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Hello ,
In this newsletter
Welcome to this latest issue of the Lyle S. Hallman Foundation newsletter. I hope it finds you and your organization thriving.
It has been a busy few months since I assumed the interim Executive Director role with the Foundation. I want to thank my predecessor, Laura Manning, for providing me with an excellent and thorough orientation. In addition to her generous sharing of her knowledge and expertise, I have met with over 40 grantee organizations and relevant community leaders to gain a better sense of the work they do and what their relationship is with the LSHF. These have been very useful meetings for me.
The Lyle S. Hallman Foundation story is one of great impact in our community. I am struck by the breadth of organizations, small and large, whom we have supported which make a profound and positive difference in the lives of people in Waterloo Region.
In all my discussions in the Region, it is abundantly evident that the LSHF is viewed as a progressive, responsive, relational and trusting funder—a true partner. These are qualities the team, volunteers and board have built up over time, and I commit to strengthening.
We are thrilled to share the latest updates from the Foundation, including 12 newly approved grants.
The purpose of the Children and Youth Capital grant program is to increase access to facilities offering recreation and character-building programs for children and youth (0-16 years) from low-income families.
At its June meeting, the Board of Trustees approved the following grants:
The All Saints Community Centre
$212,616
All Saints Community Centre will provide access to inclusive recreational activities for children and youth from low income and equity deserving families in North Waterloo. The community centre will be a state-of-the art, accessible facility, featuring a gym and multi-sport equipment, enabling a wide range of programs and activities.
Breslau and District Recreation Centre
Breslau Grand Splash Park
$80,000
Improving community space by constructing a public use splash park that will serve all residents of Breslau and surrounding area.
Kitchener Relocation and Expansion – building brighter futures for kids in our community
$500,000
KidsAbility is moving their Kitchener location to a larger more accessible space to better serve their families and partners. More centralized services to Kitchener families will provide a seamless, integrated program experience. The new space will be flexible to change with the ever-shifting needs of KidsAbility’s families.
Porchlight Counselling and Addiction Services
Creating Children's Counselling Space in Cambridge
$300,000
While Porchlight Counselling and Addiction Services has continued to grow and develop their supports to meet growing community need, their facilities have not kept pace. This grant will support Porchlight to find a new home for their counselling services, including new and expanded children's counselling spaces.
Preston Heights Community Group
PHCG/LSHF Capital Improvement
$81,200
Preston Heights Community Group has been present and growing in their community since 1986. Needed capital improvements to their centre space will allow them to continue investing in youth over the short and long term, by providing additional programming and development opportunities that have traditionally not been possible in the neighbourhood.
rare Charitable Research Reserve
Education pond and inclusive washrooms for Every Child Outdoors
$96,447
The project supports the installation of an educational pond and several other important facility and storage upgrades. The washrooms at the ECO Centre will be made transgender-inclusive, and rare will install a transgender-inclusive pit toilet on the south side trail network in Blair to make this area accessible to young children from JK to Grade 2.
THEMUSEUM Science at Play Stage
$24,000
THEMUSEUM is adding a dedicated science education presentation space, the Science At Play stage, to its third floor. The stage is designed to facilitate high-quality, interpreter-led education programs and demonstrations for children K-12 in school groups and young families, enriching their learning opportunities.
Women's Crisis Services of Waterloo Region (WCSWR)
Creating a family friendly outdoor space where women and children can heal and grow.
$110,218
Transforming the outdoors at Aspen Place into a welcoming communal area for families to heal and grow. Creating outdoor therapeutic space for children to have structured/ unstructured play-based learning and family recreational time. A community garden will provide residents with staff led horticulture therapeutic programing and additional food for families.
Woolwich Community Health Centre
Wellesley Township Youth Centre - All Wheels Park
$294,500
The Wellesley Township “All Wheels Park” is a place for local children and youth to have fun and participate in a variety of activities. It is designed to overcome physical and economic barriers in accessing recreation. It is also a safe place for youth to gather and be themselves.
Play ground for block line supportive housing
Up to $50,000
YWKW has built two new supportive housing projects on Block Line Road. The buildings opened for families in April 2023. This grant will fund the building of a play ground for the children.
Congratulations to the successful applicants!
In 2022, the Board of Trustees approved a Housing Pilot which will allow LSHF to learn about the challenges and gaps that organizations are facing, deepen our relationships with those who best understand this work, and explore the most effective role we can play in housing, particularly as it relates to families and equity-deserving populations in Waterloo Region.
Grants to four local housing projects were approved in 2022. This June, a fifth project was added to the pilot:
St. Mark’s Place Supportive Housing
$3,200,000
A conversion of the former St. Mark’s Lutheran Church in Kitchener, St. Mark’s Place will include 43 supportive affordable apartments; a mixture of studio and one-bedroom units. A full kitchen and community space will also be included to allow for tenant programming and support.
As an ONN Connector for many years, we are pleased to continue to support the Ontario Nonprofit Network through a new grant approved this year:
Core Support
$100,000 over two years
The Ontario Nonprofit Network is the independent network for the 58,000 nonprofits in Ontario, focused on policy, advocacy, and services to strengthen Ontario’s nonprofit sector as a key pillar of our society and economy.
Strong healthcare institutions are fundamental to community wellbeing. LSHF supports healthcare in Waterloo Region through grants to Cambridge Memorial Hospital Foundation, Grand River Hospital Foundation and St. Mary’s General Hospital Foundation. These investments may include buildings, equipment, training and professional development, or other programs. The deadline for the three hospital foundations to apply is September 13, 2023.
I wish you all continued success and impact in your important work of building a more just society, and hope the summer months provide an opportunity for renewal and relaxation.
Best wishes,
Rob Donelson
Rob Donelson
Executive Director (Interim)
robd@lshallmanfdn.org
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