Almost $1 million will support innovative financial literacy initiatives
across Canada
TORONTO, June 6, 2012 /CNW/ - Social and Enterprise Development
Innovations (SEDI) today announced the 15 community organizations that
have been awarded a total of $999,267 from the TD Financial Literacy
Grant Fund to support financial literacy projects. The Fund supports
organizations that deliver financial literacy programming to low income
and economically disadvantaged people across the country.
The TD Financial Literacy Grant Fund, administered by SEDI, recently
completed its fourth round of funding, selecting the fifteen grantees
from 136 applicants. In this round, supported projects will help
organizations focused on serving, among others, at-risk youth, people
with disabilities, rural and urban Aboriginal People, new Canadians,
young mothers in recovery from addiction, and unemployed adults.
"The diverse initiatives supported by the Fund underscore the importance
of financial literacy to all Canadians," said Elizabeth Mulholland,
Interim Chief Executive Officer, SEDI. "In addition to supporting
accessible financial literacy education, the Fund also serves as a
catalyst for new approaches that strengthen the field of community
financial literacy overall."
"Improving financial literacy for all Canadians requires creative
thinking and a commitment to find new approaches that work for at-risk
groups. TD is proud to support innovative financial literacy
programming that makes a real difference in the lives of Canadians,"
said Scott Mullin, Vice President, Community Relations, TD Bank Group.
Since the Fund's inception in 2010, more than $4.1 million has been
awarded to 55 community organizations across Canada. Grants are awarded
based on innovation, research and development, and strategic program
development of community-based financial literacy initiatives.
"We are thrilled to partner with George Brown College and Students in
Free Enterprise to develop a financial literacy smart phone and
computer app," says David Hughes, President and CEO of Pathways to
Education Canada. "This innovation will help youth in low-income
communities develop lifelong financial skills and confidence critical
to their success in school and beyond."
"With this funding support we will be able to deliver a province-wide
telephone information line and promotional campaign that will be
available to all Newfoundlanders and Labradorians - even those in
small, rural and remote communities - to help them to improve their
financial situation. This will be an invaluable service in our
province," says Al Antle, Executive Director, Credit Counselling
Services of Newfoundland & Labrador Inc.
The full list of grantees is:
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Toronto Foundation for Student Success, Toronto, ON
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Young Women's Christian Association (YWCA), Vancouver, BC
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Coalition des associations de consommateurs du Québec, Montreal, QC
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K-W Working Centre for the Unemployed, Kitchener, ON
-
Vecova Centre for Disability Services and Research, Calgary, AB
-
Ontario Federation of Indian Friendship Centres, Toronto, ON
-
NWT Literacy Council, Yellowknife, NT
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The Learning Disabilities Association of Peterborough, Peterborough, ON
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Healthy Aboriginal Network, Courtenay, BC
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Pathways to Education Canada, Toronto, ON
-
Credit Counselling Services of Newfoundland & Labrador Inc., St. John's,
NL
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St. Joseph Immigrant Women's Centre, Hamilton, ON
-
Centre de services éducatifs populaires du Haut-Saint-François, East
Angus, QC
-
Youth Employment Assistance Headquarters Inc., Brockville, ON
-
University Settlement, Toronto, ON
The Fund is currently reviewing its guidelines in order to increase the
impact of the Fund's grants on the field of financial literacy. New
guidelines and a revised application form will be posted in June 2012.
The deadline for the next round of applications will be announced in
June 2012. Information can be found at www.sedi.org/grantfund.
About SEDI
SEDI is a charitable non-profit organization whose mission is to expand
economic opportunity for Canadians living in poverty through program
and policy innovation. To learn more about SEDI's latest initiatives,
the Canadian Centre for Financial Literacy and the TD Financial
Literacy Grant Fund, please visit www.theccfl.ca and www.sedi.org/grantfund.
TD Community Giving
TD invests in communities to make a positive impact where it does
business and where our customers, clients and employees live and work.
In 2011, TD donated over $65 million to support community organizations
in Canada, the United States and the United Kingdom. In Canada, we
focus on Education and Financial Literacy, Creating Opportunities for
Young People, and the Environment. For more information, visit www.td.com/corporateresponsibility.
