Community Foundation Awards Winter 2025 Microgrants to Seven Local Organizations
The Community Foundation of Central Alberta (CFCAB) is pleased to announce the recipients of its Winter 2025 Microgrants Program, awarding a total of $25,460 to seven organizations working to strengthen communities across the region.
The Winter 2025 Microgrant recipients and their funded projects include:
Bethany Care Foundation – $1,500 Funding will support ABC Pro training for staff and volunteers working in dementia care at Bethany Didsbury and three Mountain View Seniors Housing sites. This evidence-based, trauma-informed training program focuses on understanding the emotions and behaviours of persons living with dementia, equipping caregivers with communication techniques and strategies to enhance quality of life for residents and their families.
Central Alberta Child Advocacy Centre – $5,000 The grant will cover speaker fees for Dr. Lori Haskell, a renowned clinical psychologist and trauma-informed care expert, to present specialized breakout sessions at the annual Transforming Practices Conference in May 2026. The conference brings together frontline professionals from across Alberta to advance effective practices in supporting abused and traumatized children.
Ellis Bird Farm – $2,000 This project will modernize the historical displays at Ellis Nature Centre, creating updated interpretive posters that tell the full story of Charlie and Winnie Ellis, the origins of the Bird Farm, and its connection to the Community Foundation. The new displays will enhance educational programs and strengthen visitors’ connection to the site’s heritage and mission.
Lending Cupboard – $3,000 Funding will purchase additional cryo cuff cold therapy systems to address high demand and reduce wait times for this highly sought after medical equipment. These specialized devices provide continuous cold therapy for patients recovering from hip or knee surgery, supporting pain management and smoother recovery at home.
Red Deer Food Bank Society – $5,000 The grant supports the development of a multi-stakeholder urban agriculture collaboration plan with ReThink Red Deer, Urban Indigenous Voices Society, and Ubuntu – Mobilizing Central Alberta. With outdoor growing spaces expected to double in 2026, this planning work will create a sustainable seasonal staffing model and expand paid learning opportunities for new and equity-seeking farmers.
Variety – the Children’s Charity of Alberta – $5,000 This funding will help launch Volt Hockey in Central Alberta, an accessible hockey program for children and youth with complex mobility limitations. Using joystick-operated sport chairs, the program enables participants with severe disabilities to play independently and as part of a team. The grant will cover facility rental and storage costs at Penhold Waskasoo Middle School.
Writers Guild of Alberta – $3,960 The grant will enable three in-person events with established author Kimmy Beach as part of the Rural Writer-in-Residence Program 2025-2026. Writers and readers in Red Deer and surrounding areas will have opportunities to attend free author talks, workshops, and Q&A sessions, fostering engagement with Alberta’s literary community.
These microgrants support diverse initiatives spanning healthcare, child welfare, environmental education, accessibility, food security, and arts and culture, reflecting CFCAB’s commitment to building vibrant, resilient communities throughout central Alberta.
