$55,800 OTF Grant Helps Youth Program Grow

September 12, 2023

HANOVER – On Saturday September 9, the team at Bruce Grey Mentorship met with MPP Rick Byers to share how a two-year, $55,800 Resilient Communities Fund grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF) is being used. Funds from the OTF grant, awarded last summer, have helped the group to hire a new Program Coordinator to expand its program so that it can serve more kids in the community. The project began in the fall of 2022 and will run until December 2024.

“Congratulations to Bruce Grey Mentorship on the receipt of an Ontario Trillium Foundation grant. Thanks to the great team and volunteers for your great work in providing students with excellent mentorship support. A great organization!” said MPP Rick Byers, Bruce Grey Owen Sound.

In addition to hiring a second employee at the mentoring program, the grant is helping to cover some technology equipment and other expenses related to the facilitation of the mentoring program. Bruce Grey Mentorship works with local young people who have had some hardships in their growing years, and for various reasons, are in need of additional support and encouragement to help them reach their potential. Thanks to the OTF grant, the program is also able to expand their team of mentors and provide support to more young people in the community.

“The Resilient Communities Fund grant has already been an incredible source of support for our program’s growth coming out of the pandemic,” said Greg Dow, Executive Director of Bruce Grey Mentorship. “This grant has allowed us to double our efforts to recover from the financial loss we experienced through the pandemic. With the addition of our Program Coordinator, Shane Herman, we have already expanded group programs to prepare for additional young people to access our programs. We also want to congratulate the Ontario Trillium Foundation on 40 years of granting and building healthy and vibrant communities across the province.”

Bruce Grey Mentorship is committed to using this grant to increase their funding and make the Program Coordinator position sustainable beyond the Grant. If you would like more information on how to get involved with mentoring in our community, please visit our website at www.brucegreymentorship.ca

The Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF), an agency of the Government of Ontario, and one of Canada’s leading granting foundations celebrates 40 years of grant-making in Ontario and making a lasting impact in communities. Last year, OTF invested over $110M into 1,022 community projects and partnerships. Visit otf.ca to learn more.