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OTF Announces First-Ever Future Fund Grant Recipients
$2 million grant program will strengthen Ontario’s environment sector by fostering innovation and collaboration
Recipients represent collaborations of almost 100 participating organizations
Honourable John Gerretsen, Minister of the Environment, and two students from Winchester Junior-Senior Public School | Toronto, April 24, 2008 – At a well-attended event at Toronto’s Allen Gardens today, the Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF) announced the first five recipients of the Future Fund, a grant program created to enhance the future of Ontario communities.
Minister Aileen Carroll, Ontario’s Minister of Culture and Minister John Gerretsen, Ontario’s Minister of the Environment were on hand to congratulate the grant recipients. They were joined by OTF Board Chair Helen Burstyn, Vice-Chair Hugh O’Neil, CEO Robin Cardozo, Board members and Foundation staff.
“The McGuinty Government is pleased to celebrate Earth Week by announcing the recipients of the inaugural Ontario Trillium Foundation Future Fund,” said Aileen Carroll, Ontario Minister of Culture. “By strengthening the environment sector with this $2 million fund we are improving the health of our communities today, and investing in a greener future for all Ontarians.”
The 2007-2008 Future Fund of $2 million supports collaborative partnerships among not-for-profit organizations working on environment issues, strengthens their impact, enhances leadership and builds capacity within the sector.
“We commend the Ontario Trillium Foundation for their leadership in supporting the growth and effectiveness of the environment sector in this province,” said John Gerretsen, Minister of the Environment. “We are particularly impressed with the spirit of collaboration among established organizations who can share their expertise with smaller, local groups.”
The five recipient organizations, representing almost 100 participating Ontario-based non-profit environmental organizations, were honoured during a media event held at Toronto’s Allan Gardens Conservatory and attended by Ontario’s Ministers of Culture and the Environment (a full listing of the recipients is attached). Highlights of this year’s recipient programs include:
- Studying links between early environmental exposure and chronic disease in children;
- Reducing pollution and strengthening leadership in communities, organizations and First Nations groups;
- Creating a North-South Climate Change Network;
- Optimizing the use of information technology among environmental groups;
- Engaging a broad range of environmental organizations in a shared strategy.
In introducing the grantees, OTF Chair Helen Burstyn noted an old African quotation that says, ‘For tomorrow belongs to the people who prepare for it today..’. “It is fair to say that everyone attending this event this morning is focused on preparing for tomorrow – for the future.
That was the thinking at the Ontario Trillium Foundation that led to the creation of an exciting new initiative, called the Future Fund”, Ms. Burstyn continued. “Our goal with the Future Fund is to create significant sustainable change in an identified priority area. In the first year of the Fund, we chose to focus on the environment. Specifically, building the capacity – the strength – of Ontario’s not-for-profit environment sector, by fostering innovation and collaboration.”
“The grants awarded are exactly what I hoped for: Large, innovative and targeted. All five projects are examples of creative partnerships led by some remarkable people,” said David Love Executive Director of The Conservation Foundation of Greater Toronto. “OTF conducted a thorough evaluation, consulted with many stakeholders and acted on what it learned.”
The first five Future Fund recipients provided innovative proposals and constructive partnerships; they include:
1.Chronic Disease and Early Environmental Exposures Joint Constellation c/o Ontario Public Health Association (OPHA)
$294,700 over two years to raise awareness of the links between early environmental exposure and chronic disease in children. This work will help influence practice and policies in the development of chronic disease prevention strategies.
OPHA is a charitable organization with a mission to provide authoritative leadership on issues affecting the public's health and to strengthen the impact of people who are active in public and community life throughout Ontario.
2. Good Neighbour Initiative c/o Toronto Environmental Alliance
$612,300 over three years to work with concerned individuals and grassroots organizations, encouraging the participation of local people in local issues to strengthen leadership and capacity among Toronto, Sarnia-Lambton (including Aamjiwnaang First Nation), and Akwesasne First Nations communities to reduce pollution and help build corporate environmental leadership.
Toronto Environmental Alliance (TEA) is a not-for-profit organization with a mandate to promote a greener Toronto.
