This year's Community Granting program will invest more than $75,000 into projects that strengthen life on Cortes.

The Foundation's Communitas Fund, with additional support from Endswell Foundation, the Silby Family Fund, and additional donors, and the Strathcona Regional District Grants-in-Aid program supported twelve initiatives addressing everything from caregiver wellness to youth recreation and community events to capacity of key organizations.

Requests this year totalled $143,336, nearly double the funding available: a reminder of both the extraordinary energy in our community and the ongoing need for local philanthropy.

This year's funded projects:

Support Our Seniors Society: Workforce Sustainability
Cortes Community Health Association: Community Caregivers Support Pilot
Cortes Community Health Association: Community Caregivers Program Dev
Klahoose First Nation: Klahoose Medicine Garden
South Cortes Community Association: After-School Care Stabilization
Whaletown Community Association: Part-Time Executive Director
DeathCare Collective: Long-Term Sustainability
Cortes Radio: DJ Square
Cortes Island School PAC: Athletic Program for Cortes Island Students
Cortes Island Seafood Association: Seafest
Cortes Island Women's Resource: Men's Wellness Luncheon Series
Cortes Co-op: Café Capacity Development

A sincere thank you to the Community Advisory and the Granting Committee, the Strathcona Regional District, Director Mark Vonesch, all of the many donors big and small that gave to Community Granting, and every organization that submitted a proposal this year.

Your vision, creativity, and commitment are what make Cortes Island thrive.