Meet Our 2024 Community Grant Recipients

Summer is here, and we're excited to offer our annual Community Grants to charitable organizations. These grants support projects that address immediate needs in our community. We're happy to announce that this year, a total of $165,754 has been granted to 35 projects from charitable organizations, all dedicated to building a better community for all in the greater Fredericton region.

These grants are awarded to projects that directly meet immediate community needs and fall into our six community investment areas:

Health, Wellness, and Recreation
Food Security, Housing, and Economy
Arts, Culture, and Heritage
Environment and Animal Welfare
Belonging and Engagement
Literacy and Education

We're actively working towards Building a Stronger Community by focusing our resources on these important areas. Together, we are making a significant difference!

Learn How to Support Your Community!

Harvest Jazz and Blues Festival Inc: Harvest Music Festival Kids Fest in Schools Program

Kids Fest at the Harvest Music Festival offers engaging activities and performances to inspire future musicians. These include workshops, a costume parade, and an instrument petting zoo. Blues in the Schools brings live performances and music education to over 7,500 students annually, reaching nearly 150,000 students in 20 years. Grant Awarded: $5,000 | Arts, Culture, and Heritage

McAdam Elementary School: McAdam Elementary School Playground Project

Provide youth with a broader range of activities and play structures comparable to those in larger communities. This community-driven project aims to promote physical activity and outdoor play, countering the sedentary lifestyle fostered by easy access to technology. The school hosts two or three community events each year, utilizing all outdoor spaces. Completing this project will be a rewarding achievement for the entire community. Grant Awarded: $2,500 | Health, Wellness, and Recreation

Neil Squire Society: Makers Making Change

This program connects people with disabilities and disability professionals to makers fabricating assistive technologies from an open-source library. With over 200 devices designed by staff and volunteers, the program provides resources such as part sourcing, 3D printable files, code, and assembly instructions. The program collaborates with students, engineers, and maker volunteers to develop these solutions for those needing assistive technology. Grant Awarded: $5,000 | Literacy and Education

Partners for Youth Inc: Camp Tippy Canoe

Camp Tippy Canoe offers at-risk youth a unique opportunity to explore the New Brunswick wilderness through adventure-based tripping camps. Designed for small groups, each camp hosts 20 campers and eight staff members, ensuring personalized attention and support. In 2024, up to 14 camps will be offered, with the possibility of more if additional funding is secured. Delivered from a 35-acre site in North Lake, NB, the camp provides a supportive, challenging, and life-changing outdoor adventure. Grant Awarded: $5,000 | Health, Wellness, and Recreation

Oromocto & Surrounding Area Food Bank Helpline Inc: Send Hunger Packing

"Send Hunger Packing" provides weekend backpacks to address food insecurity for children who come to school hungry. This pilot project aims to evaluate the addition of a home-cooked meal for the whole family. The initiative seeks to uncover and address hidden food insecurity, often known only to school leaders. The project will explore whether school meals are sufficient and if there is a need for additional weekend support. The goal is to find effective solutions to ensure children and their families have enough food. Grant Awarded: $5,000 | Food Security, Housing, and Economy

Beaverbrook Art Gallery: Open Studio

The Open Studio at Beaverbrook Art Gallery offers participants studio space, art materials, instructions, and mentorship to explore their creativity. With an instructor always present, participants have the freedom to choose their artistic direction. The studio is open four days a week, catering to various demographics. Participants can experiment with materials, follow prompts, connect with others, or work on self-directed projects. Utilizing the new education center, the Open Studio is a hub for creativity, collaboration, and community engagement, making Fredericton a more vibrant place to live. Grant Awarded: $5,000 | Arts, Culture, and Heritage

UNB Art Centre: Design Works Camp Bursary

Since 2003, the UNB Art Centre's Design Works Camps for Kids has provided high-quality summer art camp experiences in Fredericton, focusing on creativity, visual literacy, and teamwork. Recognizing that not all families can afford these camps, the program aims to establish a bursary fund for underprivileged children. Each year, parents and guidance counsellors inquire about bursaries, and this fund would ensure that more children can benefit from these enriching art experiences. Grant Awarded: $3,285 | Literacy and Education

