$30.2 million allocated to support families and youth in difficulty, improve living conditions, oppose exclusion and help communities to take charge of their destinies
For Immediate Release
MONTREAL, June 19
The chair of the board of directors of Centraide of Greater Montreal, Claire Richer Leduc, announced at a press conference today that $30,257,025 (almost $1 million more than the year before), has been allocated to the agencies and projects supported by Centraide in the Greater Montreal area. "This major social investment will serve primarily to consolidate Centraide's network during financial year 2002- 2003," said Mrs. Richer Leduc. She also took this opportunity to express her heartiest thanks to the approximately 200,000 donors who demonstrated their confidence and solidarity by generously contributing to Centraide's 2001 campaign, and to the some 22,000 volunteers who pulled out all the stops to ensure the campaign's success. Centraide is extended funding to six new agencies and one new community building project in order to address the specific needs and social issues identified in certain neighbourhoods. These additions bring the number of agencies and projects supported by Centraide of Greater Montreal to 325.
TO PROMOTE THE WELL-BEING AND QUALITY OF LIFE OF FAMILIES, YOUTH, COMMUNITIES AND PERSONS WHO ARE EXCLUDED FROM OUR SOCIETY IS ONE OF CENTRAIDE'S MAJOR PRIORITIES
Centraide's allocations decisions were made by the board of directors on the basis of the recommendations submitted by the allocations and agency relations committee, which is chaired by Lucien Lavallière. The agencies and projects financially supported by Centraide work to:
- HELP FAMILIES AND YOUTH IN DIFFICULTY (41%)
These agencies develop parenting skills, offer parental respite services, prevent school dropout by means of homework assistance and conflict resolution activities, promote the well-being of children, hold workshops to strengthen the parent-child relationship, organize intergenerational activities, form self-help groups for young fathers, etc. Through these specialized services, they help to make life a little easier for single parents, two-parent families, couples, young children and teenagers, while supplying them with the necessary tools and skills to overcome their problems and thereby avoid sinking into distress.
- IMPROVE THE LIVING CONDITIONS OF THE UNDERPRIVILEGED (32%)
These agencies help people in difficulty to find lasting solutions to their problems. They begin by meeting their basic needs, providing front-line assistance, shelter, friendly listening, referral, etc. Then they offer a host of services to help them take charge of their lives: collective kitchens, food purchasing groups, training and counselling in the preparation and management of a budget, job readiness activities, etc.
- OPPOSE THE EXCLUSION OF MARGINALIZED INDIVIDUALS (20%)
These agencies help school dropouts and street kids to reintegrate into society, and support the social and occupational reintegration of adults. They also work with new immigrants and refugees, as well as adults with mental health problems or disabilities who are having trouble finding their place in society. In addition to promoting social integration, the services they offer are designed to help people become self-reliant and thereby avoid getting trapped in the vicious circle of
poverty.
- HELP COMMUNITIES TO TAKE CHARGE OF THEIR DESTINIES (7%)
The joint projects and community building initiatives undertaken by these agencies reinforce self-help networks and stimulate volunteering in local communities. They rally together everyone who is concerned about the well-being of young children, food security, housing, access to transportation, neighbourhood safety, the accessibility of services to members of the cultural communities, etc.
"Centraide conducted a variety of studies in order to identify areas in which additional assistance was required," said Lucien Lavallière. "The supplementary allocations we granted, as well as the new agencies to which we extended funding, reflect the concerns expressed by Greater Montreal's communities. We renewed our allocations to the agencies and projects we were already supporting, and we granted supplementary funding to some of these agencies so they could consolidate their activities, increase their efficiency, and meet the needs of their communities more effectively."
CENTRAIDE: A POWERFUL LEVER FOR COMMUNITIES
"It's wonderful to see all these people forming partnerships, pooling their resources and working together to meet the real needs of their communities. They are the links in a great chain of caring and mutual-aid that will be strengthened by the grants that we have announced today," proudly said Centraide president and executive director Michèle Thibodeau-DeGuire.
Mrs. DeGuire added that "Centraide plans to increase its support to projects that mobilize several partners around social issues. These projects generate programs and community building initiatives to combat poverty, isolation and social exclusion. Our supplementary allocations to help families and youth in difficulty as well as local communities are good examples of this intensified support."
The agencies and projects funded by Centraide are subject to rigorous selection and evaluation criteria designed to ensure that donors' contributions are invested judiciously. Over 85 volunteers, supported by Centraide's team, evaluate and select these resources, and regularly monitor their effectiveness in meeting the needs of the community.
Centraide of Greater Montreal is an independent organization managed by a board of directors which is representative of the community. It serves the Island of Montreal, Laval, and communities on the North Shore and South Shore, relying on a network of more than 65,000 volunteers. In 2001, more than 500,000 people in need were helped by the agencies and projects supported by Centraide of Greater Montreal. There are 18 autonomous Centraides in Quebec, each managed by an independent board of directors which is representative of the community it serves.
