Community Foundation of the Kootenay Rockies Grants $50,000 through Round 2 of the Emergency Community Support Fund
Elk Valley and Cranbrook, BC (December 21, 2020) – The Community Foundation of the Kootenay Rockies (CFKR) is proud to have partnered with Community Foundations of Canada (CFC) and the Government of Canada to deliver the Government of Canada’s Emergency Community Support Fund (ECSF). ECSF’s goal is to provide support to charities and non-profit organizations that are serving vulnerable Canadians during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Canadian charities and non-profit organizations play a vital role in our communities and continue to do so in the face of real challenges as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Our government is pleased to support these organizations through the Emergency Community Support Fund so that they can continue to help the most vulnerable members of our communities during these difficult times.” – Ahmed Hussen, Minister of Families, Children and Social Development
Thanks to the first round of ECSF funding, CFKR invested over $100,000 in ten local charities/qualified donees, during the late spring and early summer of 2020.
ECSF’s Round 2 launched on October 5, 2020. With Round 2, CFKR has invested an additional $50,000 through the ECSF towards local charities and other qualified donees that are supporting populations experiencing heightened vulnerability due to COVID-19.
CFKR is very pleased to announce that ECSF has invested in the following Round 2 projects, with four in the Elk Valley and four in Cranbrook:
- $5,000.00: Yaq’it ʔa·knuqⱡi’it (Tobacco Plains Indian Band)’s Covid-19 food security project
- $5,000.00: Elk Valley Seniors Housing Society’s project to re-open its dining room (Sparwood)
- $5,000: Rocky Mountain Village Auxiliary Society’s project to provide free wifi for residents, family, and visitors (Fernie)
- $5,000: Fernie Public Library Association’s project to provide a safe, accessible, and welcoming outdoor space
- $1,000: Cranbrook Chamber of Commerce’s computer donation program
- $9,000: Cranbrook Salvation Army’s weekend drop-in warming centre
- $10,000: ANKORS AIDS Network, Outreach & Support Society’s software library for harm reduction drug-checking program:
- $10,000: Cranbrook Food Bank’s covered roof for client pick-up area at its new location
CFKR has now granted its full ECSF-Round 2 allotment of $50,000 to qualified donees in the Elk Valley, Cranbrook, and the surrounding rural areas. CFKR is no longer accepting applications for this program.
“CFKR is deeply honoured to have brought a total of over $150,000 in ECSF funds to our communities. These funds have provided much-needed support to the charities, qualified donees, and First Nations governments that have been working tirelessly to assist our most vulnerable residents, during the COVID-19 pandemic,” stated Lynnette Wray, CFKR Executive Director.
Community Foundations of Canada (CFC) is one of three partners activating the Emergency Community Support Fund, along with the Canadian Red Cross and United Way Centraide Canada. CFC, in partnership with 170 community foundations in Round 2, is flowing a portion of the total $350M Fund to support the over 85,000 registered charities in Canada. With the completion of Round 2, funds for ECSF have now been exhausted. CFC continues to advocate for broader recovery and stabilization support for the charitable sector.
Funded by the Government of Canada’s Emergency Community Support Fund: