Parent and district advisory councils at Richmond schools have received more than $400,000 this year for extra-curricular activities through the province’s gaming grant program.
Funding for the Community Gaming Grants, run by the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing, comes from B.C.’s commercial gambling revenue.
The money goes towards activities, such as field trips or athletics, arts and cultural programs, for students from kindergarten to Grade 12.
As of Nov. 5, a total of 51 Richmond school PACs received $404,120 in funding, according to the ministry. It’s likely that more funding will be distributed to local PACs and DPACs, as some late applications are still being processed.
Based on data received from the ministry, parent groups at Richmond private schools received a combined $11,380, while $226,540 went to public elementary school PACs.
Richmond secondary school PACs received $163,700, while the local district parent group received $2,500.
Grant amounts awarded to individual Richmond elementary and secondary PACs range from $500 to more than $25,000.
Funding is based on student enrolment at the start of the previous school year. From this, PACs receive $20 per student for the current 2019-2020 school year.
In total, PACs and DPACs across B.C. received $11.3 million so far this year from gaming grants.
