43 local charitable organizations receive $1 million in grants through WRCF

WATERLOO REGION, ON – Today, Waterloo Region Community Foundation (WRCF) announced $1 million in grants to 43 charitable organizations across Waterloo Region. The funds will support initiatives linked to improving social infrastructure.

This funding was provided through the Cambridge Community Fund, North Dumfries Community Fund, and Waterloo Region Community Fund held at WRCF. Additional funding was provided by several WRCF Fundholders and donors, as well as a partnership with Trinity United Church (Kitchener).

“The Community Funds held at WRCF are the culmination of generous donations from thousands of individuals and organizations over the past 40 years. This year, we received requests for over $3.6 million in funding. The need continues to far outpace the dollars available,” says Eric Avner, President & CEO, Waterloo Region Community Foundation. “We will continue to work alongside our Fundholders, donors, and partners, leveraging our resources, to support our communities as Waterloo Region grows to one million residents.”

WRCF works annually with a committee of dedicated volunteers comprised of local residents who review applications and recommend how these funds get distributed.

A full list of organizations funded through Community Fund grants in 2024 is included below:

• A Better Tent City

• Adventure4Change

• African, Caribbean, Black Network of Waterloo Region (The AIDS Committee of Cambridge, Kitchener, Waterloo and Area)

• Alison Neighbourhood Community Centre (Fiddlesticks Community Centre)

• Ayr Community Theatre (Township of North Dumfries)

• Ayr Paris Band

• Big Brothers Big Sisters of Waterloo Region

• Book Clubs for Inmates

• Cambridge Food Bank

• Canadian Arab Women's Association (Canadian International Development Organization)

• Community Justice Initiatives Waterloo Region

• COMPASS Refugee Centre

• Epilepsy South Central Ontario

• Food4Kids Waterloo Region

• Greenway-Chaplin Community Centre

• Independent Living Waterloo Region

• Junior Achievement South Western Ontario

• Keep Your Head Up Foundation

• Kinbridge Community Association

• Kitchener-Waterloo Art Gallery

• Lakeshore South Community Association (City of Waterloo)

• MT Space

• oneROOF Youth Services

• Porchlight Counselling and Addiction Services

• rare Charitable Research Reserve

• Reception House Waterloo Region

• Red Raccoon Bike Rescue (Canadian Cycling Association)

• Sanguen Health Centre

• Services and Housing In the Province

• Shelter Movers

• Somali Canadian Association of Waterloo Region (Greenway-Chaplin Community Centre)

• SPECTRUM

• Strong Start

• The Food Bank of Waterloo Region

• The Humane Society of Kitchener Waterloo & Stratford Perth

• The Pregnancy Centre

• Tiny Home Takeout – St. Mary’s Parish

• United for Literacy

• Volunteer Waterloo Region

• Waterloo Region Community Legal Services

• Willow River Centre (Social Development Centre Waterloo Region)

• Women's Crisis Services of Waterloo Region

• YW Kitchener-Waterloo

Note: Charitable organizations in brackets represent the fiscal partner working in partnership with the non-qualified donee.

For more information about WRCF, visit www.wrcf.ca.

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Waterloo Region Community Foundation (WRCF) collaborates with partners to create sustainable, equitable and thriving communities. We connect regionally and locally, with our three cities and four townships, to include the people and places across our region. We make philanthropy easy for individuals and companies to support organizations and issues they care about. WRCF is focused on Granting, Investing and Convening to make measurable and sustainable impacts. Gifts are directed to WRCF's endowed funds that drive positive change through grants with the income generated being distributed in partnership with Fundholders to support a wide range of charitable causes within our community. We are growing our assets in a socially-responsible way without compromising financial returns, and transitioning to a 100% mission-aligned portfolio. These investments include directing at least 10% of our portfolio to impact investments. As a leading community-building organization we also work to amplify voices and issues of importance by convening conversations and sharing information, while approaching our work with an equity mindset. www.wrcf.ca

For additional information about this release or to schedule an interview, please contact:

Lynne Short
Vice President, Waterloo Region Community Foundation
519-725-1806 x 204
lynne@wrcf.ca