Fraser Valley young leaders disburse more than $430,000 to youth-focused programs
Surrey, B.C.: More than $430,000 in grants was disbursed in 2015 to 26 Fraser Valley organizations that offer programs that build a richer future for youth. The granting announcement was made today by Coast Capital Savings’ Young Leaders Community Council for the Fraser Valley.
The Young Leaders Community Councils reflect the credit union’s Youth Get It approach to upholding its community promise to financially empower youth, help them succeed at school and build healthy minds. Members of Coast Capital’s three regional Young Leaders Community Councils are responsible for reviewing grant applications and deciding how to best allocate the credit union’s community investment funding.
In 2015, the Fraser Valley Young Leaders Community Council, along with councils in Metro Vancouver and on Vancouver Island, allocated $1.2 million through 87 grants to support programs that align with Coast Capital’s community promise. View a complete list of Fraser Valley grant recipients.
“Our Young Leaders Community Council is one of Coast Capital Savings’ signature community leadership initiatives and a cornerstone of our innovative Youth Get It program,” said Wendy Lachance, Director, Community Leadership at Coast Capital Savings.
“The Youth Get It program is multi-facetted,” Lachance explained. “Not only do the young people who benefit from the programs Coast Capital funds ‘get it’, but the council members also ‘get it’ because they know firsthand the challenges youth face today and they are as passionate as we are about building a richer future for youth. They also ‘get it’ because they gain valuable leadership experience through their work.”
The councils are made up of four emerging young leaders under the age of 30 from the community and four employees from the credit union. Council members are elected for a one-year term.
“The Young Leaders Community Council is a way for young people to have a tangible impact on the lives of other youth,” said Suneet Maan, returning Council member and 2016 chair for the Fraser Valley. “I’m really proud to take on an active leadership role and work with the Council to support deserving organizations.”
Michelle Kumar, one of the newcomers to the 2016 Young Leaders Community Council, said, “I heard members speak at an event and I knew right away I wanted to be part of the Council. It’s a unique chance to help other young people while getting insight into the granting process and how grants make innovative youth programs possible.”
The community grants supported programs like the Surrey School District’s REACH program. REACH, which stands for Recreation, Employment Readiness, After-School, Citizenship, and Healthy Lifestyles, is a sport, recreation, leadership and employment readiness program for at-risk youth between the ages of 13 and 19.
“The support Coast Capital Savings has given more than 200 Surrey district students has greatly boosted their confidence, and helped launch them into their first jobs,” said Surrey Board of Education chairperson Shawn Wilson. “The REACH program is making a difference in the lives of our students and our board is grateful to Coast Capital Savings’ Young Leaders Community Council.”
About Coast Capital Savings
Coast Capital Savings is Canada’s largest credit union by membership. A recipient of the 2015 “Outstanding Corporation” Giving Hearts Award, the credit union invested $5 million into local communities in 2015, focusing on empowering and engaging youth. Coast Capital is one of Canada's 10 Most Admired Corporate Cultures™, a member of Canada's Best Managed Companies Platinum Club, and an Imagine Canada Caring Company. It has 50 branches serving its 522,000 members in the Metro Vancouver, Fraser Valley, Vancouver Island and Okanagan regions of British Columbia. Product innovations include Canada's first free chequing account from a full-service financial institution. To learn more, visit coastcapitalsavings.com.
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