Toronto, Ontario – Bell Canada, in partnership with the True Sport Foundation, today announced the final group of grant recipients of the Bell Community Sport Fund. The $1 million fund, announced by Bell Canada in January 2005, invests in community hockey and soccer programs for youth across Canada and is part of Bell’s ‘Connected to Communities’ program.
“We are very pleased to announce the awarding of $1,000,000 to community hockey and soccer programs in 152 communities across Canada in 2005,” said Mary James, Associate Director Community Investment, Bell Canada. “Through the Bell Community Sport Fund we have been able to help young Canadians across the country get involved in local sport programs, and have helped create programs that will strengthen communities and their young people for decades to come.”
In Phase III the fund distributed a total of $340,000 to 52 Canadian communities. Forty-eight communities were awarded $5,000 grants and four additional communities received grants of $25,000 each for projects that showed legacy potential (Vancouver, BC; Vulcan, AB; Killaloe, ON; Sudbury, ON). More than 840 applications were received before the September 15th deadline.
“These grants go right to the heart of what True Sport is all about: getting kids onto playing fields where they can experience the many benefits that value-based community sport can offer,” said Paul Melia, President of the True Sport Foundation.
Launched in January 2005, the Bell Community Sport Fund received a total of 1,430 applications from across the country - 52 per cent of applications were for soccer programs, 48 per cent for hockey. Ontario accounted for 39 per cent of applications received, with Quebec at 31 per cent; Alberta 16 per cent and British Columbia 14 per cent.
The majority of applications were submitted by Not-for-Profit Organizations (71 per cent), followed by Municipal Governments (14 per cent); Registered Charities (5 per cent) and Regulated Amateur Athletic Associations (10 per cent).
In Phase I of the Bell Community Sport Fund, a total of $325,000 was awarded to 49 Canadian communities. In Phase II the fund distributed a total of $335,000 to 51 Canadian communities. Information about the grant application process and a complete list of all grant recipients for each phase can be obtained at www.truesport.ca/bellfund.
The Bell Community Sport Fund was developed in partnership with the True Sport Foundation, a charitable organization committed to ensuring that sport makes a positive contribution to Canadian society, our athletes and the physical and moral development of Canada’s youth.
Community teams, groups, leagues, schools and associations in Quebec, Ontario, Alberta and British Columbia were able to apply for grants. The sports of hockey and soccer, the two most popular youth sports in Canada, were selected for funding to ensure the fund impacted the greatest number of Canadians.
About True Sport
True Sport is a national movement committed to the belief that sport makes a powerful and positive contribution to the development of people and communities. True Sport emphasizes the key role that sport can play in the development of a strong and connected Canada. For more information, please visit www.truesport.ca.
About Bell Canada
Bell Canada, Canada’s national leader in communications, provides connectivity to residential and business customers through wired and wireless voice and data communications, local and long distance phone services, high speed and wireless Internet access, IP-broadband services, e-business solutions and satellite television services. Bell Canada is wholly owned by BCE Inc. For more information please visit www.bell.ca.
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For more information, please contact: Cori McPhail
Jacqueline Michelis
Bell Canada Media Relations
(416) 581-3311
1 877 391-2007
jacqueline.michelis@bell.ca
Senior Manager Special Initiatives and National Programs
Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport
(613) 521-3340 x3210
