education);

• SD71's Nala’atsi program (indigenous garden);

• St. Joseph’s General Hospital Foundation (maternal child unit).

“The foundation is delighted to provide funds in support of a wide range of programs that improve the health of children on the Island,” said Margot McLaren Moore, chair of the board of directors. “Our community grants help these important programs thrive and grow. These programs are essential to the health and well-being of Island children.”

This year, the foundation received 68 applications for grants — more than double the number of applications from 2012. To meet the greater number of requests for grants, the foundation has approved funding to 30 programs this year, up from 19 in 2012.

Since 1999, Children’s Health Foundation has donated $25 million  to Island programs for children’s health. The community grants program was started in 1989.

Programs that have received support include equipment and prosthetics for kids with special needs; respite care; suicide prevention, mental health, sexual health, and healthy eating programs; early intervention; summer camp for kids and youth with special needs; bereavement counselling; First Nations health; and therapeutic services, like horseback riding, physiotherapy, and occupational therapy.

Children’s Health Foundation of Vancouver Island is a registered charity whose purpose is to raise funds to support the health and well-being of children and youth in need on Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands.

The foundation owns and operates Jeneece Place and built the Sooke and West Shore Child, Youth & Family Centres. With roots dating back to 1922, the organization was previously known as the Queen Alexandra Foundation for Children.

For more information, visit www.childrenshealthvi.org.

— Children’s Health Foundation of Vancouver Island