RBC After-School Grants Program calls for grant applicationsDeadline to apply is March 2, 2009
TORONTO, January 14, 2009 — The RBC After-School
Grants Program today announced its call for grant applications
for the 2009-2010 school year. In its 11th year, RBC is offering
more than $2 million in grants to fund first-time and renewed
grant recipients.
"Research tells us the average child between the ages
of nine and 12 has approximately 67 hours of discretionary
time each week - more time than they actually spend in school,"
said Shari Austin, executive director, RBC Foundation. "Through
this program we are committed to making a positive impact
in communities across Canada and are pleased that 89 per cent
of our grant recipients have reported an increase in skill
achievement in areas like academics, arts and sports. In addition,
almost two-thirds of our grant recipients have seen improved
changes in behaviour such as increased peer-to-peer interaction
and self-esteem."
The grants are awarded by regional panels made up of youth
and education experts to a limited number of community-based
charitable organizations. Each organization should have a
mandate to keep students in grades K-12 safe as well as positively
engaged through an enriched curriculum after their classes
end each day. RBC After-School Grants of up to $40,000 are
provided by RBC Foundation. The deadline for funding applications
is March 2, 2009 and grant recipients will be advised by June
2009.
To qualify for a grant, after-school programs should offer
structured, supervised activities in an environment that provides
what RBC calls the "3Ss": safety, social skills
and self-esteem. Other activities that programs should also
offer include computer instruction, sports, literacy tutoring,
music and art lessons, nutrition guidance, and help with homework.
RBC has been funding after-school programs since 1999, with
more than $17 million via 566 grants to 182 different organizations
that have helped 17,000 children. RBC After-School Grant applications
can be downloaded from www.rbc.com/afterschool.
- 30 -
Media contact:
Suzanne Willers, RBC, (416) 974-2727
Charities wishing information about RBC's After-School Grants
program may contact Frances Bedford-Jones at
(416) 974-2176
|