Camp Tanamakoon Charitable Foundation: CML Greenhill Lake Camper Assistance

Hospice House Fredericton proudly presents its inaugural Day Hospice Program. Designed for individuals diagnosed with a terminal illness seeking a rejuvenating day away, this program offers a welcoming and homely environment. It also provides a unique opportunity to relax, engage, and connect with others on a similar life journey, fostering a supportive and uplifting experience. Grant Awarded: $7,500 | Health, Wellness, and Recreation

Fredericton Playhouse Inc: InterMISSION, Educational and Practical Training for Local Artists

The Playhouse's InterMISSION program will once again offer a series of in-house residencies for local artists from September 2024 to January 2025. This initiative nurtures and supports creativity by providing access to professional facilities, specialized equipment, and technical expertise. Artists receive assistance with project proposals, grant writing, and other educational components. The program also hires video/audio professionals and other experts as needed. Residents publicly share their work through live performances, videos, and more. Grant Awarded: $2,000 | Arts, Culture, and Heritage

L'Arche Fredericton Inc: Creative Connections Fredericton

L'Arche Fredericton's "Creative Connections Fredericton" empowers adults with intellectual disabilities (core members) to create and exhibit art collaboratively with their friends and assistants. This project fosters artistic expression and provides valuable respite for caregivers. Qualified instructors and a supportive community ensure a nurturing artistic exploration and growth environment. Grant Awarded: $2,000 | Arts, Culture, and Heritage

L'Arche Fredericton Inc: Fredericton all-ABility Sports

Fredericton all-ABility Sports (FAB Sports) empowers adults with intellectual disabilities (core members) to engage in a range of sports and physical activities alongside their friends and assistants. This program fosters inclusivity, promotes physical well-being, and creates opportunities for social connections and enjoyment. Grant Awarded: $3,524 | Health, Wellness, and Recreation

YMCA of Fredericton: Youth Power Up

The Power Up Program by the YMCA of Fredericton is a free leadership development initiative designed to empower youth in Fredericton. The program offers flexible delivery formats, ranging from school-based sessions to community programming, all focusing on the eight dimensions of wellness. Participants receive meals or snacks and engage in tailored activities to explore their health and leadership potential. Grant Awarded: $4,680 | Health, Wellness, and Recreation

Sunbury West Headstart: Sunbury West HeadStart Preschooler Access to Inclusive Rural Education

Sunbury West Headstart is dedicated to providing high-quality early learning and childcare services to children in the rural Fredericton Junction Tri-County area. The PARE project focuses on enhancing inclusivity and cultural engagement for preschoolers with diverse needs by acquiring physical support and increasing access to diverse cultural and artistic content. Grant Awarded: $3,800 | Literacy and Education

ArtReach (Afro Hip-Hop Dance Classes, Faster Than Light, Girls+ Rock Camp, Fest Forward): Charlotte Street Art Centre

These programs are dedicated to providing barrier-free arts programming. Local artists facilitate critical programs such as Afro-Vibes Dance Workshops by Scholastic Soares, promoting inclusivity through rhythmic expressions. Faster Than Light, launching this spring, empowers newcomer youth, often refugees, in photography, with their work showcased at the Penny Gallery. Girls+ Rock Camp, held annually under experienced mentors, immerses participants in music, fostering creativity and inclusivity. Fest Forward, an annual music festival, offers professional development for emerging musicians in New Brunswick, covering grants, self-marketing, and providing a public showcase with festival slots. Grant Awarded: $7,000 | Arts, Culture, and Heritage

Roots of Empathy: Building Empathy and Supporting a Foundation for Positive Mental Health

Roots of Empathy's program is an award-winning, evidence-based initiative for elementary school children that fosters Empathy, reduces aggression, and promotes mental well-being. Children learn emotional literacy through interactions with a visiting baby and parent, along with an ROE Instructor using a gold-standard curriculum. This empowers them to recognize and manage emotions, build friendships, and prevent harmful behaviours like bullying. Your support helps train two new Instructors, continuing our mission to support positive mental health and Empathy in children. Grant Awarded: $3,750 | Literacy and Education

Kidney of Canada: Short-term Financial Assistance, Food Security and Transportation

The Kidney Foundation's Atlantic Branch offers short-term financial aid, food security, and transportation support to vulnerable kidney patients in Fredericton and nearby areas. This program provides grocery and gas cards to address food insecurity and alleviate the financial strain of traveling long distances for life-saving dialysis treatment, ensuring patients receive essential care. Grant Awarded: $2,500 | Health, Wellness, and Recreation

