Thirty-one of 38 Peninsula groups that applied for funds from the City of White Rock will get a financial helping hand.
Council voted Monday to approve grants-in-aid funds for the groups totalling $25,505 – less than one-fifth of the total value of grants requested.
The highest amount, $4,000, will go to the Community of Lights Event Society, which organizes events including the Spirit of the Sea Festival. South Fraser Women’s Services Society, White Rock Come Share Society, Christmas on the Peninsula, White Rock Farmer’s Market and White Rock Players Club will all receive $1,500. Grants of $1,000 were approved for Semiahmoo House Society, Alexandra Neighbourhood House and the Royal Canadia Air Cadets 2812 Seaforth Highlanders.
Approved for a $750 grant were Atira Women’s Resource Society, the Semiahmoo Peninsula Marine Rescue Society, Crescent Beach Pipe Band and the Peninsula Arts Foundation. Nine groups will receive a $500 boost: Alexandra Neighbourhood House, Alzheimer Society of B.C., Canadian Red Cross, Community Arts Council, Peninsula Production Society, Soul of the World Multicultural Choir, White Rock Community Orchestral Society, Ocean Athletics and Critter Care Wildlife Society.
Other grants were approved for Peace Arch Monarch Lions Club ($330); White Rock/South Surrey Stroke Recovery Club ($325); Peninsula Community Response Network and BC Senior Games ($300 each); and Kids Help Phone, White Rock/South Surrey Skating Club, Vancouver Area Cycling Coalition-Surrey/White Rock Committee, Earl Marriott dry grad and Semiahmoo Secondary dry grad ($250 each).
The 2011 grant budget is $30,000, which includes $1,500 to be held back in the event of a worthy late submission.
The grants-in-aid subcommittee recommended the remaining $2,995 in the 2011 budget also be retained for this reason, a move council also supported.