Mar 24, 2011 - $15M Boosts Gaming Grants and Supports Family Programs

More than 2,000 non-profit community groups across British Columbia will benefit from an immediate injection of $15 million in new grant funding.

The restoration of funding will bring more than 500 organizations back up to historical funding levels, including youth arts and culture groups; community service groups like Rotary and Kiwanis; fairs, festivals and museums; and organizations involved in community education like parent support services.

Included in the new funding is an extra 25 per cent to help food banks meet growing demand, as well as to support youth and family programs; parent advisory councils; community centres; cultural organizations; and scouts and cadets.

The year-end funding boost will also provide:

• An extra $5 per K-12 student for extracurricular sports and music programs across B.C. This represents a 25 per cent increase from the $20 per student that parent advisory councils and district parent advisory councils received earlier this year from gaming grant funding.
• Parents of young people in scout troops and cadet corps with an additional $25 per participating child, to help them cover registration costs.
• $300,000 to support seniors' participation in nine annual sports competitions known as Seniors Games Zones.

For more information about the community gaming grant program, click the following link:

• Community Gaming Grant Information