The Edmonton Oilers Community Foundation (EOCF) announced the 2017-2018 season was their most successful gifting year to date. A total of $3.7 million will be distributed to organizations in northern Alberta including charities and minor hockey groups.
“That is a significant accomplishment, especially for one single foundation to be making,” said Janet Riopel, chair of the EOCF board of directors.
Riopel said the community will see their support throughout a wide variety of organizations.
“You’ll see it through the Bent Arrow society, you’ll see it through contributions to the YWCA [and] you’ll see it in contributions to the Jasper Place Health and Wellness.”
The foundation also made a sizeable donation to the United Way’s All in for Youth initiative.
“That program is helping students to improve their learning, improve their basic skills, their reading and writing skills, skills they need to take throughout life,” Riopel said.
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All in for Youth works with socially vulnerable adolescents by mentoring, coaching and providing nutritious meals to students at five Edmonton schools. Riopel says the EOCF donation will help to provide at-risk students “with all the supports and resources they need to really learn and really flourish in their world.”
Allan Undheim with United Way says All in for Youth brings key services together for students and their families.
“It’s all about ensuring children are supported to graduate from high school,” Undheim said, adding that high school graduation is a key milestone in breaking the cycle of poverty.
United Way says the $175,000 donation will help to fund the program for a significant amount of time.
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