Rocky View County council approved $669,600 in Family and Community Support Services (FCSS) grants, Dec. 6.
The money will be distributed to 19 community organizations to support a variety of community services and programs.
“A considerable amount of time was spent reviewing application requests and we are pleased to announce how the FCSS funds will be distributed for 2012,” said County Reeve Rolly Ashdown. “The groups receiving support are well-deserving as they make substantial contributions to Rocky View County.”
Each year, the FCSS board receives application requests from preventive, community-based and social support programs aiming to enhance the social well-being of individuals, families and communities.
The group then makes recommendations as to where grant monies should go.
This year’s funding will be distributed once the County receives its 2012 Provincial FCSS funding and after the 2012 FCSS budget is approved. The County will fund 20 per cent of the total, with the Province covering the remainder.
With the approved recommendations, $27,000 remains to be provided to projects during the rest of 2012.
Irricana’s Youth Drop In Centre, which has been operating for more than a decade, will receive $18,000 to go towards employing a coordinator and rent.
Cathy O’Donoghue, the Town’s community services officer, is pleased with the announcement, saying the drop in centre is a benefit to the community in its promotion of well being, leadership and community involvement for area youth.
“We don’t have a school in our community, and it is a place where youth can meet,” said O’Donoghue.
“It just means that the kids aren’t out on the street.”
The program is free and is available four nights a week for youth ages 10-17. Organizers provide presentations on self-esteem, good relationships, being home alone and babysitting.
According to O’Donoghue, about 50 kids participate every month.
“It is quite busy,” she said.
Langdon Theatre Association will receive $20,100 for its Youth Theatre Project.
According to Melissa McAllister, the Association’s chair, the money will be used to pay for costumes and props, theatre rentals and for costs associated with the group’s annual final production.
“Langdon Theatre Association is very appreciative of the funding FCSS so generously provides,” said McAllister. “It enables us to provide more children the opportunity to join and have fun. The funding gives our Association the ability to enhance the children’s experience…”
The funding keeps costs lower, allowing more youth, ages six to 16, to take part, McAllister added.
Langdon Theatre Association has been a boon to the hamlet by creating a sense of community, according to McAllister.
“We have kids who formerly did not get along… who have found a commonality in theater and now are friends and as a result, the children’s individual circle of friends now get along as well,” she said. “It had a wonderful domino effect on our community.”
Rocky View County council approved the following groups for Family and Community Support Services grants, Dec. 6.
• Airdrie Boys and Girls Club (Youth Programs): $5,000
• Airdrie and District Victim Services (Volunteer Support): $15,000
• Bearspaw-Glendale Community Association: Family Life Enrichment Programs $42,000
• Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Calgary and Area: In-School Mentoring Program $45,000
• Bow Valley Agricultural Society (Indus Community Programs): $5,000
• Bragg Creek Community Association (Community Program Director): $42,000
• Chestermere Community Services (Community Services – SERV FCSS): $150,000
• Cochrane FCSS (FCSS Programs - Residents of Western Rocky View): $54,700
• Cochrane Youth Association (Community Outreach – Youth Engagement): $47,000
• Irricana FCSS (Youth Drop In Centre): $18,000
• KIK Seniors (Art Therapy Program): $3,000
• Langdon Theatre Association (Youth Theatre Project): $20,100
• North Rocky View Community Links (Counselling Program): $52,000
• North Rocky View Community Links (Family Resource Program): $26,000
• North Rocky View Community Links: Outreach and Communications Project $91,000
• Tapestry of Women (Women’s Conference): $1,500
• Volunteer Airdrie (Volunteer Development): $5,000
• Westbrook Playschool (Playschool Program): $3,300
Western Rocky View Family and Community Resource Centre (Community Support Program): $44,000
