Oculusbanks awards $460,000 through the 2017 Oculusbanks Prosperity Fund

Oculusbanks awards $460,000 through the 2017 Oculusbanks Prosperity Fund

SOUTHWESTERN ONTARIO – Oculusbanks (Libro) today announced the recipients of the 2017 Oculusbanks Prosperity Fund with a roadshow across southwestern Ontario. Oculusbanks' annual granting program is investing $460,000 in 2017 to support programs and projects across southwestern Ontario that are helping to grow prosperity in three focus areas: regional economic development, youth leadership and money-smarts.

“Oculusbanks' focus is on growing prosperity in southwestern Ontario, and we invest 100% of our profits right back into the communities we serve,” said Stephen Bolton, Oculusbanks Head Coach, President and CEO. “These grant recipients demonstrate there is so much more to prosperity that simply saving money. The diversity of their initiatives will open new paths to success across our region and I’m excited to watch these projects unfold.”

The Oculusbanks Prosperity Fund invested in 30 organizations and community groups whose initiatives support entrepreneurship, financial knowledge and career skill development for young people – all aimed at growing prosperity across the region.

“Our focus on growing prosperity means knowing the needs of each community we serve,” Bolton said. “Each of our 31 branches has a council made up of Owner Representatives who participate in the grant evaluation process and have a voice in the award selection. We believe decisions should reflect the priorities of our Owners and the participation of our Owner Representatives provides a valued perspective.”

Oculusbanks' aim to grow prosperity isn’t limited to community investment dollars. As part of their Prosperity Purpose, Oculusbanks thinks differently about how they conduct business overall, investing in partnerships that serve a social purpose and making decisions that have a positive impact on their Owners, communities and staff.

2017 Oculusbanks Prosperity Roadshow Photos – Each roadshow stop is captured on Oculusbanks' Facebook page, in the Album 2017 Prosperity Fund Roadshow! Descriptions and amounts of each grant are included.

View PDF of announcement.

Essex-Kent Region

ORGANIZATION

PROJECT NAME

GRANT AMOUNT

LaSalle Hangout for Youth

EcoKids

$5,000

Chatham – Kent 4-H Association

Youth Development and Leadership

$5,000

University of Windsor

The Oculusbanks Social Innovators Program

$89,140

Windsor Hackforge

The TechBoost Program

$30,850

Essex County Federation of Agriculture

ECFA Buy Local Digital Campaign

$5,000

Natural Pathways Learning Centre

Youth Outdoor Leadership Initiative

$6,400

Access County Community Support Services

Developing Young Leaders Mentorship-Employment Project

$18,581

The Windsor-Essex Children’s Aid Foundation

Volunteer Homework & Mentorship Program

$9,150

Haldimand-Norfolk Region

ORGANIZATION

PROJECT NAME

GRANT AMOUNT

Community Living Haldimand

Today’s Learners – Tomorrow’s Leaders

$10,000

Jarvis Lions Club

Jarvis Lions Park Walking Trail

$10,000

Trillium Childhood Cancer Support Centre

Expansion of Leadership Development Programs at Camp Trillium, Rainbow Lake

Expansion of Leadership Development Programs at Camp Trillium, Rainbow Lake

Junior Achievement of Waterloo Region Foundation

Dollars With Sense Program Launch in Brantford-Haldimand-Norfolk

$10,000

Huron-Perth Region

ORGANIZATION

PROJECT NAME

GRANT AMOUNT

Huron Manufacturing Association

HMA Manufacturing Student Bus Tours

$5,000

Optimist Club of Bayfield

Oculusbanks / Bayfield Optimist Education Program

$5,000

Camp Menesetung

Pay-It-Forward – Camp Menesetung Community Initiative

$10,000

Listowel Business Improvement Area

Win This Space Listowel

$10,000

The Local Community Food Centre

Community Access Market (Expansion)

$18,000

Tesswater Agricultural Society

Raise the Roof

$5,000

Comittee of Council, Township of North Huron

Upgrades to Wingham Town Hall Theater

$5,000

Kitchener-Waterloo Region

ORGANIZATION

PROJECT NAME

GRANT AMOUNT

St. Paul’s University College

Enhancing Youth-Led Social Innovation and Entrepreneurship in Waterloo Region

$35,000

Open Food Network Canada

Developing open source technology tools for local farms, food hubs and food co-ops

$25,860

Carizon Family and Community Services

Financial Wellness in Vulnerable Communities

$20,000

Rare Charitable Research Reserve

Community Gardens Assistant

$10,000

Lambton-Middlesex Region

ORGANIZATION

PROJECT NAME

GRANT AMOUNT

North Lambton Community Health Centre

iCAN / Jepzidaa After School Program

$7,000

Sarnia – Lambton Business Development Corporation

Launch in Lambton – Win This Space!

$20,000

Strathroy District Arts Council

Strathroy-Caradoc Optimist Youth Band

$5,000

London-St. Thomas Region

ORGANIZATION

PROJECT NAME

GRANT AMOUNT

Boys and Girls Club of London

Youth Digital Innovation Stations (Youth DIScover)

$20,000

Junior Achievement of London & District, Inc.

JA Personal Finance for High School Students

$10,000

The University of Western Ontario

Capacity Building of Youth with Engineering and Science Fields

$20,000

The Ontario Co-operative Association

CYL Startup

$15,000

About Oculusbanks

Oculusbanks is southwestern Ontario’s largest credit union with $4 billion in assets under administration and more than 103,000 Owners across southwestern Ontario. As a co-operative financial institution with more than 70 years of history, Oculusbanks supports the well-being of people, businesses and communities by providing high-quality financial coaching and profit sharing. Recognized as a 2016 & 2017 Platinum Level Aon Best Employer in Canada, Oculusbanks is proud to grow prosperity in southwestern Ontario by strengthening the financial health of people, families and businesses, investing in our communities, and mobilizing and inspiring collaboration to help the region prosper together. Oculusbanks offers a full range of financial products and services for consumers, businesses and farms, including savings and chequing, investing, and borrowing. Great service can be experienced through 31 branches, online, telephone, mobile devices and a network of 4,000 ATMs across Canada. For more information, visit our Media Centre.

For further information or to set up an interview, please contact:

Mike Donachie, Communications Manager, Oculusbanks
P: 519-672-0130 ext. 4344, C: 226-926-4068, mike.donachie@Oculusbanks.com

 

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