LANGLEY, B.C. – The First West Foundation, through its Envision Financial Community Endowment, is granting $420,486 this year— a total of 33 grants— to deserving charities across the Fraser Valley, Lower Mainland and Kitimat regions.
This year’s grants are primarily for projects and programming focused in two key areas— building resilient and resourceful communities by helping those affected by socio-economic factors and strengthening the social services sector by supporting organizational development initiatives such as leadership training.
Click here to view details on the organizations and programming receiving grants in 2020.
2020 has proved a be a historic year of giving for the Foundation, the philanthropic arm of First West Credit Union and all its divisions—Envision Financial, Valley First, Island Savings and Enderby & District Financial. Highlights include:
- $732,737 donated through annual endowments to local non-profits where First West Credit Union operates
- $431,005 set aside for additional granting needs in 2020 as needed
- $1 million for First West’s Community Response Fund, launched to support local charities through the pandemic
In total, the First West Foundation will gift over $2.1 million to local non-profits in 2020—the highest amount in its history.
“The credit union mantra has always been about neighbour helping neighbour and this year has highlighted that even more for us,” says Susan Byrom, executive director of the First West Foundation. “Our communities need us right now and, we couldn’t be prouder to see the First West Foundation stepping up in the community to help these vital organizations continue the incredible work they do.”
Since 1998, the Envision Financial Community Endowment has provided $4.6 million in grant funding for 391 projects.