2025 GRANTEES

Multi-year grants

Grantees entered into a two or three-year commitment with First West Foundation in 2024 and 2023 respectively.

Enderby and District Community Resource Centre, Enderby, $15,000
The largest service delivery charity serving Enderby and area, funding supports operational costs of the Outreach/Referral Community Support Worker. This liaison role is fundamental to the wellbeing of residents as it provides direct support to families in the community offering intense parenting and life skills support, referrals, crisis intervention, and short-term counseling.

Mothers Against Drunk Drivers (MADD), Enderby, $3,000
Youth are disproportionally affected by impaired driving—in 2021, young drivers aged 16-24 accounted for 23% of all impaired driving incidents in Canada. The School Assembly Program keeps kids safe, empowering youth in grades 7-12 with a presentation that vividly illustrates the consequences of impaired driving. The program is delivered to AL Fortune students.

IMPACT GRANTS

Unrestricted grants to support an organization’s greatest need.

A.L. Fortune Secondary School, Enderby, $15,000
Providing after school activities for their community, AL Fortune will run a minimum of three programs, engaging more than 40 students in each program. Student participation will focus on increasing attendance by Indigenous students (38% of the school population). AL Fortune serves 370 students in its small rural community.

Literacy Alliance of the Shuswap Society, Enderby, $15,000
According to the National Summer Learning Association (USA), every year students from low-income households lose two-to-three months of their learning during the summer months. To break the cycle of low literacy levels and help close the gap for students in the North Okanagan-Shuswap school district region, LASS operates a summer program for at-risk children. The Summer Slide Reading Program fosters continued learning and educational experiences throughout the summer for approximately 100 students. Each year LASS serves over 6,500 individuals.

Multi-year grants

Grantees entered into a two or three-year commitment with First West Foundation in 2023 or 2024, and all will conclude in 2025.

Delta Hospital and Community Foundation, Delta, $25,000
Building a state-of-the-art long-term care community, this new facility will replace the dated, 92 bed extended care residence at Delta Hospital built in 1977. A new 200 bed community will provide single rooms in homes and neighbourhoods with 12-13 residents in each home unit. A living room, dining room, den and kitchen space in each home unit will offer improved safety, privacy and greatly improve resident’s quality of life.

EmotionsBC Health and Wellness Society, Surrey, $25,000
The Essential Skills Program empowers individuals to navigate their mental health challenges. In 2024, EmotionsBC hosted 168 support skill sessions with 1,735 program participants, impacting 4,338 people through family relationships, and reaching people in 29 communities across B.C. The grant will help pay wages for a supervisor, coordinator and facilitator and includes program operating expenses, and volunteer support.

Mothers Against Drunk Drivers (MADD), Envision Financial region, $5,000
Youth are disproportionally affected by impaired driving—in 2021, young drivers aged 16-24 accounted for 23% of all impaired driving incidents in Canada. The School Assembly Program keeps kids safe, empowering youth in grades 7-12 with a presentation that vividly illustrates the consequences of impaired driving. In 2023-2024, this program delivered 12 presentations across the Envision Financial region, reaching more than 9,500 students.

Take a Hike Youth Foundation, North Delta, $25,000
Empowering vulnerable youth to believe in their potential and achieve success, Take a Hike supports youth with full-time mental health clinical counselling and well-being programs integrated into their school curriculum. Also included are outdoor wilderness trips and community engagement activities. Following completion of high school, an impressive 97% of youth plan to attend post-secondary education and 76% reported improved mental health and overall life satisfaction.

IMPACT GRANTS

Unrestricted grants to support an organization’s greatest need.

Abbotsford Youth Commission (AYC), Abbotsford, $25,000
The Youth Drop-In Centre offers a minimum of 27+ hours of direct service each week. In 2024, AYC welcomed 20,589 entrances to its programs. More than just a place to gather, AYC programs equip youth with the skills they need to care for themselves, build resilience, and work toward self-sufficiency. From leadership training to life skills workshops, youth are empowered to make healthy choices, develop confidence, and navigate life’s challenges. The grant will go directly toward youth worker wages and program supplies.

BC Agriculture in the Classroom, Abbotsford, $25,000
Classroom Growing Programs provide teachers K-12 the chance to make it easy to learn about agriculture. From “Spuds in Tubs” to “Common Ground: Strawberry Project with Indigenous Roots” as well as Harvest Bins, the program creates a positive learning environment to get growing. In 2024, the impact in agriculture and food education supported 396 classes, and 11,880 students in the Fraser Valley. BC Agriculture in the Classroom has partnered with Food Banks BC to deliver fresh, local produce to 1,477 schools, serving 8.5 million portions annually, generating $3-$10 in economic returns through increased lifetime earnings, job creation and healthcare savings.

