When gamblers here make a wager, they may not know it but they are betting on the community.
The provincial government has turned over $593,650 in community gaming grants to 17Central Okanagan community organizations. The fund come from the profits made through gambling in B.C.
Local MLAs Steve Thomson, Norm Letnick and Ben Stewart joined members of the Okanagan Boys and Girls Club—the organization that received the largest grant— in Kelonwa earlier this week to make the announcement about the latest round of grants for local groups. Of the total awarded, the Okanagan Boys and Girls Clubs received $225,000.
Other groups that received money included:
• Elevation Outdoors Experiential Programs Association – $5,500
• Kelowna Okanagan Mission Lions Club – $30,000
• Knights of Columbus – St. Charles Garnier Council #9845 – $10,000
• Central Okanagan Hospice Association – $65,500
• Canadian Federation of University Women – Kelowna – $10,000
• Scouts Canada – 1st Glenvalley Group – $1,600
• Shrine Club #15 – Kelowna – $20,000
• Scouts Canada – 1st Westside Group – $2,300
• Westbank Lioness Club – $18,000
• Lions Club of Westbank – $20,000
• University Children’s Learning Centre Society – $14,750
• Central Okanagan Association for Cardiac Health – $50,000
• Central Okanagan Charitable Gaming Association – $20,000
• Kelowna & District Society for People in Motion – $57,000
• Kelowna Family Services Society – $22,000
• Kelowna & District Society for Community Living – $22,000
“The Okanagan Boys and Girls clubs provide support to children and youth through physical, education, and social development in a safe and supportive environment,” said Kelowna-Lake Country MLA Norm Letnick. “This gaming grant of $225,000 will assist the club in helping over 6,000 young people in the Okanagan each and every year. “
Across B.C., 300 recipient groups will share $12.9 million from the two latest rounds of gaming grant distribution, says Victoria. They include groups representing human and social services, arts and culture, and the environment.
Community gaming grants allow non-profit organizations to apply for provincial gaming revenues.
Last fiscal year, in 2011/12, the government gave out a total of $135 million in gaming grants to more than 5,300 community groups.
