Penticton B.C. Fifteen organizations across the Southern Interior have been given a boost by the Valley First Community Endowment as grants totalling close to $75,000 make their way to local not-for-profits.
Since its first distributions in 2011, the Valley First Community Endowment, administered by the First West Foundation, has contributed more than $200,000 to community programs across the Okanagan, Similkameen and Thompson regions. The allocation of grants for 2014 is now complete and with $75,000 out to 15 different organizations.
Grant funding this year jumped by almost 35, or close to $20,000, over 2013. With the number of recipients holding steady at 15, funding on a project basis has been more substantial than in previous years.
"These grants arent just about money," says Seline Kutan, executive director of the First West Foundation, "theyre about changing lives for vulnerable people in our communities. Our goal is to make a difference in the communities we serve. Were truly making a difference through the Valley First Community Endowment grants."
In keeping with Valley Firsts commitment to fighting hunger in the communities it serves, funding from the endowment focuses on charities and programs that run food-related programs for at-risk children, youth and families.
Among this years recipients are breakfast programs in several regional school districts, Soup Sisters Broth Brothers across the Okanagan, the YMCA of the Okanagan in Kelowna, the Penticton & District Community Resource Society, the Upper Room Mission in Vernon and the Boys and Girls Club of Kamloops.
"Its incredible to watch the ongoing difference the Valley First Community Endowment continues to make," says Kutan. "When the fund was established we knew we would be able to increase the fantastic work Valley First was doing in the community, but what weve been able to achieve is even beyond our expectations. Its such rewarding work."
The $1 million Valley First Community Endowment was established in 2010 to provide an annual stream of grant money for local charities and initiatives in the communities Valley First serves. The fund is now close to $2 million and encourages donations from the credit union members and the community.
About The First West Foundation
The First West Foundation cares about the well-being of the communities served by First West Credit Union and its regional divisions, Envision Financial, Valley First, and Enderby & District Financial. The Foundation, with assets nearing $11 million uses income generated from its endowments to help improve the quality of life for British Columbians in these communities. Since its inception in 1996, the First West Foundation has donated over $3 million in grants to local community groups and projects. The Foundation grows its endowments through charitable gifts and bequests. For more information, visit firstwestfoundation.ca
About Valley First
Valley First is a division of First West Credit Union, B.C.'s third-largest credit union, which has 38 branches and 29 insurance offices throughout the Lower Mainland, Fraser Valley, Kitimat and Okanagan, Similkameen and Thompson valleys. Led by Launi Skinner, First West has $7.7 billion in assets under administration, more than 177,000 members and close to 1,300 employees.
Penticton B.C. Fifteen organizations across the Southern Interior have been given a boost by the Valley First Community Endowment as grants totalling close to $75,000 make their way to local not-for-profits.
Since its first distributions in 2011, the Valley First Community Endowment, administered by the First West Foundation, has contributed more than $200,000 to community programs across the Okanagan, Similkameen and Thompson regions. The allocation of grants for 2014 is now complete and with $75,000 out to 15 different organizations.
Grant funding this year jumped by almost 35, or close to $20,000, over 2013. With the number of recipients holding steady at 15, funding on a project basis has been more substantial than in previous years.
"These grants arent just about money," says Seline Kutan, executive director of the First West Foundation, "theyre about changing lives for vulnerable people in our communities. Our goal is to make a difference in the communities we serve. Were truly making a difference through the Valley First Community Endowment grants."
In keeping with Valley Firsts commitment to fighting hunger in the communities it serves, funding from the endowment focuses on charities and programs that run food-related programs for at-risk children, youth and families.
Among this years recipients are breakfast programs in several regional school districts, Soup Sisters Broth Brothers across the Okanagan, the YMCA of the Okanagan in Kelowna, the Penticton & District Community Resource Society, the Upper Room Mission in Vernon and the Boys and Girls Club of Kamloops.
"Its incredible to watch the ongoing difference the Valley First Community Endowment continues to make," says Kutan. "When the fund was established we knew we would be able to increase the fantastic work Valley First was doing in the community, but what weve been able to achieve is even beyond our expectations. Its such rewarding work."
The $1 million Valley First Community Endowment was established in 2010 to provide an annual stream of grant money for local charities and initiatives in the communities Valley First serves. The fund is now close to $2 million and encourages donations from the credit union members and the community.
About The First West Foundation
The First West Foundation cares about the well-being of the communities served by First West Credit Union and its regional divisions, Envision Financial, Valley First, and Enderby & District Financial. The Foundation, with assets nearing $11 million uses income generated from its endowments to help improve the quality of life for British Columbians in these communities. Since its inception in 1996, the First West Foundation has donated over $3 million in grants to local community groups and projects. The Foundation grows its endowments through charitable gifts and bequests. For more information, visit firstwestfoundation.ca
About Valley First
Valley First is a division of First West Credit Union, B.C.'s third-largest credit union, which has 38 branches and 29 insurance offices throughout the Lower Mainland, Fraser Valley, Kitimat and Okanagan, Similkameen and Thompson valleys. Led by Launi Skinner, First West has $7.7 billion in assets under administration, more than 177,000 members and close to 1,300 employees.