The Salt Spring Island Foundation is pleased to announce the recent approval of over $80,000 in grants to island charitable organizations. The funded projects tackle a wide range of community needs and will have a significant impact on the quality of life on Salt Spring.

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Canada
To purchase supplies for mentors and students participating in the Salt Spring Island In-School Mentoring Program. There are currently 21 children matched with mentors at Salt Spring Island Elementary School. Funding is also being provided for a trial of this program at Fernwood School. This grant is partially funded by the CIBC Children’s Foundation.

Gulf Islands Marine Search and Rescue Society
For the purchase of dry suits and thermal undergarments to ensure crew safety.

Island Women Against Violence (IWAV)
For the From Surviving to Thriving program for women in second-stage housing fleeing violence and abuse. The program offers a 10-month series of facilitated workshops providing art therapy, journaling, guest speakers and community-building activities aimed at empowering women to break the cycle of abuse and gain skills for a successful future. Funding will also support the evaluation of this pilot project. This grant is supported by funds from the Unger Family Fund for Children and their Mothers and Senior Women in Need.

Salt Spring Cooperative Preschool Society
To support the creation of a parking lot at the preschool that will enhance pedestrian safety for children, families and the community at large.

Salt Spring Island Conservancy
Toward the purchase and installation of a 3-kilowatt solar photovoltaic system for the roof of the multi-use facility at the Blackburn Lake Nature Reserve. The facility will house Conservancy offices and provide meeting and workshop space for the Conservancy and partner organizations. This grant is partially funded by the Jacqueline Booth Memorial Fund.

Salt Spring Island Farmland Trust Society
Toward architectural drawings and the permit required for the construction of a multi-purpose community produce centre on Beddis Road.

Salt Spring Historical Society
For a consultant to assist in resolving environmental control challenges in the Salt Spring Island Archives storage vault, and to purchase dehumidifiers and exhaust fans to control temperature and humidity in the vault.

Salt Spring Island Public Library
For display units and easels to enhance the library’s ability to connect the community with library resources.

SWOVA (Salt Spring Women Opposed to Violence and Abuse) Community Development and Research Society
To support the Salish Sea Girls’ Leadership Project, which aims to foster youth leadership and increase the participation of girls and young women in their communities. This year, youth will plan, implement and evaluate a multi-component, community-wide violence prevention and awareness campaign.

In addition to the grants listed above, as part of its Smart & Caring Salt Spring initiative the Foundation has established funds to target critical needs and help grow philanthropy on Salt Spring. Two organizations—Salt Spring Island Community Services and School District #64—will receive Smart & Caring Salt Spring grants this fall.

Recognizing that access to mental health services is a high-priority community need, the Foundation is funding a Community Services demonstration project aimed at developing an efficient and focused intake process that will provide advocacy, triage and referral/matching to clients requiring mental health services. The project will include the tracking of outcomes of intake and advocacy activities.

Supporting the efforts of island volunteers is essential to building philanthropy and developing a caring community. The Foundation is funding a Connect and Learn E-Course, which will train community mentors in the Connecting Generations program, which aims to help youth realize their own resilience through intergenerational interactions. The course will present guidelines, suggestions and interactive opportunities, including video interviews with former community mentors. Over the last 3 1/2 years, Connecting Generations has connected 168 adults with youth in our community.

Through the generosity of community members, the Salt Spring Island Foundation has granted more than $1.6 million to local registered charities since 1984. If you would like to learn how you can help the Foundation support the important work of island charities like these, please go to our website at http://www.saltspringislandfoundation.org or call 250-537-8305.