KidStart makes shortlist for Vancity $1-M grant
Peace Arch News
Tracey Holmes
Atira's Maxxine Wright Place cut in final round
A Surrey program linking adult mentors with at-risk children and youth is one of three finalists short-listed for Vancity's annual $1 million award.
Pacific Legal Education Association's KidStart helps children six and older who are vulnerable to crime, drug addiction and exploitation.
Mentors show their match positive aspects of life, from community involvement to simple personal interaction.
In bidding for the Vancity grant—the winner is determined by a vote of Vancity members—KidStart hopes to spread its services throughout the Lower Mainland, with a mentoring centre, for training and recruitment, at Surrey City Centre.
PLEA's Jennifer Lawrence said Monday getting short-listed—Vancity cut 80 applicants to 11 before paring the list to three—is a win in itself.
It means tens of thousands of Vancity members will receive literature on the program. Information on PLEA will be online through the credit union and in individual branches to help members decide on a deserving candidate.
Lawrence said all that exposure can only benefit KidStart.
"We've already won. It's going to really help raise the profile of the program. It'll be a great chance for us to recruit new volunteers," she said.
She noted at-risk youth continue to out number adult mentors.
There's a 14 month waitlist for boys needing a mentor; five months for girls.
Referrals for children younger than 12 come from parents, teachers, police, social workers and probation officers.
Most teen referrals come from probation officers.
"If we get a mentoring centre, it'll be a real win for the community. We're just blown away that we've made it this far."
Atira Women's Resource Society was among eight applicants that didn't make the cut last week.
The society, one of three finalists for the award last year, hoped to put the $1 million toward its high-risk pregnancy centre, Maxxine Wright Place.
Atira's Janice Abbott said Monday the $7-million project will soldier on.
"It's not the end of the world for our project. We'll apply again next year."
The award winner will be announced in November.
