Desjardins announces winners of grants program

Desjardins Group has revealed the winners of its “Better Things Community Grants” program.

The group asked its State Farm-branded agents to nominate local charities or government organizations dedicated to addressing safety issues, promoting healthier lifestyles, improving financial well-being, or supporting education for the youth, for grant consideration. Desjardins received a total of 137 nominations – of those, 20 were selected to receive the grants.

Three organizations were awarded the top three grants:

• Pathstone Foundation in St. Catharines, Ontario received a grant of $50,000, to help the organization develop 10,000 square feet of greenspace for mental health disorder patients.
• Connect Society in Edmonton, Alberta, was presented with a grant of $35,000 to support its mission in meeting the needs of families affected by hearing loss. The non-profit is looking to equip a local school with a sensory room to allow young children affected by deafness to learn.
• P.R.O. Kids in Saint John, New Brunswick was granted $20,000 towards matching children and teens in financial need with organized, registered recreation activities.

The remaining 17 winners were each given $5,000 grants; they include:

• Bellwood Public School (Whitby, ON)
• Brockville and Area Food Bank (Brockville, ON)
• Chatham-Kent Student Breakfast Programs (Chatham, ON)
• Distress Centre Calgary (Calgary, AB)
• Eden Food for Change (Mississauga, ON)
• Essex County Community Living (Essex, ON)
• Food4Kids (St. Catharines, ON)
• Girls Inc. of Durham (Ajax, ON)
• Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital Foundation (Toronto, ON)
• Hong Fook (Scarborough, ON)
• Kimberly Jr. Public School (Toronto, ON)
• Linking Generations (Sherwood, AB)
• London Cross Cultural Learner Centre (London, ON)
• Port Perry Hospital Foundation (Port Perry, ON)
• Sir Edgar Bauer Catholic Elementary School (Waterloo, ON)
• Sussex Vale Transition House (Sussex, NB)

The Carson Foundation (Palgrave, ON)

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