On Wednesday evening (April 3), Cochrane Family and Community and Support Services (FCSS) and local United Way Advisory Board presented a total of 120,000 dollars to help fund fifteen programs run by non-profit organizations.

This past November, the FCSS Advisory board spent time deciding how to best divvy up the funds that are used to benefit seniors, youth, families, and those finding themselves in vulnerable situations.

Helping to fund organizations within our community is one of the best feelings, shares Kim Krawec, Manager Family and Community Support Services. "We are essentially covering off the entire lifespan of programs that benefit children, youth, adults, families, seniors as well as a variety of preventative intervention. With that 120,000 dollars, we are really touching all the basic social issues that are facing families." 

The impact for some of these organizations, especially this year was huge, states Krawec. Whether the monies helped to continue to fund existing programs or get others off the ground, the local organizations were thankful for the help "We had some new groups this year as well. There are some groups that we provide funding to almost annually, but this year we got to fund some new programs like the Hospice Society and Variety Alberta's 'Just Like You' program. Seniors on the Bow were also thrilled because although they have been funded before, they were able to start a brand new program."

Deciding who should be funded and by what amount is not an easy task, says Krawec. Over the past five years, asks for funding have more than doubled and far outweigh the funds available, making for some incredibly difficult decisions. "Our FCSS Advisory Board is made up of really caring, compassionate people that are really devoted to making Cochrane a great community. They work really diligently to make sure we are meeting the needs of the community by providing these grants and it is not easy to make some of these decisions."

"This funding has a huge impact on the community and although 120,000 dollars is not a whole lot of funds between all these groups the impact is absolutely enormous."

Applications to apply for program funding will come out in June, and Krawec suggests keeping an eye on the Town of Cochrane website for further instruction.

The following groups received funding for programming:

  • Big Brothers Big Sisters of Calgary and Area
  • Boys and Girls Club of Cochrane and Area
  • Cochrane Activettes Food Bank
  • Cochrane and Area Victim Services Society
  • Helping Hands Society
  • Cochrane Hospice Society
  • Seniors for Kids Society
  • Seniors on the Bow
  • Tapestry of Women Conference
  • Variety: The Children's Charity of Alberta Association
  • Western Rocky View Family and Community Resource Centre to fund the CAR program, Community Support Program, and Youth/Family Counselling Pilot Program
  • Western Rocky View Parent Link Centre to fund the PLC Counselling Program and Roots of Empathy