Great Grants Award Winners: Durham, Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge (l-r) John Ecker, Director of Communications & Public Affairs, OTF; Lloyd George White OTF Grant Review Team Chair; Darlene Evans, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Peterborough - winner of the Grant Review Team Chair's Award; Hugh O'Neil, OTF Vice-Chair; Blair Dimock, Director, Research, Evaluation & Knowledge Management, OTF; Jackie Powell, Program Manager, OTF Buckhorn, November 27th, 2007 – Six remarkable Ontario not-for-profit organizations will be honoured for the difference they have made in their communities at the Ontario Trillium Foundation’s 25th Anniversary celebration in Buckhorn, November 27, 2007.  The evening will be hosted by Megan Murphy of STAR 93.3 Radio Cobourg.  “The Great Grants Awards recognize the vision, commitment and energy of Ontario’s volunteers and community organizations,” said Lloyd White, Grant Review Team Chair for Durham, Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge region. “This is our 25th year of strengthening communities and we’ve been celebrating by holding 16 award events across the province. We look forward to meeting community members in the Durham, Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge area who help make Ontario a great place to live.” The Foundation presents the Great Grants Awards every two years. The award winners were selected by volunteers who serve on the local Grant Review Team. In the Durham, Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge region, six organizations were chosen for their outstanding achievements in the Arts and Culture, Sports and Recreation, Environment and Human and Social Services sectors. 2007 Great Grants Award Winners: Durham, Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge • Arts and Culture: Durham West Arts Centre c/o Rotary Club of Pickering Thanks to the Durham West Arts Centre and support from OTF, the arts in the region are building! In 2003, OTF granted a collaborative, led by the Rotary Club of Pickering, $150,000 over two years to help establish the Durham West Arts Centre organization. The funds helped an executive director and support staff to recruit business partners, volunteers and artists to implement new programs. In its short history, the Centre has achieved astounding results. Over the granting period, 100 community locations enjoyed arts events, including the Franklin community read-a-thon, and Reading and Remembrance, a provincial project honouring veterans. The Centre’s cultural connections committee coordinated many free multicultural music and dance events. In 2006, OTF made another grant to the Centre to help support its goal of a permanent arts centre in Durham Region. With the determination of this energetic collaborative, they will build it and the community will come! • Sports and Recreation:  Fenelon Falls Tennis Club Tennis enthusiasts in the Fenelon Falls area can really hold court now, thanks to help from the Ontario Trillium Foundation. In 2003, OTF granted the Fenelon Falls Tennis Club $60,000 to improve the quality of its tennis courts. The tennis surfaces were 25 years old at the time and had deteriorated beyond repair. As a small rural community, Fenelon Falls relies on the tennis club to provide recreational opportunities for its residents. FFTC is a very inclusive organization with a warm and friendly atmosphere. Without OTF funding, the Club would have seen membership drop. Today, the Club has rallied and netted new members. Almost five years later, the courts are still “ace”. New volunteers serve the Club, which is a big advantage for the organization. In the words of the grantee, the Foundation funding contributed to a “big success story”. Game, set, match! • Environment: Community Stream Steward Pilot Project c/o Ontario Wildlife Foundation Without committed volunteers, the Community Stream Stewart Pilot Project wouldn’t have happened. Thanks to community leadership and OTF support, fish in the region can swim a little happier. In 2003, the Foundation granted the Ontario Wildlife Foundation, the lead in a collaborative with the Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters, Durham Land Stewardship Council and the Victoria Land and Water Stewardship Council, $225,000 over three years to implement a community stream program. Landowners, community organizations and volunteers worked together to restore and enhance the numerous creeks and streams that flow through the region. Over 900 volunteers, including 42 specially-trained Community Stream Stewards, helped restore and protect 75 sections of coldwater streams across the region.  New educational materials produced informed Stream Stewards and helped promote the program in the community.   OTF has made a second grant to this dynamic organization. The program has proceeded “swimmingly”.  • Human and Social Services:  Wraparound Northumberland Thanks to a new and innovative program, families needing help in the Northumberland area now have relatives, friends and professionals coming together to “wrap” them in support. In 2004, the Foundation granted the Children’s Case Coordination Services for Northumberland County $112,000 over two years to launch Wraparound Northumberland.  A program coordinator was hired to build a network of trained Wraparound facilitators and community teams to provide a seamless circle of support for families with complex needs.  Over the grant period, 50 families and 112 children were helped. Partnerships were formed with 32 other organizations across the county, which resulted in additional funding and direct support to families. Wraparound Northumberland has been so successful that now previous program recipients volunteer to help others. Wraparound Northumberland has creatively proven that “it takes a county to help raise a child”.  • Grant Review Team Chair’s Award - for exemplary volunteerism: Big Brothers Big Sisters of Peterborough Making a difference in a kid’s life is immensely satisfying.  With the help of the Foundation, teens in Peterborough who were once “littles” are now moving on, “big” time! In 2005, OTF granted Big Brothers Big Sisters of Peterborough $20,200 to increase volunteer opportunities and skills for teens who were once BBBS participants. The “Big Middle Little” pilot program helped youth aged 16 to 18 who were about to leave the BBBS program transition into becoming mentors to younger kids. The adult Big Brother or Sister remains a mentor to the youth, while the youth gains confidence and leadership skills mentoring a child. During the grant period, the wait time for BBBS matches decreased and 21 matches were made between adults, youth and children.  Youth who were involved in the program continue to volunteer with the agency. The program has “big” potential. • 25th Anniversary Award - for remaining a leader in the not-for profit or charitable sector by consistently delivering on the Foundation’s granting priorities:  Encouraging Young Readers Collaborative c/o Learning Disabilities Association of Peterborough Reading is one of life’s greatest gifts.  With OTF’s help, kids with learning disabilities in the Peterborough area can share in that gift. In 1999, OTF granted the Association $257,100 over five years to develop and implement “Encouraging Young Readers”, a tutoring service geared toward primary school children who were identified as having significant reading problems. This innovative program linked children with Trent University students training to become teachers. During the grant period, more than 250 children received tutoring support and over 150 university students and 60 secondary students were trained in tutoring techniques. Children made significant reading improvement, which increased their self-esteem. Since completion of the EYR project, the Association has continued to work in partnership with local school boards, Trent students and community volunteers. The program is helping 430 children throughout the region “turn a page” by beginning to love reading and learning. Back to the events list