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Four Organizations Receive Funds from Foundation
Four organizations in Pictou County are the recipients of funding from the Aberdeen Health Foundation’s newest endowment. The Children’s Aid Society (CAS) Endowment Fund was established through a $1 million gift from the former Children’s Aid Society of Pictou County. Continuing the legacy of Children’s Aid, the fund will support projects that protect children, and enhance supports and services for families at risk in the community.
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Pictou County will receive funding for its “Go Girls! Healthy Minds, Healthy Bodies” project. This mentor-led program will provide information and tools for girls aged 12-14 to make healthy life choices. Over 12 weeks, participants will improve their skills for dealing with the social and emotional issues they may face, and build confidence in themselves. The program will also strengthen the leadership of their mentors.
Big Brothers Big Sisters Executive Director Margie Grant Walsh and Foundation Director and CAS Committee Chair Robyn Eaton
The Pictou County Women’s Centre, “It Takes a Village” project will provide a community-based parenting and group support program for families that are at risk of having their children removed from the home or who are working to regain custody of their children. The support from the CAS Endowment will ensure this important support is now available in Pictou County.
Women’s Centre Executive Director Arlene MacDonald shows Robyn Eaton some of things that are happening at the Pictou County Women’s Centre.
The Youth Health Centres, located at each high school in Pictou County, will receive funding to improve health outcomes of disadvantaged youth while supporting them to stay in school. This program provides emergency funding for food, medicine, transportation, and other health necessities during crisis situations.
A couple youth drop in for a visit at the North Nova High School’s Youth Health Centre
Additionally, $75,000 has been awarded to New Glasgow Academy to create a natural outdoor playground at the new P-8 school that will open this September. It will be an “equipment-less” outdoor space for learning, playing, building relationships, enhancing school curriculum, and promoting physical activity and the overall wellbeing of children.
Natural playgrounds are shown to be safer play spaces than traditional playgrounds, and they foster a connectedness with nature that has been correlated with many positive learning, developmental, and health outcomes.
This project is a beneficiary of the CAS Legacy Fund, which was earmarked to support capital projects that would create a lasting tribute to the former Children’s Aid Society of Pictou County.
Allison Wilson (centre) shows Robyn Eaton and Susan Malcolm of the Foundation plans for the natural playground.
“The Aberdeen Health Foundation is thrilled to see these funds going to such worthwhile projects. This is just the beginning of what is sure to be a long list of funded projects, all with the common goal of improving the health and wellness of children in Pictou County,” says Foundation Director and CAS Endowment Committee chair Robyn Eaton.
“This endowment will make a difference in the lives of many families for years to come – an incredible tribute to the legacy of the Children’s Aid Society of Pictou County.”
The Aberdeen Health Foundation accepts applications twice per year for the CAS Endowment Fund. The next deadlines for funding are February 28, 2014, and October 1, 2014.
Funding consideration will be provided to projects that directly or indirectly alleviate risk and prevent crisis in the home, school or community and enhance the potential for healthy outcomes for children.
More information on project eligibility and application forms are available at this link: CAS Endowment Fund