United Way announced two additional Venture Grants totalling $52,500
United Way of Sarnia-Lambton
Venture Grants Announced
Wednesday, June 18, 2008------The United Way of Sarnia-Lambton has announced Venture Grant funding to two programs in Lambton.
Pam Gallant, Chair of the United Way Community Investment Committee, is pleased to announce a $30,000 2nd year Venture Grant to the Autism Ontario Sarnia-Lambton – Summer Program. This program is an educational, life skills based program that will run for 8 weeks during the summer months.
The goal of the Autism Summer Program is to provide routine, structure and consistency for autistic individuals between the ages of 4 and 18 outside of the regular school year. Research has shown the strong need for routine and consistency for autistic individuals. “This camp closely reflects that of a normal school day” says Gallant. “This helps to keep the routine and consistency for them over the summer and makes for a much smoother transition back to school in September which increases their likelihood to see successes at school”, she added.
Gallant also announced a 2nd year Venture Grant to the Learning Disabilities Association of Lambton County for their Homework Hub and Family Support program in the amount of $22,500. The Homework Hub operates three nights per week for 2 ½ hours each night throughout the school year in a local elementary school.
“Those with learning disabilities can face many academic and social challenges.”, said Gallant. “It is sometimes more difficult to assist the children in the intermediate and senior elementary years because the challenges and behaviours related to the learning disabilities may begin to multiply”, she added. The Family Support portion of the program will assist parents and family members with the challenges they face. “Structure, more positive reinforcements than negative, authoritative but loving and supportive parenting combined with awareness and understanding of their child’s disorder all add to improved positive outcomes for students with learning disabilities, ADHD and some of the co-existing conditions”, said Gallant.
The Venture Grant Program has approximately $100,000 available each year to fund new and innovative programs to meet a need in our community. If your not-for-profit organization has developed a program in Lambton County to address a local community need and you meet any of the United Way’s Funding Criteria of Youth with Physical, Mental or Social Challenges, Poverty and Working Poor Families, Seniors, Medical Programs and Services or Rural Programs. Applications for Venture Grant funding are accepted on a year round basis.
For more information, please contact:
Pam Gallant, United Way Community Investment Committee, (519) 383-7004
Dave Brown, Executive Director, United Way of Sarnia-Lambton, (519) 336-5452 Ext. 7
| 
