Whistler Blackcomb Foundation donates over
$318,000 in the Sea to Sky
December 2023:
The Whistler Blackcomb Foundation is excited to announce that just over $318,000 in charitable grants has recently been awarded to Sea to Sky non-profit organizations.
“The Foundation is committed to helping organizations that benefit residents of the Sea to Sky Corridor. It is truly rewarding to disburse grant funds to these amazing local non-profits who are working tirelessly to continue to improve our communities,” said Mei Madden, Executive Director of the WBF.
This fall, the WBF proudly supported Zero Ceiling Society of Canada with a $50,000 grant to continue their important work in supporting marginalized youth and helping change systems that disempower them. Zero Ceiling is committed to ending youth homelessness in BC. Their Whistler programs are instrumental in helping young people who are facing homelessness have a healthy transition to adulthood and gain valuable life experiences.
Sea to Sky Community Services received $40,000 to help strengthen their Food Security programs. Funds will support the purchase of fresh food for the Pemberton Food Bank and for the Healthy Pregnancy Outreach Program. These much-needed programs continue to experience increased numbers post pandemic, highlighting the need to provide free, healthy options for residents suffering from serious food insecurity.
Almost $31,000 was granted to Whistler Professional Firefighters Association to fund the opportunity for formal mental health training for the peer support team at Whistler Fire Rescue. Increasingly, first responder organizations are embracing peer support to help improve the lives of co-workers and guide them towards recovery, empowerment, and hope. First responders can experience strong emotional, physical, cognitive, or behavioral reactions after attending a traumatic event or critical incident. These funds will support a model where peer support can be most effective in a formalized, intentional form, and peer supporters are provided with the tools that they need to stay healthy and free from injury and burnout. It is encouraging that a light is being shone on the need for focused support for critical incident and post-traumatic stress experienced by first responders. Recent conversations in our corridor have prompted the development and launch of a first responder support resource page at www.seatoskysafetynet.com to support the mental health of our public safety personnel.
Arts Whistler received just under $28,000 to help fund the Maury Young Arts Centre Theatre Sound System Replacement Project. As a welcoming and accessible venue for all the community to enjoy, the new sound system will allow Arts Whistler and the arts, culture, and heritage sector to deliver quality presentations in this highly regarded centre for arts experiences and live presentations. The upgraded system will also significantly improve performance experience for musicians and other artists using the theatre sound system.
Close to $28,000 was granted to Whistler Off Road Cycling Association to purchase new mountain e-bikes for WORCA Trail Crew to commute to work sites to maintain the extensive trail network that is so highly valued in our community. Without ongoing maintenance, repairs, and protection there is the risk of losing this incredible amenity to erosion and degradation. Maintaining sustainable trails is the key focus of the program.
Squamish Helping Hands Society received a grant of $25,000 toward their Squamish Meals on Wheels program for 2024. Meals on Wheels provides hot, healthy food and a friendly visit to those who cannot always prepare meals for themselves because of disability, illness, injury, age, and other reasons. These funds will support services and equipment associated with the MOW program, as well as purchasing meal trays and supplies.
$16,000 was granted to the Squamish Food Bank Society to support their Food Hub programs, including the Squamish food bank, hamper deliveries, school breakfast and lunch program, and lunch and dinner meal service. The Squamish Food Bank currently sees over 1000 visits per month, delivers 100 hampers monthly to those in the community who experience physical or mental barriers to visiting the food bank in person, and supports close to 350 families with children each month through their Food Hub programs. Funds will support the successful continuation of these programs.
Also included among the successful recipients within this fall funding period were the St'at'imc Northern Tribe Powwow Society, BC Luge Association, Signal Hill Elementary School, Whistler Film Festival Society, Axemen Rugby Club, Pemberton Off Road Cycling Association, Pemberton Canoe Association, and the Whistler Gymnastics Club.
The Foundation also matched all Whistler Blackcomb employee donations to the Whistler Blackcomb Foundation Environmental Fund which supports environmental projects in the Sea to Sky Corridor.
Help us continue to support our local communities by participating in the Whistler Blackcomb Foundation’s TELUS Winter Classic charity fundraising event on March 1 & 2, 2024. Learn more at www.whistlerblackcombfoundation.com.
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The Whistler Blackcomb Foundation has donated over 19 million dollars in financial grants to Registered Sea to Sky Charities making it the largest fundraising organization in the area. Our mandate is to support larger, more everlasting community projects within the Sea to Sky Corridor, as well as to build a stronger relationship with residents of the community. The Whistler Blackcomb Foundation provides financial support to organizations whose activities provide benefit to residents of the Sea to Sky Corridor in the areas of health, human services, education, recreation, arts & culture and the environment with a special emphasis placed on youth and family programs. www.whistlerblackcombfoundation.com