BeMorr Society Mental Health and Suicide Awareness, Abbotsford, $25,000
The Mental Wellness Program supports enhancing access to counselling services, first aid training sessions, and peer support groups. BeMorr Society supported over 750 counselling sessions in 2024. Funding will reduce wait times, improve access to services, and expand partnerships with more contracted counsellors in additional communities. It will also support program administration, marketing, and awareness efforts.

Fraser Region Community Justice Initiatives (CJI), Langley, $20,000
CJI’s Restorative Action Program serves both students and staff across the Langley School District equipping them with effective conflict resolution skills. Fostering a restorative atmosphere, schools are becoming healthier and more productive places which benefits the whole community. Students develop strong self-esteem as they learn and grow without fear, take responsibility for their actions, and mature into responsible adults with a strong sense of values. In 2024, CJI’s Action Plan supported 1,600 students in the Langley School District.

HeadsUp Guys, Envision Financial region, $25,000
HeadsUpGuys supports men’s mental health in a positive, inclusive, and mutually supportive way with and for people of all backgrounds, regardless of gender, race, or sexual orientation. An online resource, the grant will support the ongoing maintenance and further development of the HeadsUpGuys Therapist Directory, the world’s only therapist directory focused specifically on supporting the mental health care of men. In 2024, a total of 4,350 users in Envision Financial communities accessed the directory with 5,782 connections facilitated to HeadsUpGuys and therapists, thus emphasizing its unique role as a conduit for men to access life-saving professional help.

Heron Hospice Society, Delta, $20,000
A provider of compassionate care and support to people with life-limiting illness and their families, the Society seeks to expand and strengthen community education efforts surrounding grief and bereavement. Serving approximately 2,450 individuals each year, the grant will be used to develop comprehensive educational sessions on death and loss, facilitate targeted support groups, and create accessible informational materials in both paper and digital formats.

Kitimat General Hospital Foundation, Kitimat, $25,000
CT Scanner for Kitimat General Hospital.

L.I.N.C. (Long-term Inmates Now in the Community), Mission, $25,000
Emma’s Acres is a thriving sustainable agriculture system supporting local food security in the District of Mission. Proceeds from the farm are sold at farmers’ markets in Mission, to local non-profits, stores and restaurants as well as being donated to local food programs and the food bank. LINC uses the principles of transformative justice, equity, community and diversity to assist offenders who are accountable for their actions, to safely reintegrate back into society after years of being inside prison. LINC gives individuals opportunities to give back to the community whereby prisoners travel to the farm on various forms of conditional release. Incarcerated participants receive employable skills, community, an opportunity to provide community service and receive hands-on learning experiences. Approximately 1,500 people are impacted by LINC every year.

Mission Literacy in Motion, Mission $3,000
More than 1,000 persons benefit annually from the literacy programs delivered to children and adults. The Science of Reading program will be expanded helping children build foundational literacy skills, improve reading levels and provide adults with literacy assistance and language support. Programs are delivered to Deroche Elementary School, and extend to Dewdney, Lake Errock, Leq’a:mel, and Sq’ewlets First Nations.

Nightshift Street Ministries, Surrey, $25,000
Nightshift’s programs include mobile nursing, counselling and outreach services, all operating 365 days a year. With over 400 active volunteers, their meal program serves over 47,000 meals annually in Surrey and Langley, with more than 9,000 visits in 2024 to the daily Welcome Centre Program for coffee, food and community. The Chillanthropy Kindness Cooler is essential to their food programs and will replace the existing outdated cooler.

Rick’s Heart Foundation, Fraser Valley, $20,000
The Heart for Music program equips seniors’ care homes with complete music therapy programs. Studies highlight the “benefits of providing music therapy and music-based care for nursing home residents…including measured changes in well-being like levels of enjoyment, mood and engagement in the residents…” (Ray, October 2018). In 2024, Rick’s Heart Foundation supported 45 care homes, with 13,000 seniors impacted by 26,000 hours of outdoor music therapy. The grant will enable a permanent installation of outdoor therapy programs at three centres, impacting more than 300 seniors.

Ridge Meadows Child Development Centre, Maple Ridge, $15,000
Providing no-cost, publicly funded early intervention services to children, youth, and families in Maple Ridge, Pitt Meadows and the Katzie First Nation community, RMCDC seeks to increase accessibility to its programs through reduced wait times and the increase of hours for their part-time administrative staff. RMCDC serves over 1,000 children and their families each year.

Spinal Cord Injury of BC, Provincial, $5,000
There are approximately 12,000 individuals in B.C. who are living with an SCI with 500 new injuries seen each year. SCI-BC’s peer support programs help individuals return to daily routines, participate in activities or hobbies that they might not have tried since their injury, and become active members of their communities again. Each year, approximately 2,900 peers (people living with SCI or related physical disabilities), plus family members and friends participate in peer support programs and associated events and activities in Envision Financial communities: Abbotsford, Chilliwack, Delta, Langley and Surrey.

