True Sport is an exciting movement sweeping across our country. Communities groups, teams, and individuals from coast to coast are joining forces to ensure that sport of all levels is providing a positive, meaningful, and enriching experience for all who participate.
“Community sport inspires friendship, learning, health, and personal growth,” shares Rosemary Smith, CEO of The Kitchener and Waterloo Community Foundation (KWCF). “These traits are strong influencers of a vital community, which is at the root of The Foundation’s work.”
Recently the True Sport Foundation with support from the J.W. McConnell Family Foundation began a partnership with community foundations across Canada to transform lives and communities through sports. One of those community foundations was The KWCF. Together with the City of Waterloo, they have joined together to support sports-related projects in Waterloo Region.
Applications for the first ever Waterloo Region True Sport Grant program closed in early June. Grants totaling $42,500 have been awarded by a six person committee made up of leaders in the local sports sector. “There was great support for this initiative with over $125,000 in requests received,” adds Smith.
The projects are set to engage community members in “asset-based community development” - an evidenced-based approach to community building. True Sport believes that its goal of strengthening communities through sport can be better planned and delivered through the involvement of all sectors at the community level. When asked to participate as a member of the community member based adjudication panel, Jodi Murray, a Professor with Recreation and Leisure Services at Conestoga College jumped at the chance. “The program provided the spark for leaders from around The Region to collaborate and dream about possibilities for youth leadership, personal growth, new partnerships and friendships through sport initiatives,” explains Murray.
“It was a great experience to be part of this process,” notes Frank Prospero, President of the Williamsburg Community Association. The Williamsburg area of Kitchener received two Waterloo Region True Sport grants. “For three organizations to come together for the good of sport is fantastic. These grants will have an impact on how we engage our young people in the diversity of sport.”
To learn more about the Waterloo Region True Sport Grant, visit The KWCF’s website at www.kwcf.ca and click on Applying for Grants or call (519) 725-1806.
About The KWCF
The Kitchener and Waterloo Community Foundation improves the quality of life in Kitchener-Waterloo and the surrounding area, now and for generations to come, by building community endowment, addressing needs through grant making, and providing leadership on key community issues.
About the True Sport Foundation
True Sport is a social movement powered by people who believe that sport can transform lives and communities—if we do it right. True Sport members across Canada are committed to community sport that’s healthy, fair, inclusive, and fun. True Sport members stand together against cheating, bullying, aggressive parental behaviour, and win-at-all-costs thinking.
About the J.W. McConnell Foundation
The Foundation is a private family foundation funding programs to foster a more innovative, inclusive, sustainable, and resilient Canada.
About the City of Waterloo
The Corporation of the City of Waterloo is a dedicated team of volunteers, staff, and elected officials who apply leadership, enthusiasm, skill, and integrity in providing needed and valued services that help build the best quality of life possible for our citizens.
For more information, contact:
Tracy Van Kalsbeek
Manager, Marketing & Communications
The Kitchener and Waterloo Community Foundation
Phone: (519) 725-1806 ext. 6
Fax: (519) 725-3851
E-mail: tracy@kwcf.ca
Website: www.kwcf.ca
Please note that Tracy will be out of the office from July 4-8, returning on July 11th. Should you have questions about this media release or wish to arrange an interview, please contact Bethan Llewellyn at ext. 4 or bllewellyn@kwcf.ca