Anglophone West School District: Fuelling the Future, Subsidized Lunch Program

The Anglophone West School District's Fuelling the Future program ensures students have access to affordable and nutritious meals daily. Through community subsidies, parents pay $4 per meal, with the remaining $3 covered by funds raised by the action group. The program aims to address the increasing need for affordable lunch options, providing equitable access to all students. This initiative's key components are monthly subsidies, a partnership with Chartwells, and expansion plans to include Central New Brunswick Academy. Grant Awarded: $5,000 | Food Security, Housing, and Economy

Anglophone West School District: Feeding our Hawks

The Nackawic Subsidized Lunch Program is transitioning to sustainability through Feed Our Hawks, a local action group established in January 2024. This initiative, supported by parents, community members, and allied health professionals, ensures students receive affordable, nutritious meals daily. Subsidies are allocated monthly, fostering equitable student access. A partnership with Chartwells as the food vendor enhances program sustainability, aiming to provide lunches for all students in the long run. Grant Awarded: $5,000 | Food Security, Housing, and Economy

Muslim Resource Centre for Social Support and Integration: Muslim Family Safety Project

This project aims to train two members of the Arabic Cultural Center to facilitate the Strengthening Families Program (SFP) and acquire a site license for course materials. The SFP is a culturally adapted, evidence-based program designed for families vulnerable to violence. It fosters parenting, social, and life skills among Muslim and Arab family members. Grant Awarded: $7,500 | Belonging and Engagement

Anglophone West School District: Priestman Community Playground

The Priestman Community Playground improvement project aims to enhance connections within a growing community, addressing the unique needs of its members. With a three-year action plan, the project focuses on increasing green spaces, creating a welcoming environment, and fostering a sense of belonging for all users. The goal is to open the playground to the surrounding community, newcomers, local families, and partners like Jobs Unlimited. Key upgrades will enhance accessibility, including improved pathways, replacing crushed rock with softer alternatives like mulch, introducing natural play spaces, and adding seating options for outdoor classrooms and social interactions. Grant Awarded: $7,500 | Health, Wellness, and Recreation

OPAL III - Fredericton Respite Services Inc: Camp Wonder

Camp Wonder is an inclusive day camp offering children and youth with disabilities opportunities to develop friendships and social skills in an accessible, safe, and fun environment. Celebrating each camper's strengths, abilities, and interests, the camp also provides quality respite for their families. Families struggling to find inclusive childcare and respite services find success at Camp Wonder due to the one-on-one support campers receive while engaging in group activities. Grant Awarded: $7,500 | Health, Wellness, and Recreation

New Brunswick Choral Federation: Discover Your Voice

The New Brunswick Choral Federation is hosting a one-day "Discover Your Voice" event this September to kick off the school year. Designed for middle schoolers, this event involves choir games and activities to introduce ensemble singing, motivating students to pursue this activity at school or in their community. While we recognize the grant committee faces many applications and we are past the deadline, we hope this proposal might still be considered. Grant Awarded: $2,000 | Arts, Culture, and Heritage

New Brunswick Choral Federation: Fredericton Kiwanis Youth Choir

The FKYC offers opportunities for young people to learn and perform beautiful choral music under the direction of musical professionals. It provides accessible and affordable membership for every child with the ability and desire to participate and competitive remuneration for musical professionals according to their expertise. The choir is non-denominational and welcomes all youth in our community. Grant Awarded: $1,600 | Arts, Culture, and Heritage

Meet Our 2024 Community Grant Recipients

These grants are awarded to projects that directly meet immediate community needs and fall into our six community investment areas:

Chipman Youth Centre Inc: Healthy Children, Healthy Community

Family Enrichment and Counselling Service: Solace Junior

Multicultural Association of Fredericton Inc: Cultural Expressions Festival

The Chalmers Foundation Inc: Pre-School Communications Program

Fredericton High School: Recording Studio Upgrade

Minto Elementary Middle School: Backpack Program

Autism Connections Fredericton: Camp Marvel

Adult Literacy Fredericton: Adult Literacy Summer Tutoring

Fredericton Homeless Shelters: Housing Supports

Musical Ventures Inc: New Brunswick Summer Music Festival

Frontier College: Student Success Program in Fredericton

The Gaia Project: Fredericton Clean Up With The Gaia Project