Michael O’Keefe, chairman of Eastern Health's board of trustees and Vickie Kaminski, president and CEO of the health authority, presented awards today to 2012 Community Development Fund grant recipients.
O'Keefe said the initiatives from the 2012 recipients represent a wide range of health-related needs, including the creation of garden projects for youth and communities to enjoy, encouraging the development of empathy in school-aged children, providing physical activities to promote healthy living, and providing workshops to refugees living in the province to help alleviate stress, problem solve, and identify supports.
“We recognize that healthy communities are built on partnerships between health and community organizations,” O’Keefe said.
The successful applicants and their proposals include:
• Community Garden Project, Choices for Youth, St. John’s;
• Community Hub for a Healthy Mind and Body, Bell Island Playground Project, Bell Island;
• Creating a Foundation of Positive Mental Health, Roots of Empathy, St. John’s;
• Growing Community, MacMorran Community Centre, St. John’s;
• Personal Resources for Refugees Living in Newfoundland and Labrador, Coalition of Richer Diversity, St. John’s;
• St. John’s Safer Soil Project, Common Ground Community Development Corp., St. John’s;
• Walk the Walk: A Wellness Approach to Health Improvement, The Boys and Girls Club of St. John’s.
“On behalf of Eastern Health, I offer my sincere congratulations to the 2012 Community Development Fund recipients,” said Kaminski. “Their collaborative work is the embodiment of Eastern Health’s vision of Healthy People, Healthy Communities, where projects help provide key opportunities to share knowledge and skills to promote health and wellness in our communities. "
By working in partnership, Kaminski said, "together we can bring about change and create supportive environments that improve the health of individuals, families and the communities in which we live, work and play.”
The Community Development Fund, valued at $50,000, was established in 2007, by Eastern Health’s Board of Trustees, where priority is given to groups that aim to build a sense of community, strengthen social support networks, develop community connections and address a priority need.
Since the first grants were awarded in 2008, more than $240,000 has been invested in 30 community groups and organizations.
More information about the Community Development Fund guidelines can be found on Eastern Health’s website at www.easternhealth.ca.
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