NEWS
The Hub Family Resource Centre’s commitment to serving all families is reflected in their diverse clientele and staff, which is a snapshot of the Wood Buffalo community itself. A significant step in realizing this vision was a 2023 project funded by WBCF that redesigned their marketing materials, using photos of real families who use our programs
Getting older is a privilege, but that doesn’t mean it’s easy—and it can be even harder if a person lives somewhere less accessible, inclusive, or accepting of them as they age. But how can a community become age-friendly? With time. St. Aidan’s Society and WBCF are working to make an age-friendly Wood Buffalo a reality.
(Fort McMurray, AB – September 24, 2021) The Wood Buffalo Community Foundation (WBCF) has selected the recipients of $200,000 in Community Grant funding.
This funding will support valuable community projects that are needed in the areas of Mental Health or Crisis Supports; Community Connections and Reducing Isolation. Local charities and community groups were invited to apply this past May.
This year’s grant cycle marks the fourth round of grant funding issued by the WBCF. The 2021 grant recipients are:
Organization and Program / Project:
Pastew Place for Pre-Treatment / Client Coordinator
The Hub Family Resource Centre for Rural Community Outreach / Hub on Wheels
St. Aidan’s House Society for Senior Outreach & Advocate Program
King’s Kids Promotions Outreach Ministries for Great Bannock Bake-Off Event and Community Connection Pilot Program (Fort Chipewyan)
“COVID-19 highlights the need for community support for mental health, addictions and crisis support, rural community outreach, and community connection projects. The outcomes of these programs and initiatives will have a huge impact within Fort McMurray Wood Buffalo. WBCF would like to thank all our donors and community partners in making this funding possible.” Gaylene Weidlich, Executive Director, WBCF.
Founded in 2017, WBCF has provided over $1.3 million to social profits in Fort McMurray Wood Buffalo. WBCF strengthens the social fabric and quality of life in Fort McMurray Wood Buffalo by forging relationships to match interests to needs.
(Fort McMurray, AB – October 15, 2020) WBCF has selected nine local community groups as the recipients of nearly $300,000 in community grant funding. This is a large increase from last year as Intact Insurance and BrokerLink, through Intact Financial Corporation, donated $100,000 to the Wood Buffalo Community Foundation Rapid Response Fund.
This year’s funding will help support valuable community projects that are needed in the areas of Mental Health, Covid-19 Support and Environmental. Local charities and community groups were invited to apply this past June.
This year’s grant cycle marks the third round of grant funding issued by the WBCF. The 2020 grant recipients are:
Organization and Program / Project:
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Wood Buffalo for Community Focused Mentoring Services
Habitat for Humanity Wood Buffalo for Energy Efficiency in Affordable Housing
St. Aidan’s Society for Senior Outreach & Advocate Program
Waypoint’s Community Services Association for Family Violence Outreach - Pandemic Supports
Girls Inc. of Northern Alberta for Reaching SMART
KidSport Wood Buffalo for Return to Sport
McMan Youth Family & Community Services Association for NEAFAN Rural Bus Tickets
Willow Lake Metis and The Resilience Institute for Stories of Resilience - Bison & Adapting to Climate Change
Centre of Hope for COH Outreach Mobile Service Unit
Since being founded in 2017, the WBCF has been building its endowed funds to help support and strengthen the social profit sector in the Wood Buffalo Region. Part of this support comes in the form of strategic grant giving, which helps to provide financial assistance for community projects in the areas of health, education, arts, culture, social services, sports and recreation, the environment and other emerging community needs.
The WBCF is a registered Canadian charity. Our mission is to enhance quality of life in our region by supporting community members and organizations in building long term, mutually beneficial relationships between donors and grantees. We provide grants to improve and enhance the stability and sustainability of the community.
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(Fort McMurray, AB - June 23, 2020) Wood Buffalo Community Foundation (WBCF) held its 2020 AGM virtually on June 23, 2020. The Board elected three new Directors, confirmed terms for nine current Directors, received audited financial statements for the period ended December 31, 2019 and appointed its public accountant for the financial period ending December 31, 2020. The audited financial statements can be found here.
Accomplishments outlined at the AGM included:
Raising $1,000,000 in donations in 2019, including matching funds from the Suncor Energy Foundation, bringing endowed funds to almost $3,000,000
Completion of second granting cycle distributing local grants of $200,000 to five organizations
Recruiting five new board members in 2019
“We are very much in our infancy as a foundation with this being only our second annual report,” said Tony Mankowski, Chair of the WBCF Board. “I am pleased to say we are progressing in our mission: To enhance the quality of life in our region through grants and partnerships that improve the capacity and sustainability of our community.”
The WBCF is a registered Canadian charity. Our mission is to enhance quality of life in ourregion by supporting community members and organizations in building long term, mutuallybeneficial relationships between donors and grantees. We provide grants to improve andenhance the stability and sustainability of the community.
For more information, please visit wbcfoundation.ca.
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Media inquiries:
(Fort McMurray, AB – May 27, 2020) The Wood Buffalo Community Foundation (WBCF) is ready to accept applications for its 2020 granting cycle. Considering the current pandemic and flood situations, the grant cycle will prioritize mental health support programs as it is expected that mental health support is going to be the greatest need coming out of these crises.
The WBCF 2020 grant cycle is part of the organization’s regular granting activities and is separate from the recently announced Rapid Response Fund.
For this grant cycle, WBCF is calling for applications that address the following target areas:
Programs or projects that increase accessibility to mental health supports for specific populations such as youth, seniors, health care and emergency service providers.
Environmental initiatives that enhance or create community connections that focus on environmental education; renewable energy, energy conservation, and climate change; land, habitat, and wildlife conservation. There is a $50,000 cap for the environmental grant target area.
Adapting programs and projects that are assisting vulnerable populations in managing the impacts of COVID-19.
The deadline for grant applications is July 7, 2020. Details on the application process can be found on wbcfoundation.ca/community-grant. WBCF’s grants committee aims to shortlist the applications by early August and make final decisions on awarding of grants before the end of October 2020.
The WBCF is a registered Canadian charity. Our mission is to enhance the quality of life in our region through grants and partnerships that improve the capacity and sustainability of our community. In 2019, the Foundation awarded grants to five local agencies in the social profit sector.
For more information, please visit wbcfoundation.ca.
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Media inquiries:
CRA Charity Registration #721278927 RR0001
The Wood Buffalo Community Foundation is planning to raise an estimated amount of $1,000,000 this year on fundraising campaigns. It will cost our organization an estimate of $120,000 to raise this. The money raised will be going to benefit communities within the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo by encouraging, supporting, and building healthy, vibrant, sustainable and inclusive communities;. For further information, please contact office@wbcfoundation.ca. Our physical address is: 9917 Biggs Avenue, Fort McMurray, AB, T9H 1S2.
