BOW VALLEY – A grant of $41,500 will help 16 local youth clubs in the Bow Valley provide affordable and accessible athletics.
The Wim and Nancy Pauw Foundation awarded organizations grants ranging from $1,000 to $5,000 to help Bow Valley sports and recreation programs to aid young athletes.
Among the groups are the Banff Rugby Club, Banff Minor Hockey Association, Bow Valley Little League, Canmore Minor Hockey Association and Rocky Mountain Volleyball Club.
“We are thrilled to see such a remarkable increase in both the number of clubs receiving grants and the amount of funding being distributed. This speaks to the commitment our community has to active living and wellness,” said Cathy Geisler, the executive director of the Wim and Nancy Pauw Foundation.
“By investing in our youth’s sporting and recreational endeavours, we aim to create a vibrant and inclusive community that fosters lifelong physical and mental wellness.”
The True Sport Youth Fund reviews applications each year from not-for-profit sports organizations for people 17 and under. The recipients are selected based on the seven true sport principles of go for it, play fair, respect others, keep it fun, stay healthy, include everyone and give back.
The True Sport Youth Fund began in 2016 as a way to help Bow Valley youth recreation organizations and clubs with financial support. A partnership with the Bow Valley True Sport and Recreation Council was established in 2022 to aid with delivering funding to help with participation and contributing to the personal development of people on and off the field.
The Wim and Nancy Pauw Foundation was launched in 2013 as a private foundation in Banff. It’s funded by profits from Banff Caribou Properties Ltd. and Banff Lodging Company, with the aim of reinvesting in Banff and the Bow Valley in projects that promote an active and vibrant community.
“It is a pleasure to administer the True Sport Youth Fund alongside the Wim and Nancy Pauw Foundation,” said Bill Fisher, board chair of Bow Valley True Sport and Recreation Council. “The grant applications provide a window into the efforts and challenges facing sport and recreation clubs and associations.”
