By paNOW Staff

Grant money means better future for local children

Jun 22, 2011 | 4:54 PM

By Stephanie Froese
paNOW Staff

Underprivileged Prince Albert children will benefit as more than $78,000 in grant money has been given to 15 community programs.

Allyson Wall is an organizer with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Prince Albert. She said there is a need in the city for programs that support kids as they make their way through school and home life.

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Prince Albert will set up the mentor program in two more schools this year thanks to $8,000 in grant money they received from the Prince Albert and Area Community Foundation and the Moffat Family Council.

“It’s to supply the supplies like baking and sporting and things for the mentors to do with their littles,” Wall said.

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She said students already involved in Big Brothers and Big Sisters show improved grades, a better attendance rate and better self-esteem.

“Ninety per cent of the students get along better with other classmates after having an in-school mentor. I do believe it’s 68 per cent who had better grades in school and 86 had a better attendance in school. Definitely that program is needed here in Prince Albert,” Wall said

Wall said they aim to match five students with five big brothers and big sisters at Queen Mary and Westview Community School.

Wall isn't alone in appreciating the grant, Valerie Horner, Principal at Berezowsky School, said community programs make a huge difference for their students.

Horner said there is a big gap between rich and poor in the community and the resulting effects are showing up in the schools.

Berezowsky School has a morning snack program that will continue over the next year thanks to a received $5,730 in funding from the PAACF and the United Way of Saskatoon.

“What we were trying to do is level the playing field so that our kids are not hungry when they come to school so that they are able to work, to learn, to engage, to play hard with the other kids and just have them to be successful as well,” Horner said.

She estimates about 30 to 40 per cent of their students come to school without eating breakfast. Horner said the grant money will go directly towards feeding all 191 students for the full year.

“There are schools, not just ours that are very much in need of support from the government and, until that comes into play, from the community here.” Horner said.

She said it’s great that people are recognizing there is disparity in the community and are willing to open their wallets to help.

Other community programs receiving grants from the PAACF’s annual Grants award Ceremony include the following:

$5,000 to the Canadian Red Cross Society, North Central Saskatchewan Region to train bully prevention trainers for youth.

$8,000 to the Canadian Red Cross Society, North Central Saskatchewan Region for Disaster Management, Violence and abuse prevention, injury prevention and humanitarian issues.

$1,000 to Family Futures for pre and post natal supplies.

$16,000 to the Canadian Mental Health Association’s Prince Albert Branch for their lunch program.

$1,500 to Co-Operative Health Centre for their Kids in the Kitchen summer program.

$3,000 to Camp Tamarak for two educational summer camps.

$4,580 to the New Beginnings Refugee and Immigrant Centre for their computer lab.

$3,600 to Catholic family Services for anger management.

$5,000 to the YWCA Prince Albert for Our House services.

$8,000 to The Saskatchewan association for Community Living for summer camp companions.

$1,000 to Weirdale Minor Softball for a batting machine and batting cage. Plus an additional $1000 form the PAACF sports fund.

$1,000 to Princess Margaret School for their community ski club. Plus an additional $1000 form the PAACF sports fund.

sfroese@panow.com