Great Grants Award Winners: Toronto (l-r) Nalini Stewart, OTF Board member; Lori Nikkel, Community Garden Network c/o Foodshare Toronto, winner of the Great Grants Award - Environment; Alexander Waugh, OTF Grant Review Team Chair Toronto, December 3rd, 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 Toronto, December 3rd, 2007.  The evening will be hosted by Clifton Joseph of CBC The National.  “The Great Grants Awards recognize the vision, commitment and energy of Ontario’s volunteers and community organizations,” said Alex Waugh, Grant Review Team Chair for Toronto. “This is our 25th year of strengthening communities and we’ve been celebrating by holding 16 award events across the province. We look forward to meeting community members in Toronto 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 Toronto, 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: Toronto • Arts and Culture: Jumblies Theatre If all the world’s a stage, then Toronto neighbourhoods are creating drama with guidance from Jumblies Theatre and help from OTF. Jumblies Theatre sets up multi-year residencies in urban neighborhoods and employs professional artists to create news works of art to reflect that community. In 2004, OTF granted this dynamic theatre company $225,000 over three years to engage members of the Dundas/Islington community in a new theatre project. In partnership with Montgomery’s Inn, Toronto Community Housing and other local organizations, members of diverse cultural and economic groups in the neighbourhood collaborated on a performance piece.  The residency program involved 130 volunteer performers, 542 volunteer production participants, 59 paid theatre professionals, 15 paid interns and 220 student volunteers. The resulting work entitled “Bridge of One Hair” had its premiere at the Harbourfront Centre in April 2007. For Jumblies Theatre’s encouragement of creativity in Toronto neighbourhoods, OTF says “bravo!” • Sports and Recreation:  Doug Philpott Inner City Children’s Tennis Fund Tennis isn’t just for the Wimbledon set.  With help from the Foundation, kids in Toronto are “slamming” and “jamming” on the courts. In 2004, OTF granted the Doug Philpott Inner City Children’s Tennis Fund $100,000 over three years to branch out across the city and get kids excited about this intense game.  The fund was set up in memory of the great Canadian tennis enthusiast Doug Philpott to help others enjoy the game he loved. The program has expanded to 10 locations throughout the city of Toronto, particularly in low income neigbourhoods. By the end of the program’s second year, two new summer tennis camps in lower-income neighbourhoods welcomed 3,500 players. Qualified instructors teach kids the basics of the game, while helping them learn discipline and interpersonal skills. The Philpott fund also encourages young participants to eventually become volunteers. With support from the community, the fund will continue to rally for, and with, kids! • Environment: Community Garden Network c/o Foodshare Toronto Much has been said about the 100 mile diet. With help from Foodshare and OTF, communities in Toronto have the chance to grow fresh fruits and vegetables in their own backyard.  In 2003, the Foundation granted $225,000 over three years to increase the number of community gardens in Toronto. Horticultural workshops and leadership training assisted existing and new community garden groups, particularly in high rise, low-income areas. Support was provided by the network for each of the new garden groups, from initial contact through to the construction of their garden. Community management and leadership are encouraged, to better sustain the program. With enhanced health, economic and environmental benefits and volunteer opportunities, the program fulfills many of OTF’s funding priorities. Thanks to Foodshare, Torontonians are growing accustomed to community gardens. • Human and Social Services:  Black Coalition for AIDS Prevention (BlackCAP) HIV/AIDS continues to be a formidable challenge, both locally and globally. With help from the Foundation, a Toronto-based group is doing its part to keep young people informed. In 2005, OTF granted the Black Coalition for AIDS Prevention (BlackCAP) $210,000 over three years to develop and implement an HIV/AIDS prevention program. It’s called Mate Masie, meaning, “What I hear, I keep”. The program uses yoga and Kwanzaa principles to education youth ages 15 to 24 in ways that are engaging, relevant and fun. Held in the Rexdale, Etobicoke, Scarborough and Jane/Finch communities, this wholistic approach to AIDS education and to the physical, cultural and spiritual of youth is effectively reaching out to people. In its first year, 40 young people participated in the program. BlackCAP’s innovative contribution to healthy and vibrant communities makes it truly “great” with us! • Grant Review Team Chair’s Award - for exemplary volunteerism:  Fatal Light Awareness Program Birds are an endless source of wonder. Thanks to the Fatal Light Awareness Program and with help from OTF, birds will have a safer passage through the GTA. In 2004, the Foundation granted $175,000 to FLAP to expand its Bird Friendly Building program. Between one and ten million migratory birds collide with windows in Toronto each year. FLAP seeks to protect the over 140 different species of bird who pass through Toronto or make the city home. By encouraging businesses to turn off lights at night and apply window films on high rises to reduce day and night time collisions, FLAP also promotes energy and cost saving measures. FLAP has recruited and maintained a core of 65 dedicated volunteers who carry out the bird rescues on downtown streets. The organization continues to build its capacity through fundraising and volunteer development. Reducing energy costs while saving our feathered friends – this is one cause certainly worth the FLAP! • 25th Anniversary Award - for remaining a leader in the not-for profit or charitable sector by consistently delivering on the Foundation’s granting priorities:  North York Community House Toronto welcomes more newcomers to Canada than any other city in the country. Thanks to the North York Community House, immigrants truly have a place to call home. Since 1992, this exceptional organization has worked with new Canadians to foster belonging, independence and creativity. In 2002, the Foundation granted $118,600 over three years to help launch the Newcomer Connections Program.  Immigrant women who were experiencing isolation found support and friendship. Through arts, recreational activities and leadership development, women gained confidence in themselves and became familiar with their new country. Over the three years, 70 peer leaders completed 60 hours of training and connected over 4,800 immigrant women to community resources and services. Many of the volunteer peer leaders found related jobs. The program has secured ongoing funding due to its great success. This House definitely feels like a home. Back to the events list