Wagner Hills Farm Society, Langley, $25,000
A unique men’s, one-year recovery program on a 45-acre working farm, Wagner Hills encompasses a multi-pronged approach, the practical work of maintaining a thriving farm is used to develop skills, encourage teamwork and create purpose. Residents are empowered in recovery to make life sustaining decisions through established programs focused on counseling and nutrition. The Market at Wagner Hills sells artisan products created onsite by residents and volunteers. The Market is a not-for-profit entity, designed to equip Wagner Hills’ residents with life and workplace skills.

CAPACITY GRANTS

Restricted grants to grow knowledge and organizational opportunity.

Hope Mountain Centre for Outdoor Education, Hope, $10,000
Hope Mountain Centre provides free programming to all school children from StrongStart to grade 6 in every school within SD78, serving approximately 24,000 individuals each year, with more than 100,000 persons indirectly benefiting from their work. The grant will support re-certification for staff and volunteers, ensuring safe delivery of programs. Recertification includes Wilderness First Responder, Remote First Aid, Leave No Trace Master Educator, chainsaw operation, Xwelítem Siyáya: Allyship and Reconciliation Building, and White-Water Rescue Technician courses.

Langley Animal Protection (LAPS), Langley, $10,000
Leadership development, board training, and fundraising education will strengthen the organization’s capacity to sustain and expand vital programs. By building a skilled and compassionate team, LAPS ensures they can continue to promote good health and well-being for both people and animals, fostering stronger, more connected communities. In 2024, LAPS partnered with 408 families, serving 858 animals in their shelter.

Langley Senior Resources Society, Langley $10,000
Advancing its new Strategic Plan, a facilitator will conduct three sessions with the Leadership Team and Board of Directors to create a comprehensive implementation plan, including tactics, success measurements, resources needed, and timelines to meet their established goals. The sessions will also help identify operational investments needed, improve collaboration and develop a scorecard to track progress against the plan. LSRS delivers programs to approximately 5,700 seniors each year.

Lumara Grief and Bereavement Care Society, Envision Financial region, $10,000
Developing a new website will include content development, building a new platform, developing accessibility compliance, donation functionality and interactive tools like a program finder and events calendar. More than 40% of the funding needed for this project has been secured. This grant will help support the fee of the web developer for the new site.

National Family Support and Restoration Society, Mission $10,000
Providing safe stable housing for mothers in crisis, known as Cherub’s Inn, NFSRS strives to create a supportive and safe atmosphere. In 2024, NFSRS opened its maternity house in Mission, serving 20-28 women and their children with comprehensive services (counselling, trauma informed care, and workforce training). A daycare centre which opened in 2022, provides childcare for women in residence and the wider community; the daycare contributes to the sustainability of the organization. Funding will support the creation of a strategic plan to develop clear and effective strategies to guide sustainable growth over the next three years positioning Cherub’s Inn for long-term success.

Step Forward Health Society, Delta, $10,000
A grassroots charity dedicated to removing financial barriers to mental health care in the Delta region, Step Forward Health Society’s sustainability will be enhanced and supported with a capacity grant focusing on fundraising knowledge and operational efficiency. In 2024, the Foundation’s impact grant of $25,000 funded two group programs over a duration of 20 weeks, with 20% of the grant supporting administrative costs. For every woman receiving counselling, at least three persons are impacted.

Surrey Cares Community Foundation, Surrey, $10,000
A vital philanthropic contributor in Surrey with annual funding to more than 300 charities over the past 30 years, this grant will help the Foundation hire an online content expert to review and update its website content to align with their Strategic Plan and Communication Strategy.

SOAR GRANTS

Our commitment to equity deserving organizations.

Big Sisters of the Lower Mainland, Surrey and Delta, B.C., $25,000
The Go Girls! Healthy Bodies, Healthy Minds program is a school-based group mentoring initiative for individuals identifying as girls and gender-diverse youth in grades 4-7. Facilitated by trained mentors, sessions include group discussions and educational activities that encourage self-reflection and positive conversations about healthy living in a safe, supportive, and inclusive environment. Delivered throughout 2024, 41% and 22% of participants live in Surrey and Delta. Overall, in 2024, Big Sisters provided programs to 494 youth with 315 volunteers.

Reach Child and Youth Development Society, Delta, $25,000
The Punjabi-speaking peer support group has grown in five years from four families to over 100. In 2025, REACH will expand the program to support more newcomer families with education on critical topics such as accessing funding, translation services, health care/mental health services, and provide online and in-person peer support networks. REACH serves approximately 1,300 individual families annually; and in most instances several family members are part of more than one program, and most are seen multiple times for services.

