Grandview, Abilities Centre receive Jumpstart funding

Two local organizations will benefit from funding aimed at removing barriers for those with disabilities to partake in sports and recreation.

The Canadian Paralympic Committee and Canadian Tire Jumpstart Charities recently announced the recipients of the 2019 Para Sport Jumpstart Fund.

The fund offers grants to community and sports organizations that prove accessible opportunities for play.

Funding can go towards various elements of enhancing para sport offerings, such as equipment, staffing, recruitment, and additional programming.

In all, $800,000 will be distributed to 40 organizations across Canada.

Grandview Children’s Centre in Oshawa will receive a grant for its Para Sports Adventure Program.

The program will offer 50 children and youth with physical disabilities the opportunity to experience boccia, wheelchair basketball, and sitting volleyball and baseball with qualified coaches and instructors.

“The program will give participants a positive experience in a safe, welcoming, and inclusive environment, which will give them confidence, athletic competence, social acceptance and motivation to participate in sports in the community,” a media release states.

The Abilities Centre in Whitby will also receive funding for its Girls Engaged In Multi-Sport (GEMS) program.

This initiative allows for aged 11 to 15 to participate in wheelchair basketball, para-athletics, para-archery, and physical literacy programming.

A partnership between the Canadian Paralympic Committee and Canadian Tire Jumpstart Charities, the Para Sport Jumpstart Fund was created in 2013 and has since distributed more than $2.5 million in funding. More than 7,000 children and 90 organizations have benefited from the fund.