| LOCAL
MPPs ANNOUNCE OVER $500,000 FOR NEW
EARLY YEARS PROGRAM IN KITCHENER
KITCHENER – Kitchener Centre MPP Wayne Wettlaufer, Waterloo-Wellington
MPP Ted Arnott, Kitchener-Waterloo MPP Elizabeth Witmer
and Cambridge MPP Gerry Martiniuk announced on February
19, 2002 that the Catholic Family Counselling Centre
of Kitchener will receive $591,942 from the Early Years
Challenge Fund to operate the “Families and Schools
Together” project for children and families in the Regional
Municipality of Waterloo.
The
project is a collaborative, school-based program designed
to improve the self-esteem and school performance of
children aged 4-6. Parents, teachers, volunteers and
community service staff will work together with children
and their families in structured after-school programming.
“Every
one in our community needs to be involved in providing
the best start in life for our children,” said Mr. Arnott.
“I’m excited by the innovative ideas and strong support
coming from our area. I was very pleased to offer my
support for this worthwhile project.”
“I
congratulate the Catholic Family Counselling Centre
for participating in this new initiative,” said Mr.
Wettlaufer. “Their proposal for funding through the
Early Years Challenge Fund is innovative and demonstrates
a real desire to help children in those critical first
six years.”
“Catholic
Family Counselling Centre has made a tremendous difference
in the lives of so many people since 1952,” said Mrs.
Witmer. “Our government is pleased to have joined with
representatives of this community to make this project
a reality.”
"Area
children will benefit greatly with this practical approach
to learning," said Mr. Martiniuk. "Thank you
to everyone involved in this collaborative effort."
Cathy
Brothers, Executive Director of the Catholic Family
Counselling Centre stated, “The contribution will go
a long way in building the capacity of many groups throughout
the Region of Waterloo to collaborate together in supporting
young children and their families.”
Ontario’s
Early Years Challenge Fund was launched in December
2000. The fund matches financial and in-kind contributions
from businesses, charities and other sectors in the
community for creative proposals for programs aimed
at helping children develop successfully during their
first six years of life. The funds raised by the community
are matched dollar for dollar by the provincial government,
for up to half the value of the projects.
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