Two Collingwood charities were the recipients of a funding boost from RBC Financial Services this week.
Both the Georgian Triangle Humane Society and Hospice Georgian Triangle are receiving $5,000 each from RBC Financial Group, with representatives from all agencies on-hand on July 24 to receive the funds.
When deciding where to dole out this year’s RBC Foundation grants, vice president of commercial and financial services for RBC Ronda MacPherson said RBC asked around.
“We reached out to people in the community. We had a discretionary amount through RBC Foundation to donate this year,” said MacPherson, adding that the organization is spending $40,000 total across their region and that includes Collingwood and Barrie.
“The humane society does so much great work in the community,” said Wendy Hawksworth, relationship manager of commercial and financial services with RBC.
GTHS executive director Karen Marsh said their funds will be used to promote leadership in the organization’s youth programming. The funding was used specifically during this year’s GTHS Walk-a-thon, where youth took leadership of the Rainbow Bridge project, a memorial for long-gone pets.
“It was incredibly impactful,” said Marsh. “Engaging youth increases their social and emotional skills. In doing that, it makes them better human beings.”
“Grants like this are massive for us,” she said.
Over at Hospice Georgian Triangle, Hawksworth shared a personal reason for providing that charity with funding.
“My mother-in-law was here a couple of years ago. My father, a long time ago, took advantage of a hospice program. Everyone here are angels,” said Hawksworth.
Hospice Georgian Triangle Foundation executive director Sandra Sullivan said their funds will go toward operational expenses, of which provincial government funding only covers half.
She said it costs about $770 per day, per client to provide the services Hospice Georgian Triangle provides.
“This is really, really helpful,” said Sullivan.
The two charities are working on a new partnership. Sullivan said Hospice Georgian Triangle grief counsellors are currently training Georgian Triangle Humane Society staff on how to support people dealing with the loss of a pet.
“It’s really a nice collaboration,” she said.
