Great Grants Award Winners: Niagara (l-r) Manfred Fast, Program Manager, OTF; Bernie Villamil, Grant Review Team member, OTF; Wazi Naz, Vice President, Peace Bridge Newcomer Centre (winner of the Great Grant Award - Human and Social Services); Brian Hutchings, OTF Board member; Adele Tanguay, Grant Review Team member, OTF Niagara Falls, October 15, 2007 – Six remarkable Ontario not-for profit organizations will be honoured for the difference they have made in their communities at the Ontario Trillium Foundation’s 25th Anniversary celebration in Niagara Falls, October 15th.  The evening will be hosted by Nancy MacIntosh, (formerly of 1220 CHSC Radio) from Community Care St. Catharines. “The Great Grants Awards recognizes the vision, commitment and energy of Ontario’s volunteers and community organizations,” said Helen Burstyn, OTF Chair.  “This is our 25th year of strengthening communities and we’re celebrating by holding 16 award events across the province. We look forward to meeting community members in the Niagara Region who help make Ontario a great place to live.” The Foundation presents the Great Grants Awards every two years. The award winners were selected by volunteers who serve on the local Grant Review Team. In Niagara, six organizations were chosen for their outstanding achievements in the Arts and Culture, Sports and Recreation, Environment and Human and Social Services sectors. 2007 Great Grants Award Winners:  Niagara  • Arts and Culture: R. Nathaniel Dett BME Church Niagara Falls Canada was an important settlement region for refugee slaves escaping the USA and seeking freedom through the Underground Railroad. The R. Nathaniel Dett BME Church welcomed black slaves fleeing oppression and ministered to their needs.  OTF recognized its historical importance and in 2004 granted $75,000 over two years for the restoration of the R. Nathaniel Dett Memorial Chapel. As well, the grant helped preserve historical documents in the Norval Johnson Heritage Library. Since 1814 (the chapel was built in 1836), the British Methodist Episcopal Church has acted as a cultural, spiritual and religious centre. The Church works with school boards, heritage groups, historical societies, museums and the community to bring black history to life.   Declared a National Heritage Site, the Chapel is visited by over 2,000 people annually and devoted volunteers have operated and maintained the facility for years. • Sports and Recreation: Niagara Regional Minor Football Association Without volunteers, amateur sports in Canada would not exist. Thanks to football Moms, Dads and friends, the Niagara Regional Minor Football Association is in great shape. The Association is an OTF grantee going back to 1999 and scores big in community involvement. In 2006, OTF granted the Association $47,000 to assist in buying new equipment so kids could be safe playing the game they love. They introduced over 3,000 youth to football and welcomed all kids aged seven to 14, regardless of gender, size or social-economic status. Over 140 volunteer coaches, trainers and board members contribute over 8,000 hours to administer and operate the organization. The Association is now tackling the issue of future fundraising, to address the long-term needs of equipment replacement. Go team go! • Environment: Morgan’s Point Conservation Area c/o Wainfleet Lions Club Enjoyed by thousands of nature lovers for over 80 years, the Morgan’s Point Conservation Area in Wainfleet Township is one of the few remaining public access points to Lake Erie.   When the Wainfleet Lions Club approached OTF in 2004 to assist in restoring and preserving the neglected park, the Foundation responded with a two year $75,000 grant.  Working with the Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority and the Township of Wainfleet, the Lions Club rallied the community through fundraising and donations of labour and equipment. The installation of signs, fencing and a playground, combined with dune and park rehabilitation helped restore and protect the Lake Erie shoreline. Hundreds of volunteers got involved in public discussions and participated in a clean-up on Earth Day. Once again, the park is an exquisite site for all nature lovers, thanks to the lion-hearted work of this group.  • Human and Social Services: Peace Bridge Newcomer Centre Immigrating or being forced to flee to another country can be a harrowing experience. The Peace Bridge Newcomer Centre in Fort Erie, the first of its kind in Canada, welcomes refugees and immigrants and helps ease them into Canadian society.  In 2006, OTF gave the Peace Bridge Newcomer Centre $150,000 over two years to help create an integrated and coordinated system to link newcomers with existing supports and services in a timely and effective manner.  With OTF and other community funding, the centre has developed and established this unique and innovative model. Since opening its doors in December 2002 in a temporary trailer, it has helped close to 15,000 adults and children. The centre encourages permanent settlement in the Niagara Peninsula. Hopefully, highly skilled immigrants will choose to work at the very place that first welcomed them. • Grant Review Team Chair’s Award - for exemplifying the spirit of volunteerism: The Early Childhood Community Development Centre c/o Kiwanis Clubs of Niagara Literacy advocates saw a need for books and other resource material in the Niagara Region’s 140 licensed daycare facilities. The Early Childhood Community Development Centre, in collaboration with the Kiwanis Clubs of Niagara, started a fresh initiative. With the help of an OTF grant in 2006 of $65,000, they delivered new books and toys to daycare centres across Niagara. Volunteers from the five area Kiwanis clubs enjoyed visiting each of the 140 daycare centres to read and interact with the children. Their donation of time and talent encouraged kids to have fun learning. By the end of the year, the program became self-sustaining through Kiwanis Clubs funding and volunteer support. The Clubs are now busy enlisting the interest of local businesses to help support the initiative. Thanks to these dedicated volunteers, it’s always story time.  • 25th Anniversary Award - for remaining a leader in the not-for profit or charitable sector by consistently delivering on the Foundation’s granting priorities: Niagara Peninsula Homes Niagara Peninsula Homes manages co-operative housing complexes in Welland. In 1995, the Foundation granted the organization $161,800 over two years to launch the Good Food Box project, an innovative plan that brought nutritious food directly to low income people at more affordable prices through bulk buying. NPH trained volunteer participants from low income and multicultural families to establish, manage and market this community food distribution service.   Eventually, the Good Food Box program gave way to a community economic development action that enabled women to try their hand at creating small food businesses. High end gift baskets featuring local produce were created, managed and distributed by the same volunteers who participated in the original grant. Success soon followed and today “Niagara Presents” products are available on the shelves of finer retail outlets and beyond, under the “Niagara Presents” label.  Watch out President’s Choice!   Back to the events list