NEWS RELEASE
WATERLOO REGION COMMUNITY FOUNDATION
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WATERLOO REGION, ON – Today, Waterloo Region Community Foundation (WRCF) announced $437,000 in funding to 31 local organizations through the Racial Equity Fund. This included support from several WRCF Fundholders and donors.
A committee of volunteer community members who self-identify as Indigenous, Black or as a person of colour developed the funding application and guidelines, reviewed applications, and recommended funding recipients. With over $1 million in requests during this application period, there continues to be a gap between community need and dollars available.
“The programs and initiatives supported through the Racial Equity Fund are all making a positive impact on the lives of racialized individuals who call Waterloo Region home,” says Eric Avner, President & CEO, Waterloo Region Community Foundation. “However, we continue to receive more requests for impactful initiatives than we are able to fund. As we work alongside our Fundholders, donors, and partners to leverage our resources, we encourage others from across our community to join us in providing funding to those advancing racial equity locally.”
Established in 2020, WRCF’s Racial Equity Fund is intended to support those most impacted by the ongoing and systemic racial disparities that exist in our community. In 2024, the funds supported initiatives linked to improving social infrastructure.
A list of organizations that received funding is included below:
- Adventure4Change
- African Women's Alliance of Waterloo Region (World Wide Opportunities for Women Inc.)
- AfriWat
- Anishnabeg Outreach
- Cambridge Cultural Association
- Child Witness Centre
- Community Justice Initiatives Waterloo Region
- Community Music School of Waterloo Region
- Crow Shield Lodge
- Greenway-Chaplin Community Centre
- Hearts Open for Everyone (Kitchener-Waterloo Multicultural Centre)
- Kinbridge Community Association
- Kind Minds Family Wellness
- Lion's Mane Ministry
- MT Space
- Muslim Social Services Waterloo Region
- Muslim Women of Cambridge (Greenway-Chaplin Community Centre)
- Nigerians in the Region of Waterloo (Kitchener-Waterloo Multicultural Centre)
- Rhythm & Blues Cambridge (Kinbridge Community Association)
- Rohingya Centre
- Sexual Assault Support Centre of Waterloo Region
- SHORE Centre
- Somali Canadian Association of Waterloo Region (Greenway-Chaplin Community Centre)
- tri-Pride Community Association
- Waterloo Region Chinese Canadian Association (Coalition of Muslim Women Kitchener-Waterloo)
- Wijhah Initiative
- Willow River Centre (Social Development Centre Waterloo Region)
- Women of Dignity International
- Women That Give
- YWCA Cambridge
- Peace for All Canada (Conrad Grebel University College)
Note: Charitable organizations in brackets represent the fiscal partner working in partnership with the non-qualified donee.
If you would like to support the Racial Equity Fund and have your donation assist with funding future applications that WRCF receives, please visit wrcf.ca/re-donate.
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