Great Grants Award Winners:  Thames Valley (l-r) Harmail Basi; OTF Board Member; Wafa Dawoud, Treasurer, LCAW; Leila Madhoun, President, London Council of Arab Women (LCAW) - winner of the Great Grants Award - Arts and Culture; Paul Willoughby, Chair, Grant Review Team, OTF; Sheila Simpson, Program Manager, OTF St. Thomas, October 25, 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 St. Thomas, October 25, 2007.  The evening will be hosted by Grant Hughson, North American Railway Hall of Fame. “The Great Grants Awards recognize the vision, commitment and energy of Ontario’s volunteers and community organizations,” said Paul Willoughby, Grant Review Team Chair for Thames Valley. “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 Thames Valley area 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 Thames Valley, 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:  Thames Valley • Arts and Culture: London Council of Arab Women for Community Services In Canada, there are large Arab immigrant populations in Montreal, Calgary, Edmonton, Toronto and London.  The London Council of Arab Women for Community Services wanted to raise awareness of their culture through creative means.  With help from an OTF grant in 2005 of $35,000, the Council produced the documentary “Women of Qaraoun, The History of Arab Women in Canada”. The film illuminates the lives of Arab women in Canada and fosters greater cultural understanding. It also gave the women a chance to gain experience in film production and a possible media career. It has screened at film festivals across Canada. For the London Council of Arab Women, the message is in the medium. • Sports and Recreation: Forest City Velodrome Cycling is an activity young and old can enjoy. Due to our climate, all- season outdoor cycling is difficult, if not dangerous. In 2004, when a group of cycling enthusiasts converted an old London hockey arena into a velodrome, OTF got into gear with a grant of $49,000. The grant provided assistance with operating costs and in setting up youth and women’s programming. Velodrome membership rose to 158, and ranges from age from seven to 86.  Development programs are offered to bring young talent to the sport, while elite athletes can train indoors to prepare for international championships. The facility is one of only three velodromes in North America. The whole operation is supported by volunteers who do everything from announcing races, to teaching clinics and repairing bicycles. For its dedication to cycling, Forest City Velodrome wins the yellow jersey. And a Great Grants Award.    • Environment: Friends of the Coves Subwatershed The City of London designated the Coves subwatershed as an environmentally significant area, in recognition of the distinctive landforms, the diversity of species and the link it provides to the Thames River corridor. Without the Friends of the Coves Subwatershed, the area may not have become a natural gem in the heart of the city. In 2005, with the help of a two year OTF grant of $110,000, the Friends, a group of advocates and committed volunteers, implemented a stewardship plan. By encouraging local landowners to adopt ecologically-friendly practices and through educating the public in ecosystem conservation, the Friends have made tangible improvements to the area. Thanks to the Friends, what was once perceived as swampy land, is now a beautiful natural area for all to enjoy. • Human and Social Services: London Training Centre Some say the best type of social service program is having a job. The London Training Centre provides entry-level kitchen training for youth and recent immigrants and has delivered many programs for those seeking greater skills and employment in the Foodservice/Hospitality Industry. In 2005, OTF granted $69,000 OTF for a safe food handling training program. Expecting to train 300 people, the centre was successful in training almost 900 people and raised revenues of close to $40,000. In addition to the training programs, the centre operates a Hospitality Employment Service which provides banquet and special events staffing to local organizations. This service is now a self-funded enterprise that provides placement opportunities for grads. Many go on to careers in the food industry. With continued support from the community, the London Training Centre may graduate the next Jamie Oliver.  • Grant Review Team Chair’s Award - for exemplary volunteerism: ReForest London While known as the Forest City, many Londoners were concerned over tree loss in their community. Committed to taking positive action to reverse the trend, ReForest London was born. ReForest London helps community groups, businesses and individuals plant trees and shrubs in their neighbourhoods. The group took root with a seed grant from OTF in 2004.  In 2006, the Foundation granted ReForest an additional $74,300 to continue its reforestation work.  Community groups contribute 50 per cent of the tree purchase cost, while ReForest matches it. The response has been tremendous. 1,300 volunteers were involved in 2006 alone. During the course of the grant, 27 different projects were completed. ReForest London welcomes everyone to its planting events. All that’s really needed is enthusiasm, time and energy. The people of London have that….in spades. • 25th Anniversary Award - for remaining a leader in the not-for profit or charitable sector by consistently delivering on the Foundation’s granting priorities: mindyourmind.ca c/o Family Services Thames Valley Stress about the future can weigh heavily on young people. Family Services Thames Valley, along with the London Mental Health Crisis Service recognized that reaching youth on their terms was key in providing effective service. In consultation with youth, they focused on the internet to spread the message. In 2005, OTF granted the collaborative $35,000 to develop and refine the website mindyourmind.ca. It is an award winning site for youth, by youth. It provides information, resources and tools to manage stress, crisis and mental health problems. Some content is developed by the Street Team, a group of diverse youth committed to removing the stigma often associated with reaching out for help. Over the grant period, the website received thousands of hits. Elements on the site include videos from Billy Talent and Tokyo Police Club. Thanks to this excellent website, youth can reach out for help on their terms.     Back to the events list