Hoping for grant.
Tyler Madrasz, left, and Tomas Carlino paddle in a canoe during a summer camp program through Reach for the Rainbow. The Etobicoke-based charity is one of 73 vying for a $50,000 grant from Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment’s Team Up Foundation Fund.
File photo/NICK PERRY
Five Etobicoke-based charities are in the running for four new $50,000 grants courtesy of Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment's Team Up Foundation Fund (TUFF).
Silver Creek Association for Children with Handicaps, Cameron Helps, Reach for the Rainbow, Seneca School, and the Rotary Club of Etobicoke are among 73 charities across the province vying for the grants, which will be decided primarily via online public voting.
The new TUFF grant, which was launched just this year, is aimed at registered charities that support sports and recreation-based programs for youth, or the facilities in need of refurbishing that support those programs.
From now until Feb. 20, members of the public are invited to log on to mlseteamupfoundation.org/giving/team-up-foundation-fund/ to vote for the Top 20 finalists. A TUFF committee will then narrow those finalists down to 10. Then, from March 7 to 16, public online voting will open up again to choose the four recipient charities.
The final four, which will each receive $50,000 towards their project, will be revealed on March 20.
The five Etobicoke charities in the running have submitted applications for the following projects:
- Silver Creek Association for Children with Handicaps would like to construct a "fully accessible outdoor recreation environment where young children and their families can thrive without barriers," as the current playground is both unsafe and not accessible to children with special needs.
- Cameron Helps is looking for funding towards its Team Unbreakable Youth Running Therapy program, which focuses on alleviating the effects of depression, anxiety and other mental illnesses that are the cause of the majority of youth suicides. The program runs 13 weeks and culminates in a 5km or 10km local race.
- Reach for the Rainbow is seeking the TUFF grant towards its All Children Belong Campaign, which will enable 35 children and youth with disabilities to attend camps such as Forest Cliff Camp, which offers horseback riding, rock climbing, high ropes, water sports (kayaking, canoeing), full size playing fields (soccer, football).
- Seneca School wishes to refurbish its playground to provide a barrier free, accessible playground designed to meet the complex needs of children with severe physical, cognitive, and developmental disabilities.
- the Rotary Club of Etobicoke would use the TUFF grant towards the Rotary Park rejuvenation plan, which proposes an entire refurbishment of the park area, complete with landscaping, wheelchair accessible features, and paths that connect to a waterfront trail.