The is celebrating the 52 community service organizations who received a total of $665,000 in grants this year, with a special April 17 section of the Comox Valley Record newspaper.

By sharing their stories, the Foundation hopes to raise awareness of the significant achievements and ongoing work of the incredible Comox Valley charities, societies, and other public non-profit organizations.

The funding is part of a record $1.36 million in this year to meet the immediate needs of the Comox Valley.

鈥淓very organization has a story to tell and volunteers who believe deeply in their work,鈥� said Foundation President Christine Helpard. 鈥淭ogether they improve the lives of community members in the Comox Valley. It鈥檚 a pleasure to be able to share just a few of their stories in this special publication.鈥�

Foundation funding decisions are prioritized through community tables and advisory groups, in five different community-identified streams, including:

• $75,000 to housing insecurity and homelessness supports, through the Comox Valley Coalition to End Homelessness
• $57,960 to organizations serving adults with diverse abilities
• $80,000 to environment, conservation and climate organizations
• $323,156 in Community Enrichment Grants, focussing on four areas: food insecurity and food systems; mental health and connection; Indigenous led or benefitting projects/organizations; and arts, culture and heritage.

This year, the Foundation鈥檚 Robert and Florence Filberg Fund, held at the Vancouver Foundation, has also supported a $130,000 grant to build patient-oriented aging and dementia research capacity in the Comox Valley, through the Comox Valley Healthcare Foundation and Island Health.

鈥淭hese grants are made possible by the many people who have established funds at the Community Foundation over the past 27 years,鈥� said Helpard. 鈥淭his year, we also received $135,000 in direct that made it possible for us to fund 13 additional applications that would otherwise have gone unsupported. I want to thank all the donors who made these grants available to the community this year.鈥�

Since 1996, Comox Valley Community Foundation has awarded $5.75 million to more than 175 local non-profits and 250 students in the form of grants and scholarships. It supports not-for-profit and charitable organizations in our community so that they may respond to the pressing and ever-changing needs and priorities of residents.

Read more about these and other stories by picking up the Comox Valley Record newspaper on April 17 or by visiting .