Technology for Living, Envision Financial region, $25,000
TFL provides need-based assistive technology and innovative ideas that create or enhance social inclusion and belonging. Three signature programs help increase independence, the autonomy, and safety of people with physical disabilities: the Youth Assistive Technology (YAT) initiative, The Open-Door Program, and The Simon Cox Student Design Competition from Technology for Living (TFL). First launched as a pilot program, TFL is expanding YAT; the Open-Door Program uses technology to remove barriers and adapts entrances to rooms; and the Simon Cox Student Design Competition partners University students with a person with a disability to provide innovative solutions for everyday problems. In 2024, TFL served 1,959 individuals, including over 1,400 home visits.

The Centre for Epilepsy and Seizure Education in B.C., Abbotsford $9,680
Growing organizational capacity through education, volunteer engagement and fundraising, this grant will support these three key areas as identified in the Centre’s 2024 strategic planning process. The Centre will build its cultural competency to develop practical skills and tools to successfully collaborate with BC First Nations, as well as other Indigenous groups and communities. They will grow volunteer capacity with effective training programs and management systems; and enhance fundraising capacity with long-term plans and a case for support. In 2024, approximately 1,800 persons in B.C. accessed programming, with website resources attracting almost 10,000 visits monthly.

Multi-year grants

Grantees entered into a two and three-year commitment with First West Foundation in 2024 and 2023 respectively and will conclude in 2025.

Salt Spring Island Farmland Trust (SSIFT), Salt Spring Island, $15,000
Grow Local Collective is an Island wide community food growing and sharing mobilization. Grow Local Collective supports growers to crop-plan, organize growing work parties, build native edible plant gardens, and glean leftover food from orchards throughout the growing season. In 2024, Salt Spring Island Farmland Trust unified an Island wide harvest to rescue and utilize over 15,000 pounds of local food.

Take a Hike Youth Foundation, Nanaimo, $10,000
Empowering vulnerable youth to believe in their potential and achieve success, Take a Hike supports youth with full-time mental health clinical counselling and well-being programs integrated into their school curriculum; also included are outdoor wilderness trips and community engagement activities. Following completion of high school, an impressive 97% of youth plan to attend post-secondary education and 76% reported improved mental health and overall life satisfaction.

IMPACT GRANTS

Unrestricted grants to support an organization’s greatest need.

Circular Farm and Food Society, Victoria, $15,000
The Regenerative Farmer Program is an incubator farm initiative designed to support new and young entrant farmers by providing access to essential resources, including land, infrastructure, tools, and mentorship. With six acres in production and eight farm businesses actively growing food on individual plots, farmers are unable to maximize production because of limited storage capacity. The grant will help install an 8’x12’ walk in cooler. In 2024, over 24,000 pounds of produce was stored in the existing 8′ x 10′ walk-in cooler (operating at full capacity); the installation of the new cooler will allow for an additional 10,000 pounds of fresh locally grown produce in year one to supply school meal programs and community organizations.

Last year, 1,643 individuals visited, 576 were Kindergarten to Grade 12 students who participated in field trips facilitated through a partnership with the Growing Young Farmers Society.

Cowichan Valley Youth Services (CVYS), Duncan, $15,000
Dedicated to providing counselling services and various mental health focused programs for youth and their parents/caregivers, in 2024 CVYS supported nearly 900 unique individuals (approximately 85% who are youth) through more than 12,000 counselling hours and various other group and service offerings. To fill an existing service gap, CVYS will introduce the evidence based “Connect Attachment Program” to the region. This program will provide approximately 24-45 parents/caregivers of teens with free access to a highly effective attachment-based parenting group to learn new strategies for relating to and communicating with their youth, managing behavioural challenges, and taking care of themselves in the process. The grant will support the staffing of the program, thus not adding pressure on current resources resulting in a positive impact on existing waitlists.

Crisis Intervention & Public Information Society NEED2, Victoria, $10,000
The Youth Suicide Prevention project is designed to provide compassionate, person-centered support, providing safe space for youth to understand the importance of talking. NEED2’s in-person suicide prevention programs equip youth with the knowledge to recognize and skills to support, someone experiencing a mental health crisis. In 2024, NEED2, provided suicide prevention workshops to over 5,000 students across South Vancouver Island. “Suicide remains the leading cause of injury-related death for youth 10-24 years of age. The youngest person reported to die by suicide in British Columbia was 8 years old; and we are seeing children as young as 4 years old exhibiting suicidal behaviour.”~ Sabrina Studney, Executive Director

Greater Victoria Citizens’ Counseling Centre (GVCCC), Victoria, $15,000
The Greater Victoria Citizens’ Counselling Centre assists adult community members in attaining social and psychologically satisfying lives by providing quality, accessible, volunteer counselling services. GVCCC operates an annual training program, whereby over a 10-month period, 18 trainees attend 160 hours of training from a registered Clinical Counsellor and two assistants. Upon graduation, each trainee embarks on providing at least 250 hours of volunteer, low-cost counselling to adults in the community with the means or opportunity to access counselling on their own. It is estimated that 375 individuals can access up to 11 sessions of counselling through this program. Counsellors are formally supervised by professionals contracted by Citizens to ensure quality and maximize positive outcomes. Over 81% of clients indicate a significant to moderate change in their well-being because of attending Citizens’ counselling.