3. Clean Air Partnership c/o Mining Innovation Rehabilitation and Applied Research Corporation (MIRARCO)
$349,200 over 30 months to establish and maintain a north-south climate-change network, build community capacity to respond to common climate-change challenges and link regional efforts in the northern and southern parts of Ontario.
MIRARCO is a not-for-profit organization with a mandate for advanced study, research, innovation and instruction in the fields of mineral exploration, mining, mineral processing, environmental rehabilitation, ecosystem management, industrial productivity and industrial safety. Its mission is to assist the mining and environmental industries in the application of innovative research solutions for safe, sustainable and cost-effective mining - from exploration to remediation. Education and mentorship are an important part of MIRARCO's operations.
4. Green IT Collaborative c/o Green Communities Canada
$205,100 over two years to optimize the use of information technology by at least 25 environmental organizations across Ontario. This will help boost productivity, functionality, communications, collaboration and outreach and marketing.
Green Communities Canada is a not-for-profit organization with a mandate to work with member organizations and other partners to deliver innovative environmental programs and services that achieve personal action and community change.
5. Environmental Priorities Outfront: Re-inventing, Re-tooling & Re-focusing the Environmental Movement in Ontario c/o Environmental Defence
$538,700 over 30 months to engage a broad range of environmental organizations in the development and implementation of a shared strategy. This work will help strengthen the effectiveness of the sector in Ontario.
Environmental Defence (ED) is a registered charity who works to establish environmental principles as a fundamental ethic of society, that is reflected in government legislation, industrial practices and personal behaviour.
For more information, contact:
Lorraine Gandolfo, Manager Communications and Events
Tel: (416) 963-7972
lgandolfo@trilliumfoundation.org
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Honourable Aileen Carroll, Minister of Culture
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(l-r) Hugh O'Neil, Vice-Chair, OTF Board of Directors; Chris Winter - Conservation Ontario; Helen Burstyn, Chair, OTF Board; L. Robin Cardozo, CEO OTF
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(l-r) Honourable John Gerretsen, Minister of the Environment; Eva Ligeti and Al Douglas from MIRARCO; Helen Burstyn, Chair OTF Board of Directors; Honourable Aileen Carroll, Minister of Culture; L. Robin Cardozo, CEO OTF; (at the podium) Hugh O'Neil, Vice-Chair, OTF Board of Directors (and Master of Ceremonies) |
Representatives of the 21 organizations involved in the first ever Future Fund grants and representatives of OTF |
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Honourable John Gerretsen, Minister of the Environment
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(l-r) Honourable John Gerretsen, Minister of the Environment; Brent Kopperson - Green Communities Canada; Helen Burstyn, Chair, OTF Board of Directors; Honourable Aileen Carroll, Minister of Culture;
L. Robin Cardozo, CEO OTF; (at the podium) Hugh O'Neil, Vice-Chair OTF Board of Directors (and Master of Ceremonies)
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(l-r) Honourable John Gerretsen, Minister of the Environment; Erica Phipps and Connie Uetrecht - Ontario Public Health Association; Helen Burstyn, Chair OTF Board of Directors; Honourable Aileen Carroll, Minister of Culture; L. Robin Cardozo, CEO OTF; (at the podium) Hugh O'Neil, Vice-Chair, OTF Board of Directors (and Master of Ceremonies) |
Helen Burstyn, Chair, OTF Board of Directors |
Students from Winchester Junior-Senior Public School - a Toronto District School Board eco-school |
(l-r) Honourable John Gerretsen, Minister of the Environment; Katrina Miller - Toronto Environmental Alliance; Helen Burstyn, Chair OTF Board of Directors; Honourable Aileen Carroll, Minister of Culture; L. Robin Cardozo, CEO OTF; (at the podium) Hugh O'Neil, Vice-Chair, OTF Board of Directors (and Master of Ceremonies)
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(l-r) Honourable John Gerretsen, Minister of the Environment; Sarah Winterton - Environmental Defence;
Helen Burstyn, Chair, OTF Board of Directors; Honourable Aileen Carroll, Minister of Culture;
L. Robin Cardozo, CEO OTF; (at the podium) Hugh O'Neil, Vice-Chair OTF Board of Directors (and Master of Ceremonies)
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