Anglican Diocese of Ontario Foundation to partner with AFC in food security programs
The Anglican Foundation of Canada’s (AFC) Say Yes! to Kids Request for Proposals (RFP) has received a $5,000 boost from the Anglican Diocese of Ontario Foundation. “We are deeply moved by the Foundation’s generosity at this critical time,” says Dr. Scott Brubacher, Executive Director, AFC. “The overwhelming response to our fall RFP—more than 80 applicants requesting more than $500,000 in funding—left us with a funding gap that gets a little narrower each day thanks to the philanthropic leadership of Canadian Anglicans.”
“When we learned that two RFPs in the Diocese of Ontario had requested a combined $15,000 for food security programs,” says the Ven. Bill Clarke, President, Anglican Diocese of Ontario Foundation (ADOF), “we wanted to make sure a funding shortage didn’t stand in the way of green lighting important community ministry.” Clarke says that for many years his board has been looking for a creative way to partner with AFC. “This definitely felt like the perfect time for our two foundations to join forces.”
Since 2012, the ADOF has granted nearly $180,000 in support of diverse ministry projects across the diocese for accessibility projects, education, support for newcomers to Canada, and a variety of community ministries. “The pandemic has called us to increase our support for food security programs including grants to Lunch-by-George and Lionhearts, both in the Frontenac Deanery,” says Clarke. “This gift will extend our food security outreach to young people in Quinte, Hastings, and Leeds & Grenville.”
Clarke, who is also Incumbent at St. Thomas’ Reddendale, Kingston, is grateful to St. Thomas’ who agreed to designate funds set aside in the Gerry Whitfield Fund to enable such a generous gift to the Say Yes! to Kids RFP. “Gerry was very passionate about Camp Hyanto and making sure that children had the opportunity to go there,” says Clarke. “But the camp is closed now. When I explained the situation to those who knew Gerry and his wife Audrey, everyone wholeheartedly agreed. And the wardens at St. Thomas’ also gave it the thumbs up and said, ‘Let’s make this happen.’ It was a remarkable group effort.”
“I am grateful to the Anglican Diocese of Ontario Foundation for supporting Say Yes! to Kids,” says the Rev. Canon Bob Wright, AFC’s Representative for the Diocese of Ontario. “I am also grateful for those in our diocese who applied for funding and have chosen to respond to needs in their communities.”
Wright says that when he learned that the total funding requested nationwide was over half a million dollars, it felt like a defining moment. “An investment, of a significant scale and magnitude, in serving young people in our parishes and in our communities is both hopeful and energizing. I applaud the AFC Board for its generosity and compassion and for undertaking this initiative.”