Nanaimo Volunteer and Information Centre, Nanaimo, $10,000
The Youth Network program empowers youth aged 11 to 29 to make a meaningful impact in the Nanaimo community through volunteering. Youth gain essential life skills and experience, build resilience and self-confidence, and form meaningful connections, all while giving back to their community. This program currently supports 75+ youth through mentorship, leadership, and volunteer opportunities.

Parkinson Wellness Projects (PWP), Victoria, $15,000
PWP provides evidence-based exercise programs, counselling services and educational seminars for the Parkinson’s community on Vancouver Island. The fastest growing neurological disease with no current cure, in Greater Victoria an estimated 1,200 people are diagnosed with PD; a total that is projected to double by 2031. PWP seeks to increase their weekly programs, retain experienced instructors, counselors and community partners. Currently PWP has over 600 registered individuals.

Peninsula Streams Society, North Saanich, $10,000
Peninsula Streams works with 10 municipalities, six First Nations, over 15 community stewardship groups, and in 2024, volunteers contributed over 7,000 hours of service, engaging with more than 4,000 students. The grant will enable staff to plan and deliver education programming and workshops as well as contribute to the installation and maintenance of a demonstration rain garden at a local community hub. “Watersheds are vital as they supply drinking water, support ecosystems, and regulate climate. They capture, filter, and distribute water, impacting both human livelihoods and biodiversity. Protecting watersheds ensures sustainable water resources and environmental health.”

The Circle Salt Spring Education Society, Salt Spring Island, $15,000
Approximately 75% of the student population in School District 64 are impacted by The Circle Education’s in-school programs. The grant will help support four key programs promoting healthy relationship skills. The Friendship Project K-2; The Empathy Project Grade 3-5; The Respect Project Grade 6-8; and the Trust Project grades 9-10. Approximately 1,200 unique individuals are served annually through in-class programs, after-school initiatives, and professional development training. The overall reach of The Circle’s programs is estimated to be 7,679 students.

The Men’s Centre, Nanaimo, $15,000
Counselling services, crisis intervention, workshops, and the Boots to Suit program support men and help identify and address underlying mental health concerns such as depression, anxiety or trauma by providing coaching to improve coping mechanisms and enhance overall well-being. Various programs support over 1,400 men in Nanaimo and the Central Island Community.

Victoria Brain Injury Society (VBIS), Victoria, $15,000
The Counsellor in Training program (CIT) provides free specialized counselling services to brain injury survivors, addressing a critical gap in mental health support for this vulnerable population. The CIT Program is a first-of-its-kind initiative at VBIS, designed to provide accessible mental health care while also fostering the development of future professionals in the field of brain injury counselling. The grant will provide impact beyond 2025 by creating a sustainable pipeline of future counsellors with expertise in brain injury care. In 2024, VBIS served approximately 634 brain injury survivors, providing a wide range of individual support services tailored to their unique needs.

Victoria Literacy Connection Society, Victoria, $15,000
Reading Partners is active in two school districts (SD61 Victoria and SD62 Sooke), in 2025 VLC plans to advance the program to have a presence in SD63 Saanich schools, whereupon the program will cover Southern Vancouver Island, starting with the greatest need schools first. VLC provides one-to-one tutoring for children, youth and adults, tech tutoring for seniors, English language learning groups and an inter-generational pen pal club. In 2024 approximately 300 learners benefited from the program.

CAPACITY GRANTS

Restricted grants to grow knowledge and organizational opportunity.

Nanaimo Community Kitchens Society (NCKS), Nanaimo, $10,000
The grant will support NCKS as it enters a phase of growth and expansion. As NCKS continues to grow, the demand for their programs has expanded significantly. NCKS is now serving more social housing buildings, schools, recovery houses and families than ever before. The capacity grant will enable NCKS to redevelop resources, invest in board development, create a strategic plan and strengthen infrastructure to meet the rising community demand. In 2024, Nanaimo Community Kitchens served over 700 unique individuals through various programs.

SOAR GRANTS

Our commitment to equity deserving organizations.

Human-Nature Counselling Society, Victoria, $15,000
The grant will support the promotion and enhancement of positive mental health outcomes amongst vulnerable Indigenous and non-Indigenous students struggling with social isolation. Through the Indigenous Ways of Knowing and nature-based practices, the Guam Guam Specums program is a unique program in partnership with School District 61. It aims to support mostly Indigenous students’ social and emotional well-being and engagement in the school environment. Guam Guam Specums runs in three schools: Craigflower Elementary School, Shoreline Middle School, and Rockheights Middle School. School staff, HNCS facilitators, and students work together to determine which students will benefit most from the program as participants.

