Grants for Sea to Sky non-profits were recently announced by the Whistler Health Care Foundation (WHCF), bringing important funding to community organizations.
Funding came from the Goudge Family Foundation and the Touchet Family Foundations, and $104,000 will go towards diverse projects which improve the health and well-being of the Sea to Sky community.
Recipients include the Sea to Sky Hospice Society, Myrtle Philip Community School, the Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre, Tantalus Wellspring Society, The Point Artist-Run Centre, Spearhead Huts Society, Squamish Search & Rescue, Options for Sexual Health, Whistler Waldorf School, Whistler Community Services Society and Coast Mountain Academy.
Projects spearheaded by the organizations include first-aid training, health resources for seniors, mental-health training, bereavement support, STI testing, youth counselling, emergency shelter services and sexual-health training.
Carol Leacy, chair of the WHCF, said the scope of health-care initiatives run by recipients is inspiring, and expressed gratitude to each foundation for their donations.
“On behalf of the Sea to Sky Hospice Society, I would like to personally share our excitement and gratitude for being a recipient of funds from the Whistler Health Care Foundation,” said Leslie de Bie, Executive Director of the Sea to Sky Hospice Society, in a release. “As a result of these important funds, we are able to extend our palliative and bereavement support programs and services to the northern part of the Sea to Sky corridor.”
In its third year, the grant funding program got a major boost when David Goudge visited Whistler’s emergency clinic after an accident with a knife and was won over by the care he received. The experience led to his family’s foundation donating to WHCF.
“The Goudge Family Foundation is proud to continue our support of the WHCF grant funding program,” Goudge said in the release. “This year’s recipients will help ensure that our community’s mental and physical health care remains the highest quality and even more accessible for Sea to Sky residents and guests."
This year, the Touchet family added to the generosity for 2024’s funding program.
“Our family is honoured to be able to support the tremendous work that WHCF does within our community,” Jayne Touchet said in the release. “Health-care in our mountain town becomes more and more crucial as we grow and expand as a resort. The recipients that the WHCF chose this year for the grant funding fully aligns with our mission and we are excited by the growth in health-care that this community will gain because of their selections.”
