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$299,400 Grow Grant from OTF in 2020 has Helped CNIB Lake Joe Empower Youth Impacted by Blindness

MacTier, ON – On Friday, MPP Graydon Smith and Moreen Miller, an Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF) volunteer met with CNIB representatives to learn more about the impact that a generous, three-year $299,400 Grow grant with its camp at Lake Joe. The grant enabled CNIB Lake Joe – Canada’s only fully accessible camp for people with sight loss – to empower more youth who are blind or low vision to play sports and lead active lifestyles.

A group of people stand in front of the accessible climbing tower at CNIB Lake Joe. From left to right: MPP Graydon Smith, Monique Pilkington, Executive Director, CNIB Lake Joe, Moreen Miller, an Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF) volunteer, Eugene Chong, CNIB Lake Joe General Manager, and Emilee Schevers, CNIB Lake Joe Staff.
From left to right: MPP Graydon Smith, Monique Pilkington, Executive Director, CNIB Lake Joe, Moreen Miller, OTF Volunteer, Eugene Chong, CNIB Lake Joe General Manager, and Emilee Schevers, CNIB Lake Joe Staff.

"CNIB Lake Joseph is a vital part of our community here in Parry Sound-Muskoka. It provides youth impacted by blindness and vision loss with an outstanding place to learn and have fun. I want to applaud the passionate team at CNIB Lake Joseph for their commitment to making a difference in the lives of their campers. These funds have been put to great use and I'm thrilled to know that the Ontario Trillium Foundation and the Government of Ontario is making a contribution to helping these kids enjoy the splendor of summer in Muskoka." MPP Graydon Smith, Parry Sound-Muskoka 

The grant is helping to build on the success of the Camp Abilities program at CNIB Lake Joe, and will impact the lives of more than 500 people in the community, including more than 240 young people who are blind or have low vision. The CNIB is a leading non-profit organization dedicated to supporting people impacted by blindness.

“We are thrilled to receive this grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation, which has allowed us to enhance our accessible summer camp and continue to make a significant impact on the lives of youth with sight loss,” said Monique Pilkington, Executive Director of CNIB Lake Joe. “Thanks to this support, we have been able to help more people with sight loss participate in sports and lead active, healthy lifestyles.”

Research shows that people with sight loss are less physically active than the general population. This has long-term consequences for education, employment, and health outcomes, but is preventable with programs like those offered at CNIB Lake Joe. CNIB is pleased to offer evidence-based programs like Camp Abilities to encourage healthier, more active lifestyles for Ontarians with sight loss of all ages, especially young people.

The Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF), an agency of the Government of Ontario, and one of Canada’s leading granting foundations celebrates 40 years of grant-making in Ontario and making a lasting impact in communities. Last year, OTF invested over $110M into 1,022 community projects and partnerships, which included funding for the Government of Ontario’s Community Building Fund. Visit otf.ca to learn more.

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Media Contact:

Caitlyn Crews

Manager, Marketing and Communications

CNIB

416-262-5192

caitlyn.crews@cnib.ca

 

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