Raincoast Conservation Foundation, Victoria, $10,000
The Salish Sea Emerging Stewards program provides hands-on experiential environmental science and stewardship education to Indigenous, racialized, and underserved youth ages 14-25 living around the Salish Sea. The program is offered free of charge to reduce socio-economic barriers to learning and access to nature. SSES partners directly with Indigenous Nations, schools and local nonprofits to deliver its programming while aligning with the B.C. curriculum for high school students (grade 9-12) in the subjects of sciences, social studies, geography and Indigenous studies in B.C. Up to 76 youth participate annually in class-based and outdoor educational programs delivered by Raincoast.

Victoria Immigrant and Refugee Centre Society (VIRCS), Victoria, $15,000
The Enable Program for Women, Children, and Youth program seeks to enhance education, emotional well-being, and social support for immigrant and refugee women, children, and youth. This program is designed to help participants achieve their goals, strengthen their sense of identity, belonging, and community, and reduce settlement-related barriers by increasing access to education, employment, resources, and services. VIRCS serves over 4,000 vulnerable clients annually through its various programs, providing essential support to immigrants, refugees and other newcomers as they integrate into Canadian Society.

Multi-year grants

Grantees entered into a two or three-year commitment with First West Foundation in 2023 and 2024, and all will conclude in 2025.

Kelowna Community Resources (KCR), Kelowna, $15,000
The Family Hub is a safe welcoming space for vulnerable families that offers a holistic approach to strengthening those at risk. This program fosters independence and pride, teaching basic skills to children aged 7 -12. At same time, parents and/or caregivers can participate in a self-care program. In 2024, 4,935 adults and 6,464 children accessed services at the KCR Family Hub.

Mothers Against Drunk Drivers (MADD), Valley First region, $5,000
Youth are disproportionally affected by impaired driving—in 2021, young drivers aged 16-24 accounted for 23% of all impaired driving incidents in Canada. The School Assembly Program keeps kids safe, empowering youth in grades 7-12 with a presentation that vividly illustrates the consequences of impaired driving. In 2024, MADD presented School Assembly Presentation’s to five schools in the Valley First region.

Take a Hike Youth Foundation, Valley First region, $10,000
Empowering vulnerable youth to believe in their potential and achieve success, Take a Hike supports youth with full-time mental health clinical counselling and well-being programs integrated into their school curriculum. Also included are outdoor wilderness trips and community engagement activities. Following completion of high school, an impressive 97% of youth plan to attend post-secondary education and 76% reported improved mental health and overall life satisfaction. In Vernon, 100% of grade 12 students graduated, with one student returning to ‘mainstream’ classrooms for their grade 12 year.

IMPACT GRANTS

Unrestricted grants to support an organization’s greatest need.

Canadian Mental Health Association, Vernon, $15,000
CMHA Vernon’s newly launched food security program will focus on building sustainable practices for participants, including a monthly class exploring strategies to improve healthy eating habits on a limited budget. Activities will range from meal planning, budgeting, creation of shopping lists, canning, and cooking. Having basic needs met, such as sufficient access to healthy food, is a major contributing factor for an individual’s overall mental wellness. Included in the program is food safe certification for staff, program participants, youth at the Youth Integrated Services Hub and volunteers at their wellness housing sites.

Centre for Epilepsy and Seizure Education in BC, Central Okanagan, $13,305
In 2024, the Centre ran a pilot program with a grant from the Valley First Community Endowment. Included in the pilot was staff training, establishing an Advisory Committee, creation of an operations manual for regional hubs, and training modules for peer moderators; the Interior Hub launched October 2024. This grant will build on the success of the pilot program, provide ongoing training for peer moderators, reduce barriers for people affected by epilepsy and grow the resiliency of the community. An in-depth evaluation will be conducted in early 2026. In 2024, approximately 1,800 persons in B.C. accessed programming, with website resources attracting almost 10,000 visits monthly.

Dress for Success, Kelowna $15,000
The grant will help sustain and expand core programming at Dress for Success ensuring women in Kelowna and surrounding areas receive the support, confidence, and tools needed to secure fulfilling, stable careers and contribute to a stronger, more vibrant community. Dress for Success Kelowna assists 300 women per year with a primary focus in 2025 to increase client participation in its professional development, leadership, and mentorship programs. This access will lead to better employment and financial outcomes for the women served while also increasing the impact of Dress for Success in the community.

Haugen Community Healthcare Society, Armstrong, $5,000
Operating in Armstrong since 2009, the Society works in collaboration with community to increase access and to retain physicians and integrated health services for residents. Over 6,400 patients and 80 senior residents at Pleasant Valley Manor receive care from five physicians and a nurse practitioner. This grant will help support the rental costs for one year (60% of total cost required has been secured); doctors pay all other associated costs of the practice including operating expenses, supplies, staffing and insurance. “There are currently 700,000 patients in British Columbia who don’t have a family doctor,” said Dr. Charlene Lui, a family physician in Burnaby and president of Doctors of BC.

