HCF funds the YOUth Create after-school program in the McQuesten neighbourhood. Its focus is on fitness, nutrition, health, well-being and the arts. Read about their activities in Canadian Cyclist magazine.
Grants
Great Grant Stories
How do Hamilton Community Foundation donors make an impact? See some photos in our Flickr album here and keep reading for some stories of how HCF grants have helped people, families and communities.
Supporting Hamilton's Artistic Efforts
(June 2011) Community Foundation is committed to arts and culture as an essential component of community vitality in Hamilton. Continue reading...
Affordable Housing for Families in the Keith Neighbourhood
(June 2011) The stair treads in Mary’s house have been autographed. The signatures are from incredibly important people – not movie stars or famous musicians, but some 50 volunteers who helped Mary build her Habitat for Humanity home. Continue reading...
Reading Tutors Boost Scores and Confidence
(June 2011) The focus of Neighbour to Neighbour’s reading tutor program is on words, but numbers tell the story. Of almost 200 students in Grades 1 to 3 who participated last year, 97 percent improved their reading assessment scores, says Deban Brunette, Neighbour to Neighbour educational program co-ordinator. All were reading below grade level when they joined the program. Continue reading...
Bike Co-op: Gearing Up a Social Enterprise
(June 2011) Tyler Gorr, the New Hope Bike Co-op has taken him “light years” from where he was. The co-op launched last year with the goal of becoming a self-sustaining social enterprise. It sells refurbished bikes and low-cost parts, offers free access to tools and provides volunteer and employment opportunities to disadvantaged youth. The approach is making a difference. Continue reading...
McQuesten Community Garden
(March 2011) Watch a video about the McQuesten Community Garden's impact on the community.
CityHousing Hamilton Community Gardens
(January 2011) The CityHousing Hamilton community garden receives funding from the Immediate Response Fund. Watch a video about its impact on the community.
Property Elves
(October 2010) The Property Elves program receives funding from Tackling Poverty Together. Watch a video about its impact on the community.
Seniors helping seniors
(September 2010) Hundreds of low-income seniors have more to live on each month, thanks to the volunteer work of other seniors. Supported by a Tackling Poverty Together grant from HCF to the Hamilton Council on Aging (which itself was launched in 2006 with HCF donor support), senior volunteers are now helping other seniors understand their entitlements and then apply for various kinds of income support. Continue reading...
Building skills for employment
(September 2010) For people living in poverty, the path
toward prosperity usually means finding
a good job. But having the necessary skills –
or even knowing what those skills are – is
often a barrier to better employment. Continue reading...
Homework Help and Much More on the Mountain
(August 2010) Huda Diab has unlimited faith in the potential of children to adapt and excel in the face of difficult odds. She sees evidence of it every day as coordinator of the Sudanese Homework Club – and research supports her optimism. Afterschool programs like hers are proven to keep kids in school and increase high-school graduation rates, especially among children in low-income families. Continue reading...
Crown Point Neighbourhood
(July 2010) HCF is proud to support the vibrant, active Crown Point neighbourhood. See what's going on here.
Chaney Ensign Bursaries Transform Lives
(June 2010) In the business of long-term change, it‘s not often the community foundation hears definitive evidence that its granting has transformed a life. But siblings Anita and Christopher Counter have each reached out recently to thank the Foundation for life-changing support they received more than 20 years ago. Continue reading...
A Promising Future
(April 2010) Shayna Willis was a troubled teen just trying to get through each day. Facing an uncertain future with problems at school and home, she has managed to turn her life around. Continue reading...
NYA:WEH
(January 2010) Aboriginal youth face high levels of poverty, unemployment, school dropouts and suicide. When an HCF donor wanted to make a difference, “NYA:WEH” a stay-in-school initiative for Aboriginal Youth in Hamilton was born.
Read about the story behind NYAWEH.
Watch the story of how NYA:WEH is developing Hamilton’s Aboriginal community through educational success.
Read the Hamilton Spectator article.
Making Veggie Pizza from the Garden
(December 2009) With the help of a Tackling Poverty Together grant, local children learned about “growing a pizza.” Watch the video here.
Lightway Church
(December 2009) “Grant has made all the difference in the world”…read about how Lightway church is filling a community need through HCF grants.
YOUth Create After-School Program
(December 2009) HCF funds the YOUth Create after-school program in the McQuesten neighbourhood. Its focus is on fitness, nutrition, health, well-being and the arts. Read about their activities in Canadian Cyclist magazine.
Bringing Together Youth, Community and Creativity
(Fall 2009) A brainstorming session and a desire to collaborate on a community project led to the production of "Writing All Wrongs," a collection of songs and a video depicting the experiences and struggles for youth living in the McQuesten neighbourhood of east Hamilton. Continue reading...
Elves in the Community
(Fall 2009) Sometimes just a new coat of paint can give a home - and homeowner - a refreshing uplift. Thanks to the Property Elves program, low-income homeowners will be able to spruce up their homes and receive help with small repairs and property maintenance. Continue reading...
Dreams Can Come True
(Fall 2009) For low-income entrepreneurs who have always dreamed of starting their own businesses, but don't have the finances to get started, a new innovative program called micro-credit can help them reach their goals. Continue reading...
See Cable 14’s profile of this exciting program here.
Hamilton Youth Arts Network - Voice Space Issues
(October 2008) Visit the Caledon Institute of Social Policy and read the story of how a one-year Hamilton Community Foundation grant provided funding to engage young people in the work of tackling poverty.
It's a Beautiful Day in the Neighbourhoods
(Hamilton Spectator, October 30, 2008) features the impact of HCF’s support to improve the quality of life in the city’s neighbourhoods
A Story of Change
An innovative community partnership means that hundreds of disadvantaged children have access to the programs of Hamilton East Kiwanis Boys' and Girls Club. The result: new skills, new friends and increased self esteem.
Summer Literacy for Skill and Fun
An “All Star” reading program is helping reduce holiday literacy loss and level the playing field for low income children.
Partnership Helps Low-Income Families Buy Their First Home
More than 50 families are finding their way to home ownership and financial stability through this exciting venture.
Bringing a Neighbourhood Together with Movies
Family movie nights welcomed children and their families into the local school. As a result, parents felt more comfortable to get involved.
The Summer Camp Experience for All Children
More than 1000 children are able to develop the creativity, self-esteem and communication skills that come from going to camp through this partnership with the Hamilton Spectator.
Helping Adults with Mental Health Challenges to Work and Earn
People with mental health challenges often find the standard work environment difficult. This program provides the support these individuals need to help them be successful in the workplace.
Mentors + Fun = Learning
Elementary school kids are developing a commitment to education through stronger after-school networks. Their mentors are McMaster University student volunteers.
Creating Community
Neighbourhood hubs in Hamilton's Sanford community are helping children and families connect with each other and to much-needed programs and facilities.
Addressing Environmental Issues in North Hamilton
Successful citizen engagement around the environment has air and water quality, reduced waste and energy use and resulted in improved public transit to North Hamilton. The whole city benefits.
Integrating Young Newcomers through Sport
New culture, climate, language and other barriers add to the usual stress of moving to a new school. Kick Start helps immigrant children gain friends and have fun through organized sport.