OTF Resilient Communities Grant

MEDIA RELEASE

OTF Grant Supports Catholic Youth Organization

Mount Hope, ON – In 2022, the Catholic Youth Organization (C.Y.O.) received a $56,200 Resilient Communities Fund grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF). This grant runs from June 2022 to May 2023 and gives the C.Y.O. the opportunity to maintain operations by supporting the salary of two fundraising coordinator positions.

The onset of COVID-19 severely impacted the C.Y.O.’s fundraising and revenue-generation opportunities. This investment by the Ontario Trillium Foundation allows the C.Y.O. to rebuild by hiring two fundraising positions that will oversee campaigns, implement new approaches and improve upon financial resources and fundraising methods.

“We are so thankful for the support from the Ontario Trillium Foundation,” says John Spatazzo, Executive Director of the C.Y.O. “This funding is helping to rebuild our organization as a key part of our efforts to recover from COVID-19. Being able to hire these positions ensures us that we will be able to continue running our programs.”

The C.Y.O. strives to break down barriers for youth to participate in recreation programs and camps, whether they be physical, social, or financial. In a typical year, the C.Y.O. creates hundreds of jobs and volunteer opportunities for the Hamilton community. Many families rely on our services to provide their children with meaningful summer camp experiences and enriching athletic opportunities. We recognize the importance of providing opportunities for play and physical activity to improve the overall wellbeing and growth of an individual. For more information about our mission and programs please visit www.cyo.on.ca.

The Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF) mission is to build healthy and vibrant communities across Ontario. As an agency of the Government of Ontario, and one of Canada’s leading granting foundations, last year, OTF invested nearly $209M into 2,042 community projects and partnerships, which included funding for the Government of Ontario’s Community Building Fund. Since 2020, OTF has supported Ontario’s economic recovery by helping non-profit organizations rebuild and recover from the impacts of COVID-19. Visit otf.ca to learn more.