Launch Financial Education Society, Kelowna, $15,000
The Matched Savings program is a year-long project which combines monthly financial education classes with financial savings. The goal of the program is to help people improve their financial security and financial resilience. The matched savings component provides graduates with a 3:1 return (based on their savings) for a grant up to $1,800. Graduates use these funds to invest in transformative goals, such as starting a small business, pursuing education, purchasing tools for work, or contributing to RESP or RDSP accounts. In 2024, Launch served 900 people, a 23% increase over 2023.

North Okanagan Hospice Society, Vernon, $10,000
North Okanagan Hospice’s Navigator program (provided by their social workers, clinical counsellors and registered nurses) help people access the local services, information and support they need so they can oversee their journey. This grant will enable NOHS to expand community outreach and enhance services thereby strengthening their impact and addressing unmet needs within the community. Through group counselling, grief and bereavement counseling, NOHS provides care to over 170 residents per year.

Okanagan Fruit Tree Project Society, Kelowna, $15,000
The grant will help OFTP support its core programming and operational costs. Through its education programs and harvesting/gleaning programs, more than 475,000 pounds of produce has been collected since 2012. Approximately 5,000 residents are positively impacted by OFTP programs each year, and over 100 social service agencies and schools in Central and South Okanagan benefit from harvested produce. OFTP continues to “cultivate community through local food” and carry out their mandate to run food-based programming through the lenses of equity and inclusion, reconciliation and sustainability.

Project Literacy Central Okanagan Society, Kelowna, $10,000
The Adult Tutoring Program helps adult immigrants, refugees, and new Canadians improve their literacy skills with the support of a volunteer tutor. The One-to-One Children’s reading program supports children in grades 1-4 who are struggling to read at their grade level; this program has a 96% success rate in improving a child’s reading level. The grant will help support the cost of both programs. PLCOS serves approximately 300 adult learners and 80 students in grades 1-4 each year.

Third Space Charity, Kelowna, $15,000
The Pay-What-You-Can Counselling for Youth program provides accessible barrier free mental health services to youth 18-29 in the Central Okanagan region. The program is projected to serve over 400 young adults with more than 2,600 sessions this year. An additional component to the program is Third Space Charity’s practicum program which supports graduate-level counselling interns who deliver the services under best-practice clinical supervision. The intern program will see an increase of 17% in student counselling services.

YMCA of Southern Interior BC, Kelowna, $15,000
The YMCA Alternative Suspension program is a unique out-of-school intervention program delivered in Kelowna, West Kelowna, and Penticton for students ages 12-17 who are suspended from middle and high school. Rather than send a youth home for the duration of their suspension, students are referred to the program. This ensures youth remain safe and off the streets, reduces engagement in risk-taking behaviours such as drug use and vandalism, and allows them the opportunity to transform their time away from school into a positive experience that fosters personal development and autonomy. The model of change empowers children, youth, and families by building skills and confidence, enabling them to better advocate for themselves, graduate from high school on time with their peers, and pursue higher educational and work opportunities. In 2025, up to 280 at-risk, vulnerable youth are expected to participate in the program this school year.

CAPACITY GRANTS

Restricted grants to grow knowledge and organizational opportunity.

Elizabeth Fry Society, Kamloops, $5,000
Elizabeth Fry Society provides education, advocacy, capacity building and safe, secure affordable housing within an environment of respect for each person’s right to self-determination and freedom. Serving over 200 women, children and youth each year, the grant will support a fund development strategy to broaden communications and increase accessibility to programs and online resources.

Oasis United Church Penticton, $9,000
Addressing food insecurity in Penticton, Naramata, and across the South Okanagan, a consultant will be hired to help Oasis develop a strategic plan to assist them in creating a more sustainable and effective approach to their service delivery. Approximately 80% of clients are housed and cannot find a way to afford food beyond their set costs. In 2021, the total number of people served was 1,830. In 2024, the total number of people served was 6,158 – an increase of 237%. Oasis is an Affirming congregation, which means they take a public stance to welcome and support all gender identities. This has meant there are clients who do not feel safe going to other organizations addressing food insecurity.

Vernon Upper Room Mission Society, Vernon, $10,000
The Upper Room Mission Shelter provides a welcoming, safe and supportive environment to the unsheltered, marginalized and vulnerable housed in Vernon, most of whom experience complex intersectionality. The grant will be used to strengthen board governance, through board training and development, strategic recruitment and active engagement and accountability. The investment in leadership development enables Upper Room Mission to build a high-performing board that not only governs but actively drives impact, ensuring long-term sustainability and transformational change for those they serve. More than 70-110 guests access the drop-in services daily, including meals, access to washrooms, showers, laundry, clothing, and connections to community
resources.

SOAR GRANTS

Our commitment to equity deserving organizations.

