The generosity of the region means United Way Pembina Valley is able to put $150,00 back into its local communities.
There are 31 local non-profit organizations receiving a portion of $142,500 in United Way grants this spring. The agency will also distribute $7,500 in scholarships and bursaries to graduates of Garden Valley Collegiate, Northlands Parkway Collegiate, and Morden Collegiate in June.
Presenting the grants last Thursday at Central Station Community Centre in Winkler, United Way Pembina Valley president Levi Taylor expressed his gratitude for every person and business who made a donation to this year’s campaign. He stressed how the generosity has allowed them to support more local programs, services, and projects than ever.
“It’s going to be far reaching,” said Taylor, emphasizing that “$150,000 into the community is going to have a significant impact on those who need it.”
He described their campaign target as having been a lofty goal for the organization such a short time after the merger of the old Winkler and Morden United Way organizations.
“We’re excited and absolutely thrilled to announce that we have met that goal … a very exciting year for the United Way,” he said.
There were challenges that came with the merger, but Taylor now feels like the new agency is well established and moving forward.
“We feel like we’ve really found our stride as the United Way Pembina Valley,” said Taylor. “Most importantly, the community has rallied behind the group. We’ve received generous donations from individuals and businesses.
“We receive a lot of [grant] applications,” he noted. “We go through a review process to see if those recipients meet the United Way’s objectives. We try to diversify who we’re granting to … with 31 different organizations assisted through these grants, we were able to diversify fairly well.”
Receiving funding this year are:
• Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Pembina Valley – $10,500 for mentoring programs.
• Central Station Community Centre – $8,150 for the Café 545 community meal program.
• Many Hands Resource Centre – $8,100 towards the purchase of a vehicle for food bank deliveries.
• 500 Stephen Street Community Centre – $7,900 for ongoing programming.
• Scholarships and bursaries – $7,500 to graduating students of GVC, NPC and Morden Collegiate.
• Youth for Christ Morden – $7,100 toward backyard improvements.
• Salem Home – $6,850 to support the director of community engagement position.
• Morden school aged programming committee – $6,650 for after-school programming.
• Boundary Trails Health Centre Foundation – $6,600 for specialized pediatrics equipment.
• The Bunker – $6,400 for the Industrial Eats restaurant project.
• Eden Health Care Services – $6,250 in support of the volunteer program.
• Genesis House – $6,150 ongoing programming for the victims of domestic violence.
• Morden Christmas Cheer Board – $6,150 towards the Christmas hamper program.
• South Central Cancer Resource – $6,150 towards the transportation program.
• Gateway Resources – $5,600 towards the purchase of a wheelchair accessible swing for day program participants.
• Winkler Senior Centre – $5,350 for the volunteer coordinator position.
• Pembina Valley Pregnancy Care Centre – $4,800 for pregnancy support services.
• Morden Community Handi-van – $4,100 towards a new vehicle.
• Pembina Valley counselling services – $4,000 in support of the sliding fee scale to make counselling accessible to all.
• Morden Activity Centre – $3,650 towards a marketing campaign to raise awareness about the centre’s programming for seniors.
• Winkler Family Resource Centre – $3,100 toward the lending library and the Stay & Play program.
• Katie Cares – $3,100 to change existing space at the respite home into a work/storage area.
• Regional Connections – $3,000 in support of Winterfest programming.
• Morden Parent and Child Resource Centre – $2,750 towards operational costs.
• Winkler Day Care Centre – $2,500 to purchase outdoor musical playground instruments.
• The Gardens on Tenth – $1,900 towards facility renovations.
• Cerebral Palsy Association of Manitoba – $1,250 in support of the local sledge hockey program.
• Winkler Arts and Culture – $1,150 for the after-school art program.
• Miami recreation and play spaces – $1,000 in support of free community paint nights.
• Manitoba Choral Association – $900 in support of the Central Manitoba youth choir program.
• Pembina Hills Arts Council – $850 for art materials.
• Pembina Valley Humane Society – $550 in support of the low cost spay/neuter program.
