Great Grants Award Winners: Hamilton (l-r) John Ecker, Director of Communications and Public Affairs, OTF; Helen Burstyn, Chair, OTF; Frank Passaro, OTF Grant Review Team Chair; St. Leonard's Society of Hamilton representatives, Emily Sim, John Clinton, Brian Sibley, Ryan Johnson, Linda Lopinski, Robert Sim - winner of the Great Grants Award - Human and Social Services Hamilton, November 28th, 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 Hamilton, November 28, 2007.  The evening will be hosted by Kate Bursey, a member of the Foundation’s Grant Review Team. “The Great Grants Awards recognize the vision, commitment and energy of Ontario’s volunteers and community organizations,” said Frank Passaro, Grant Review Team Chair for Golden Horseshoe/Hamilton 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 Hamilton and the surrounding 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 Golden Horseshoe/Hamilton 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: Hamilton • Arts and Culture:  Immigrant Culture Art Association Artistic expression is the lifeblood of many people. For immigrants, it can help foster a positive experience of their new country. In 2005 with the help of a three year OTF grant of $130,000, newcomers to Hamilton are encouraged to put paintbrush to canvas. The Immigrant Culture Art Association (ICAA) offers art classes to children and youth and mentors artists to create work.  Access to materials is included, which opens the opportunity up to more participants. To date, 320 children have taken art classes and 30 committed volunteers have donated their talents. ICAA also educates the public about the diversity of artistic experience and expression. It has formed several community partnerships and immigrant artists are finding more venues to display their work. The arts celebrate humanity. The Immigrant Culture Art Association gives newcomers the freedom to express themselves and share their creativity.  • Sports and Recreation:  Hamilton East Kiwanis Boys’ and Girls’ Club Thanks to help from the Foundation, kids in Hamilton are able to “fly out the half pipe and do a backside 360 with a tail grab”.  All in good fun! In 2005, the Hamilton East Kiwanis Boys and Girls Club received a two year $48,087 grant to provide a portable skateboard facility. The grant included funding for staff to work with youth ages 6 to 18 to engage them in positive recreational activities. Youth participated in determining the community locations, the selection of equipment and the design of the project as a whole. The mobile park offers fun, accessible outdoor activities to children and youth in a safe, supervised environment. To date, 489 children and 2,088 youth used the skatepark either at one of its neighbourhood rotations or at one of the many city-wide events. “Ollieing off the kicker” in Hamilton has never been better for kids! • Environment: Hamilton Halton Watershed Stewardship Program Without our health, we have nothing. Without the health of our environment, we will soon have nothing. The Hamilton Halton Watershed Stewardship Program is doing its part to ensure that watersheds and significant natural areas are alive and well. This two time OTF grantee has made great strides in protecting and restoring watersheds, including Bronte Creek, Sixteen Mile Creek, Fifty Creek and Stoney Creek. With the help of a four year $140,000 grant in 2004, the Program continues to reach some 4,000 landowners, educating and encouraging them to make environmentally wise choices for their land. Over 350 landowners have made stewardship agreements covering over 6,000 hectares of land. Many community partners have raised funds for the program, making it a provincial model for landowner and community participation. A healthy environment is a happy environment. Thanks to the Stewardship Program, the joy is spreading. • Human and Social Services: St. Leonard’s Society of Hamilton The St. Leonard’s Society has been a leader in helping ex-offenders ease back into everyday life and become productive community members. Now through an innovative new program, the Society is taking a byte out of the digital divide. With the help of two OTF grants in 2003 and 2006 totalling $350,100, the Society launched the Greenbyte program. Ex-offenders are trained and certified to refurbish computers, which are then distributed to low income families in Hamilton via youth agencies.  The ex-offenders are taught valuable skills and families and children learn new computers skills, which will enable them to compete in school and in the job market. Through the Greenbyte program, 100 people a year find jobs and training in computer related fields. To date, over 1,000 computers have been given to low income families. This brilliant program achieves many of OTF’s funding priorities, which we think is truly “great”. • Grant Review Team Chair’s Award - for exemplary volunteerism: Church of the Ascension c/o Out of the Cold Program The Out of the Cold Program is an interdenominational effort that provides food and shelter to the homeless during the winter months. Thanks to several OTF grants totalling $33,500 over five years, the Church of the Ascension continues to offer comfort and hope to Hamilton’s poor. Through the work of over 400 volunteers, including 63 at the Church of the Ascension, homeless and near homeless people are provided hot, nutritious meals and basic accommodation. Clients served range from children to seniors, single people and families. Volunteers give friendly support while helping clients connect to a caring community. Volunteers also practice their faith through their works -- a powerful means of being engaged in the community. With OTF help, twice as many meals have been delivered per year and accommodation was given to 1453 people in 2006. Through their generosity of spirit, Out of the Cold volunteers offer the homeless what they deserve – food, shelter and dignity.  • 25th Anniversary Award - for remaining a leader in the not-for profit or charitable sector by consistently delivering on the Foundation’s granting priorities:  Bay Area Restoration Council (BARC) Since its inception in 1991, the Bay Area Restoration Council (BARC) has been at the centre of community efforts to restore and protect Hamilton Harbour and its watershed. With OTF grants in 2001 and 2003 totalling $305,500, BARC has bite! BARC unites citizens, business, industry and governments in pursuit of a healthy Hamilton Harbour and Bay Area. It delivers school programs, community event series, resource materials and newsletter up-dates. The council also coordinates popular community planting events where dedicated volunteers restore natural shorelines and clean up the trails at the water’s edge. Last year, the council made presentations to more than 2,500 people and reached more than 11,000 through displays. Compared to the level of donations at the beginning of the grants, corporate giving has increased 100 percent, and private donations have risen 400 percent. With support from the community, this is one BARC Hamiltonians don’t mind listening to! Back to the events list