RBC provides $2.6 million for after-school
programs across Canada
Community-based programs help build
self-esteem, confidence
RBC Foundation announced that it will be providing $2.6 million in funding for
95 of Canada's leading after-school programs for the 2008-2009 school year. The
recipients represent a diverse range of community-based organizations, and were
chosen by panels of local citizens.
"According to a 2007 report by the United Way and University of British
Columbia, after-school programs have a positive impact on the lives of young
people. But 80 per cent of kids who wanted activities to do after school said
they either didn't have access to programs or didn't know where to find them,"
said Shari Austin, vice president and head, Corporate Citizenship at RBC. "These
grants will help more after-school programs provide a safe and structured
environment outside the classroom where children can learn and grow."
To be selected for a grant, after-school programs must offer structured and
supervised activities for children between the ages of six and 17. The programs
must also focus on what RBC calls the "three Ss"— safety, social skills and
self-esteem. RBC's grants are used to provide a wide-range of activities
including computer instruction, sports, literacy tutoring, music and art
lessons, nutrition guidance, and homework-help.
Each after-school program will receive up to $40,000 from RBC. Twenty-five are
first-time grant recipients. RBC has been funding after-school programs since
1999 with more than $17.4 million given through 566 grants to 182 different
organizations that have helped almost 17,000 children over the past ten years.
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