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Village Foundation delivers grants to three Collingwood charities

Grants aim to improve health care services with new life-saving equipment, address homelessness with shelter and support services
2019-01-29 Cooking JO-003
Tegan Menard, 13, watches Lea Pankhurst, manager of the Collingwood Youth Centre, grate cheese during the Kids Feeding Kids program. The Collingwood Youth Centre received a grant from the Blue Mountain Village Foundation to offer a Food Handler's certification and knife skills program for youth in the community. Jessica Owen/CollingwoodToday

NEWS RELEASE
BLUE MOUNTAIN VILLAGE FOUNDATION
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Blue Mountain Village Foundation (BMVF) is pleased to announce funding for an exceptional group of local organizations and champions who are closing some our region’s most pressing social gaps with innovative investments and programs.

These include improving health care services with new life-saving equipment, addressing homelessness and at-risk youth with shelter and support services, empowering youth from all income brackets with the ability to gain important life skills, as well as teaching youth valuable culinary and food handling skills both for job readiness and to prepare and provide food for those in need.  

Please see below for more information on BMVF’s latest grant recipients and their programs:  

$5,000 – Meaford Hospital Foundation – Lab Transfusion Medicine Fridge
“We sincerely thank the Blue Mountain Village Foundation for their support of the capital equipment needs of the Meaford Hospital. The funds donated from BMVF will support the purchase of a new Lab Transfusion Medicine Fridge. This vital piece of equipment will be used in the lab, emergency department and inpatient area at the Meaford Hospital. This particular fridge meets the mandatory regulatory requirements to store life-saving blood products for patients who require them on both a routine and emergent basis including Rhogam for expecting mothers, red cells for our local oncology patients, hemophiliac factor concentrate and PCC complex for bleeding patients that are taking Coumadin. We are grateful for the support of the BMVF and their supporters; they are funding life-saving medical equipment and supporting their local healthcare needs.” Jen Wright, Executive Director  

$5,000 – Home Horizon, The Barbara Weider House – Essential Life Skills Program
“The Blue Mountain Village Foundation’s incredible support of Home Horizon’s Barbara Weider House will support the Essential Life Skills program which targets youth, either homeless or at risk of homelessness in the Georgian Bay area. The direct benefit of the program is helping youth rebuild their lives and integrate back into society rather than continuing down a path of homelessness that may lead to larger problems. Key to our approach is that youth are provided with a range of life skills that will help them transition to adulthood, live independently and gain confidence in themselves.” The Barbara Weider House is the only facility in our community dedicated to serving youth at risk of homelessness.” Deb Piggott, Fund Development Manager  

$2,500 – Elephant Thoughts, School in Nature – Access for Youth from Low Income Families
“Elephant Thoughts Educational Outreach is grateful for the on-going support of the Blue Mountain Village Association. This funding will enable our organization to offer youth from low income families, the opportunity to participate in our School in Nature located at Kimbercote Centre in the heart of Beaver Valley. It is an exquisite property that spans over 100 acres of forest and accessible trails on the Niagara Escarpment. The School in Nature will assist in developing greater resilience and confidence through hands on outdoor exploration and guided experiential learning that complements the Provincial Education system.“ Abby Stec, Director of Business Development  

$2,500 – Collingwood Youth Centre – Employment Skills Development & Food Supply for Local Programs
“The Collingwood Youth Centre runs a program Kids Feeding Kids every Friday night. This program is led by local chef, Rob Liberty, who leads the youth participating in the program to create healthy meals. The program involves meal planning, sourcing nutritional ingredients, prepping, and preparing the food. Food Handler's certificate, as well as knife skills, were requested by the youth as they would like to gain employment in the hospitality area. Food produced will be donated to local charities serving youth. This funding will help keep this program running throughout the year as well as giving youth employable skills.” Kerri MacDonald  

About Blue Mountain Village Foundation

The Blue Mountain Village Foundation’s mission is to close social gaps in our community. We do so through community engagement & advocacy, program delivery and fundraising to support registered charitable organizations whose activities provide benefit to the residents of our local communities. In addition, the Foundation awards five Bob Comish Memorial Scholarships to four local high school students and a student from Georgian College.

Funding and bursaries information can be obtained via BMVF’s website at www.bluemountainvillage.ca/foundation.

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