Local agencies receive Giving Tuesday good news from Community Foundation

“With our Youth in Philanthropy kids, I tell them they need to give their time, money or stuff, and that opportunity really exists for all of us.”

One agency receiving funding today from the RDDCF is the Schizophrenia Society of Alberta (SSA) – Red Deer branch.

The funding they received will support essential repairs at their residence in Kentwood where there are 25 tenants living with “severe and persistent mental illness.”

Greg Amundson, branch program coordinator, says Giving Tuesday is a good opportunity to give back to community, especially after the traditional spending of Black Friday.

“I feel very honoured to work for SSA and be part of the work they do in helping people. There are a lot of misconceptions,” says Amundson, who lives with schizophrenia himself.

“First is the myth that schizophrenia involves multiple personalities, whereas it actually isn’t the same as dissociative identity disorder, with the confusion coming from ‘schizo’ which means split. Another myth is that people with schizophrenia are violent, but in reality, violence is not a symptom of this illness as is perpetuated by Hollywood, and it’s also true that people with schizophrenia are more likely to be victims of violence.”

Ciara Williams, the organization’s local admin and fund development assistant, says their agency, like many others, have seen a decrease in donations through the pandemic.

“With our residence in Kentwood, everything is rising as far as the cost of food and utilities, so we are struggling. This grant will really help us as we continue to provide safe and affordable housing for 25 individuals,” says Williams.

“There is rent involved in this program, otherwise all our programs are free, and donations help non-profits like ours do what we do. One in 100 people worldwide live with schizophrenia, and when you include friends and family — which is why we have our adult peer support and family support programs — the number of people affected grows drastically.”

“Thank you to the foundation because what they do help keep programs like ours sustainable.”

Adds Peden: “We are always impressed with the caliber of applications that we see each year. As a 360 degree funder, we are able to grant across such a range of areas. This year we are granting to charities that impact youth all the way to seniors, in areas such as food insecurity, education, mental health, physical health, social connection, accessibility, and the environment.”

Giving Tuesday grant recipients

· Best Buddies Canada Friendship Program – $4,000.00

· Book Clubs for Inmates Building Bridges Through Books – $2,900.00

· Bridges Community Living Health To You Fitness Project – $5,900.00

· Ellis Bird Farm Studying Parental Behaviour of Cavity Nesting Birds – $6,000.00

· Leftovers Canada Rescue Food YQF 2023 – $10,000

· MADD Red Deer & District 2022/2023 School Program – $2,550.00

· Red Deer Action Group Subsidy Ride Program – $2,000

· Schizophrenia Society of Alberta Ramp Resurfacing – $3,500

· Stettler Hospice Society Capacity Building – $10,000.00

· Sylvan Lake Seniors Association Program Subsidies for Seniors – $5,000.00

· Young Alberta Book Society Seeds of Stories – $3,450.00

Applications for the spring cycle of the Community Grants program will open early in January.

More information is at rddcf.ca.

by Josh Hall (Twitter: @Vancan19)

Local agencies receive Giving Tuesday good news from Community Foundation

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