The Envision Financial Community Endowment administrated by First West Foundation has provided a $25,000 grant to the Reach Child and Youth Development Foundation project to build a new centre in Ladner for children and youth with special needs.
The $4-million Building for Children Together project will fill the need for a more accessible, community-based centre for children and youth with developmental disabilities such as autism, Down syndrome, Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder and ADHD. The new centre will also provide an inclusive community-based preschool and a large meeting room for other community groups.
“Envision Financial’ s recent donation from its First West Foundation will go a long way towards helping Reach build this new center that will provide programs, services, equipment and resources to over 1,000 children with developmental disabilities every year,” said Reach Foundation’s Chair, Irene Forcier. “Envisions partnership and corporate leadership is pivotal to the development of this greatly needed community resource.”
Since its inception in 1996, the First West Foundation has donated over $2 million in grants to local community groups and projects. The Foundation grows its endowments through charitable gifts and bequests.
This year, the First West Foundation is distributing $207,420 from the Envision Financial Community Endowment. Of this amount, $151,360 is supporting charities and initiatives helping children, families, and youth at risk, while the remaining $56,060 is supporting organizational development projects that strengthen the social services sector to bolster the exceptional work done by non-profits in our communities. Information can be found at their website at firstwestfoundation.ca.
The Building for Children Together capital building project is a partnership between Reach Child and Youth Development Society, the Corporation of Delta, and the Ladner Tsawwassen Kinsmen Club. The Corporation of Delta has provided the land located at 5050 47th avenue Ladner, which is valued in excess of $1 million. Reach, along with their partners the Kinsmen Club, will raise the $4 million to build the new centre.
Reach is welcoming donations from community and service groups, corporations, businesses, and is planning a fundraising gala in February of 2013. For more information, to meet with campaign representatives or to make a donation call 604-946-6622 ext. 372 or visit the campaign website at www.reachdevelopment.org/campaign
