Equity deserving charities awarded $189,294 boost through SOAR
February is Black History Month. As we honour and reflect on the accomplishments and challenges of Canada’s Black communities, First West Foundation celebrates 15 charities who received a SOAR grant in 2024, sharing in $189,294.
SOAR is a Foundation funding stream dedicated to supporting equity-deserving organizations serving racialized communities, and those led-by and serving Black, Brown, Indigenous, and persons of colour.
SOAR recipients were selected by a group of First West Credit Union volunteers, who are also members of one of First West’s seven Employee Network Groups (ENGs)—which are affinity groups that bring together those wishing to effect change and elevate marginalized groups by removing barriers and better understanding their lived experiences.
“It is really important for us to create a collaborative and inclusive selection process by involving First West ENG members, ensuring the very same marginalized communities we are looking to support also play a pivotal role in identifying and adjudicating SOAR grantees,” says Susan Byrom, Executive Director at First West Foundation. “These charities are at the forefront of fostering equity and inclusion within our communities and their dedication to racialized communities and charities led by and serving Black, Brown, Indigenous, and persons of colour is truly inspiring.”
The following charities have been selected:
- AL Fortune Secondary School, $2,444
- Big Sisters of the BC Lower Mainland, Fraser Valley, $10,000
- Coqualeetza Cultural Education Centre Association, $2,500
- Feels like Home Newcomers Society, Surrey, $25,000
- Langley Community Services Society, Langley, $8,850
- MOSAIC, Fraser Valley, $20,000
- Progressive Intercultural Community Services Society, Surrey, $25,000
- Qmunity, $5,000
- SHER Vancouver LBGTQ Friends Society, $25,000
- BC Black History Awareness Society, Victoria, $10,000
- Human-Nature Counselling Society, Victoria, $10,000
- Vancouver Island Counselling Centre for Immigrants and Refugees, $13,000
- Impact Toolbox, Kelowna, $12,500
- Niteo Africa Society, Kelowna & Vernon, $10,000
- OCCA, Kelowna, $10,000
Since its inception in 2022, SOAR has distributed $455,544 through 41 grants, benefitting 30 charities.
Photo credit: SHER Vancouver LGBTQ Friends Society
Photo description: Two people, sitting on a a colourful bench with shrubbery in the background, looking at the camera and smiling. Each slat on the bench is a different, bright colour with the words Welcome Here embedded in one of the slats.
