A word from our president
It is hard to believe that we are in the last month of the Optimist Year. This has been a great year and we have improved, updated and started new programs. First we set up a communication committee to help us improve our communication. This committee was instrumental in helping us update our recognition strategy. We have increased awareness of our grant programs, which we have seen all year in the increased applications we have received. We introduced our new JOI Grants and the JOI Clubs of Oakville, Burlington and Port Colborne each received grants of $1,000. In this update you will find information on all the clubs that received grants this year. I would like to thank our Board of Directors, Sylvain, Brent, Tim and Lee, for your support and great work this year. A special thanks to Past President Sylvain as he finishes his commitment to CCOF. Thank you to Executive Director André for your dedication to our foundation. I have thoroughly enjoyed collaborating with you this year as we worked to reduce our administrative costs and improve service to our members. Finally, to my family, Tony, Mathew, Andrew, Paige, Mom and Dad, for being a sounding board, giving great advice and supporting me through this entire year.
Club grant recipients
- Hamilton: $1,000 to support the WhistleSafe Initiative, building youth confidence in the face of violence
- St. Jacobs: $1,000 to support their Dolly Parton Imagination Library, providing books to children in their community
- Oakville: $1,000 to support their drawing contest for youth aged 0 to 16
Spread Relief grant recipients
- Wellington-Fergus: $3,000 to support a young girl in their community with Rett Syndrome
- Stormont: $3,000 for Kids Confidence and Wellness movement and mind classes for children aged 6 to 12
- South Winnipeg: $1,500 to install communication boards for non-verbal students at a local elementary school
- Westvale Waterloo: $1,500 to provide EMS with teddy bears for children in an emergency
- Conductive Education: $3,000 to run summer camps for children with cerebral palsy, autism or brain injury
- Forest Park: $3,000 to help a child with spinal muscular atrophy install a chair lift at home
- Orangeville: $3,000 to help a child with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder get vital therapies
- Port Colborne: $3,000 to help a child with Coffin-Siris Syndrome purchase a new wheelchair
- Cornwall: $3,000 to buy teddy llamas for EMS to give to children in an emergency
- Kitchener West: $3,000 for the OWLS program, which provides free personal hygiene products anonymously at school
There is still time to support the Foundation: make a donation.