For the second straight year, the Cadillac Fairview Corporation has stepped up in a big way for KidSport Richmond.
Through its Youth Philanthropy Program, the owners of Richmond Centre Mall have made a $15,000 donation to the local non-profit chapter that provides grants to help city children overcome the financial burdens of playing organization sports.
The contribution to KidSport Richmond was one of four made in in the province joining Convenant House Vancouver, YMCA Greater Vancouver and Junior Achievement British Columbia. In total, Cadillac Fairview donated $600,000 to 20 youth-focused charity organizations across the country, up from $500,000 a year ago.
“With our philanthropy strategy we are really focusing on youth and investing in our local communities,” explained Richmond Centre Mall Property Manager Manisha Narang during a formal cheque presentation on Thursday.
“We looked at a number of different charities this year and KidSport again with their programs. The leadership opportunities they provide youth, the team building aspect, the collaboration and increase in communication skills. We felt a program like this is what will build leaders of tomorrow.”
The fact KidSport grants are available to kids of all ages and abilities also factored into the decision.
“Kidsport is always about everyone being able to participate and that’s what us at Cadillac Fairview are really looking to do,” added Narang.
According to Richmond KidSport Chair Bob Jackson, it’s donations like this that has helped the maximum annual grant for kids raise from $500 to $600 in 2019.
So far this year, the organization has issued 250 grants for a total of $90,261. Jackson projects by year end that number will raise to over 350 to assist children of financially challenged families in Richmond to participate in a season of sport.
That would be an increase from 2018 when 333 grants were issued for a total of $115,730.
