Local Charities Receive Over $72,000 in Funding Through Smart & Caring and Housing Grant Programs

We’re excited to announce the recipients of this year’s Smart and Caring Community and Housing Grants! We’ve awarded a total of $72,144 in support of ten programs managed by local charities, thanks to our incredible donors.

Check out the list of organizations that have received funding for their amazing projects that support children, youth, and families at risk:

2023 Smart & Caring Community Grant Recipients
❤️ Abbotsford Hospice Society – Children & Youth Grief Support
👮 Abbotsford Police Foundation – 2023 APF Celebrating Community
⚖️ Abbotsford Restorative Justice & Advocacy Association – The Graduated Mentoring Program
👪 Archway Community Services – Seva Food Pantry
🧒🏽 Cyrus Centre – Breaking Down Barriers – Crises and Counselling
🍲 Gathering Markit – Meal Kits
🏘️ InAsMuch Community Society – Heal & Thrive – Mental Health Help for Refugees and Newcomers
📚 Salvation Army – Back to School Event

Here’s a link for a more detailed description of each project that’s been funded this year!

2023 Housing Grant Recipients
🧑‍🤝‍🧑 Ground Zero Ministries – Ground Zero Action Plan
🏡 CEDAR Outreach Society – CEDAR Outreach Housing Navigator

Here’s a link for a more detailed description of each project that’s been funded this year!

This year, we hosted our annual cheque ceremony at Campbells Gold Honey Farm and Meadery, where we welcomed recipients to receive their funds and take a moment to share their impressive work with those in attendance. At the event, Denise Thandi, our Grants Committee Chair and member of our Board of Directors commented, “These programs and services help build, and continue to improve, Abbotsford residents’ quality of life and provide a variety of ways to engage with the community to promote physical, mental and social well-being.”

Pictured above: Denise Thandi, our Grants Committee Chair & Mark DuMont, Grants Committee member, with the Smart and Caring Community grant recipients (left) and with the Housing grant recipients (right).

Applications are reviewed by our Community Grants committee, which is made up of local folks who share a passion for serving the community of Abbotsford and are knowledgeable about the many charities and organizations doing great work in our community. Denise commented, “This year we received a record number of applications, demonstrating the need for funding in so many areas of our community. This year’s decision-making process was the most difficult in the 9+ years I have been a part of this committee.”

Areni Kelleppan, our Executive Director, noted that, “It’s a testament to the generosity of our donors that the Foundation, since the start of its community grants programs, has been able to provide over $1.8 million in funding to organizations serving at the frontlines of some of our most complex social challenges.”

Funds are raised for our Smart & Caring Community grants program in a variety of ways, including the annual Smart & Caring Golf Classic, with the 8th annual event being held on September 14, 2023. The tournament is already sold out, but we encourage you to contact us directly for other ways to support the cause by emailing info@abbotsfordcf.org

“Our generous donors enable us to grow our Smart & Caring fund, which will continue to benefit charitable organizations in our community now, and forever,” says Marcus Janzen, our Chair of the Board of Directors.

For more information on how to support the Smart and Caring Community Fund, click here.