The Community Foundation of Greater Peterborough granted $1.3 million to more than eighty charities in Peterborough and the surrounding area in 2021.
It was the second year in a row that the Community Foundation was able to grant more than $1 million.
“Our community has stepped up in a big way and I cannot thank them enough for contributing to charitable organizations that really need our help as we all continue to manage through this pandemic,” says Jennifer DeBues, the Community Foundation’s Executive Director. “These charities have been unable to fundraise in the ways they used to before COVID-19, so grants from foundations like ours are more important than ever.”
Charities receiving grants crossed a variety of sectors including food security, arts and culture, gender equity, and specific COVID-19 community response initiatives.
“This kind of generosity really highlights the impact that the Community Foundation can have at the local level as we bring together donors from the community who care about a number of different causes and issues, ensuring their funds are distributed to those who need it most,” says Jenn Harrington, chair of the Community Foundations’ board of directors.
An example of transformative generosity in 2021 was a donor who gave $250,000 for food security grants. “Food insecurity is a huge issue in our community, impacting many different parts of the population, including children, people with disabilities, seniors, and others who may be experiencing this issue for the first time due to the pandemic,” says DeBues.
Another highlight of 2021 was the Vital Communities grants that focused on equity. “Despite ‘we’re all in this together’, the pandemic has highlighted the differences between different parts of our community. Prioritizing people who have been marginalized both economically and socially is worth doing. Giving people a boost when they need it most is always the right thing to do.”
Donations are always welcome to Community Foundation funds.