Kamloops Sexual Assault Counselling Centre Society, Kamloops, $15,000
Indirectly and subsequently, this grant will help KSACC achieve its goal of increasing access to inclusive care in the direct aftermath of an assault. KSACC is relocating its services to a self-purchased building. As such, renovations are required to provide an accessible and trauma-informed clinic, police reporting, waiting and office spaces. Offering these services in a co-located, community-based setting has significantly improved survivors’ healing and justice journeys in the short and long term. In the 2023/2024 fiscal year, KSACC served 264 folks in its counselling programs, 150 in its community-based victim service program, and 162 in its crisis response program.

The Leaders’ Fund was established by First West Credit Union to advance capacity building and development opportunities for our charitable partners. This includes supporting education and professional training, along with other programs that positively contribute to strengthening the organization’s leadership and operations. Grantees are selected from applications submitted through the Foundation annual regional community endowment grant cycle.

Discovery House, Penticton, $10,000
Discovery House provides a safe, supportive, structured and peer-based environment for men seeking recovery from addiction. Residents are empowered to overcome substance use, develop essential life skills, and reintegrate into their families and communities as healthy, self-sufficient members of society. Serving 160 individuals each year, the grant will focus on strengthening several areas of governance: strategic and organizational planning, staff training and leadership development, and the expansion of recovery support services. With over 300 men served since 2007 and a 79% treatment completion rate, Discovery House has a proven track record of helping individuals achieve long-term sobriety, employment, and family reunification.

Ladysmith Family and Friends, Ladysmith, $10,000
Each year LAFF’s family-focused resource programs serve more than 530 families across the region, building resiliency in children and their families through play-based learning, opportunities for social and emotional development, literacy, physical literacy and numeracy development, and with intergenerational connection and community engagement. This grant will help LAFF create new structures and systems to advance their Strategic Plan and Volunteer training including the creation of a new Senior Facilitator position, an expansion of the Volunteer Coordinator position, leadership training and food safe certification for staff and volunteers.

Mission Hospice Society, Mission, $5,000
Mission Hospice will grow its volunteers by 30 individuals, providing each with a 40-hour training course delivered by Mission Hospice staff, professional team members, and experienced volunteers. Training includes the philosophy of hospice, palliative care, listening and communication skills, death and dying, comfort measures, grief and loss, community resources, and the role of the Hospice volunteer and other team members.

Saanich Neighbourhood Place, Victoria, $10,000
Maintaining its commitment to fostering a healthy, engaged and committed team, SNP will review and formalize their staff practices, policies, procedures and structures to better welcome, orientate and support staff to work together. This effort will foster alignment with organizational values and processes, support a more effective and supportive workplace, and increase capacity for excellent service delivery. Professional development training will be introduced to enhance the skills and capacity of SNP staff to effectively support their own wellness, mental health and workplace well being to reduce compassion fatigue, burnout, and increase retention. In 2024, approximately 18,000 visits to offered programs were recorded with almost 5,000 individuals accessing various services.

Sardis Doorway for Mothers and Children Society, Chilliwack, $4,500
Sardis Doorway for Mothers & Children Society provides essential programs to women, focusing on single parents or as an under-supported parent, women who have experienced abuse, and young mothers under 21 years old. In 2024, Sardis Doorway served 40 families, including eight young moms under the age of 21. The grant will support the advancement of workshops and learning opportunities for volunteers, staff and facilitators to increase and best support women who have experienced trauma and abuse. Ongoing learning opportunities are important and essential for better outcomes for the families served.

Surrey Hospitals Foundation, Surrey, $10,000
The Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) program is the first of its kind in B.C. To work as a Forensic Nurse Examiner specialized training and courses are required. With the growing population in Surrey and south of the Fraser River, comes an increased demand on all healthcare resources, including Forensic Nursing. Education, training and professional development is essential to ensure supports and services are available for the most at risk and vulnerable patients. The total number of cases each year is approximately 500-550.

Established by First West Credit Union in 2022 with the belief that to help communities thrive we need to invest in our charities and their future goals. The fund focuses on supporting initiatives that enhance a charities’ ability to grow its capacity, programs, or services. Grantees are selected from applications submitted through the Foundation annual regional community endowment grant cycle.

Interior Community Services Kamloops, $25,000
The future home of Foundry Kamloops, this investment will support the capital requirements to open the Centre. Foundry is recognized as one of the leading youth-centric program delivery models that is transforming access to services for young people ages 12-24 across British Columbia.

Foundry’s integrated approach focuses on five core services in one convenient location: mental health care, substance use services, physical and sexual health care, youth and family peer support, and social services. Foundry Kamloops will offer five counselling/talking rooms, three primary care exam rooms, an additional breakout space, self-care spaces, a large group activity area, and a large demonstration kitchen.

First West Foundation is proud to have made investments in Foundry locations in Abbotsford and Penticton.