Realtors in Saskatchewan are providing legacy grants once again and a Battlefords organization will again be a recipient.
The Battlefords and Area Sexual Assault Centre has been awarded a grant to help operate a 10-week Teen Girl Empowerment Group.
According to the organization's website, this group is designed "for adolescent girls between the ages of nine and 12 years. Girl power is a preventative program in that it introduces girls to concepts and skills prior to difficult issues typically faced by teens. This is an empowering program that is aimed to boost the confidence of adolescent girls by helping them to understand media images and social expectations of women in the world today."
Other recipients are Yorkton Women in Need Inc. to provide household items to 20 families when they depart from Shelwin House; Riverside Mission Inc. in Moose Jaw to purchase a walk-in freezer unit for the soup kitchen; Rose Garden Hospice Association in Prince Albert towards the planning process for a 10-bed hospice; Saskatoon Society for the Protection of Children Inc. for programming for children who stay at the crisis nursery; and Regina Sexual Assault Centre towards a puppet program for kids that will teach them to recognize and talk about abuse.
Recipients were to receive their grants at the Sheraton Cavalier Saskatoon, at the Realtors' second annual Legacy Gala Wednesday night.
The grants are part of the Quality of Life in Saskatchewan initiative. Funds raised at the gala are collected to provide grants to six worthy charities in the province each year through the Association of Saskatchewan Realtors Legacy Grant Program.
The Quality of Life in Saskatchewan initiative promotes the following, according to the association: "to support shelter-related services in our communities; to enhance environmental sustainability, protection and/or conservation of our natural areas; to support public education on the importance of private property rights; to promote safer neighborhoods and/or improved community services; and to enhance and promote community development and better opportunities for 'at risk' populations and/or disadvantaged citizens."
The chair of the Quality of Life committee, Joanne Kerr, said the grant applications almost doubled this year.
"It's always difficult to limit our decision to six worthy charities, but so humbling to be able to assist those who enhance the quality of life in our communities every day," she said.
The Realtors also said in a news release that they were able to exceed their $30,000 goal for this year's granting process.
The hope is to do even better in 2014. Association CEO Bill Madder said in a statement the organization was challenging realtors to become Legacy Builders -- their program recognizing major donors contributing $1000 or more to their Legacy Fund.
"It's our way to enhance the quality of life in our province and give back to our local communities," said Madder. The Legacy Grant Program will receive applications again in 2015.
This is the second year in a row a Battlefords organization has received funding through this initiative. Last year the Battlefords Boys and Girls Club were selected for one of the $5,000 grants.
