WBCF Announces the Recipients of the 2021 Community Grants

(Fort McMurray, AB – September 24, 2021) The Wood Buffalo Community Foundation (WBCF) has selected the recipients of $200,000 in Community Grant funding.

This funding will support valuable community projects that are needed in the areas of Mental Health or Crisis Supports; Community Connections and Reducing Isolation. Local charities and community groups were invited to apply this past May.

This year’s grant cycle marks the fourth round of grant funding issued by the WBCF. The 2021 grant recipients are:

Organization and Program / Project:

• Pastew Place for Pre-Treatment / Client Coordinator

• The Hub Family Resource Centre for Rural Community Outreach / Hub on Wheels

• St. Aidan’s House Society for Senior Outreach & Advocate Program

• King’s Kids Promotions Outreach Ministries for Great Bannock Bake-Off Event and Community Connection Pilot Program (Fort Chipewyan)

 “COVID-19 highlights the need for community support for mental health, addictions and crisis support, rural community outreach, and community connection projects. The outcomes of these programs and initiatives will have a huge impact within Fort McMurray Wood Buffalo. WBCF would like to thank all our donors and community partners in making this funding possible.” Gaylene Weidlich, Executive Director, WBCF.

Founded in 2017, WBCF has provided over $1.3 million to social profits in Fort McMurray Wood Buffalo. WBCF strengthens the social fabric and quality of life in Fort McMurray Wood Buffalo by forging relationships to match interests to needs.

Wood Buffalo Community Foundation announces nine local recipients of 2020 Community Grant Funding

(Fort McMurray, AB – October 15, 2020) WBCF has selected nine local community groups as the recipients of nearly $300,000 in community grant funding. This is a large increase from last year as Intact Insurance and BrokerLink, through Intact Financial Corporation, donated $100,000 to the Wood Buffalo Community Foundation Rapid Response Fund. 

This year’s funding will help support valuable community projects that are needed in the areas of Mental Health, Covid-19 Support and Environmental. Local charities and community groups were invited to apply this past June.

This year’s grant cycle marks the third round of grant funding issued by the WBCF. The 2020 grant recipients are:

Organization and Program / Project:

• Big Brothers Big Sisters of Wood Buffalo for Community Focused Mentoring Services

• Habitat for Humanity Wood Buffalo for Energy Efficiency in Affordable Housing

• St. Aidan’s Society for Senior Outreach & Advocate Program

• Waypoint’s Community Services Association for Family Violence Outreach - Pandemic Supports

• Girls Inc. of Northern Alberta for Reaching SMART

• KidSport Wood Buffalo for Return to Sport

• McMan Youth Family & Community Services Association for NEAFAN Rural Bus Tickets

• Willow Lake Metis and The Resilience Institute for Stories of Resilience - Bison & Adapting to Climate Change

• Centre of Hope for COH Outreach Mobile Service Unit

Since being founded in 2017, the WBCF has been building its endowed funds to help support and strengthen the social profit sector in the Wood Buffalo Region. Part of this support comes in the form of strategic grant giving, which helps to provide financial assistance for community projects in the areas of health, education, arts, culture, social services, sports and recreation, the environment and other emerging community needs.

The WBCF is a registered Canadian charity. Our mission is to enhance quality of life in our region by supporting community members and organizations in building long term, mutually beneficial relationships between donors and grantees. We provide grants to improve and enhance the stability and sustainability of the community.

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