Empress Friendship Centre receives grant

The Empress Friendship Centre recently received a grant from the Community Foundation of Southeastern Alberta (CFSEA) and the Prairie Crocus Fund, in the amount of $12,000.00. The CFSEA is excited to announce that the Empress Friendship Centre is one of fourteen charities across Southeastern Alberta to receive a total of $113,627.50 in funds. These Smart and Caring Community Grants support communities across Southeastern Alberta by enhancing belonging of all citizens and strengthening the non-profit and voluntary sectors. Donors choose the fund as a way to allocate their contributions to support the community’s greatest needs.

Diane Jarvis from the Friendship Centre in Empress said, “Thanks to the generous grant from the Community Foundation and Prairie Crocus Fund, the centre is able to install a generator for emergency use, which will benefit the whole community.” She said the funds will also enable the centre to purchase some technology to help with administrative and programming functions.

In awarding grants, CFSEA conducts a comprehensive procedure to determine the most crucial community needs from data and evidence-based practice. Grants are then awarded based on potential impact and fund availability. Each year the Community Foundation hosts a Vital event to help determine the community’s greatest needs, which guides their funding priorities. The current priorities, in no particular order, are as follows: Mental Health, Work & Economy and Vulnerable Populations - particularly youth and substance abuse.

Niki Gray, Acting Executive Director of CFSEA, said, “The fall grant recipients represent collaborations and fostering connections between diverse groups across the region. Each one of these initiatives shows promising impact for their communities.”