Abbotsford, BC – The Abbotsford Heat and the Abbotsford Heat Foundation are proud to announce the 2012 grant recipients. Nearly $40,000 was presented by the Heat Foundation today to 13 deserving organizations that share in the foundation’s pillars of improving children and youth’s health/wellness, education and fitness, development of amateur and grassroots sports and repressing risk related behaviour such as drug use, gang involvement and crime.

Over the past two years the Abbotsford Heat Foundation has granted $50,000, with the total amount granted in 2011-12 being four times as much as in the 2010-11 season. The Heat Foundation raised the funds for this year’s grants primarily through operation of their annual golf tournament and a generous donation by the Calgary Flames of $25,000

In addition to granting monies to local organizations the Abbotsford Heat Foundation and the Abbotsford Heat have also supported several local organizations through 50/50, totalling $85,000 raised in the 2011-12 season.

All organizations that have programs that fall within the pillars of the Foundation were invited to apply in the 2012 granting cycle and of these 13 received grants.

Matthew’s House received a grant from the Heat Foundation today and when asked about the impact that this grant will make Tom Balke, Stewardship Director of Matthew’s House commented, “Thanks to a generous gift from the Abbotsford Heat Foundation, Matthew’s House will be able to purchase six pieces of medical equipment which will assist us in providing first-rate respite care for children with multiple disability related needs. This project will result in practical, long-term support for the children and families supported by Matthew’s House. The equipment will include a vital signs monitor and stand, a laboratory grade refrigerator for vaccines, two bedside dressing carts, and a 5 LPM Oxygen Concentrator. Over the life of the equipment hundreds of children and their families will be impacted.”

Balke summarized his appreciation by saying, “It is wonderful to have a professional hockey team in our community that is not only concerned about winning hockey games, but also with the health and well-being of children in our community.”

Grant recipients:

• PacificSport
• Abbotsford Community Services
• Abbotsford Restorative Justice & Advocacy Association
• Ann Davis Transition Society
• Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Fraser Valley
• Cyrus Centre
• Fraser Valley Autism Society
• Fraser Valley Brain Injury Association
• Fraser Valley Child Development Centre
• Youth Unlimited
• Matthew’s House
• Rope Skipping Canada
• Royal Canadian Air Cadets

Abbotsford Heat Foundation Objective
• The Abbotsford Heat Foundation’s goal is to improve the quality of life for the under-17 age group of the Fraser Valley. We will achieve this by supporting grassroots sport organizations, championing projects that improve health, education and fitness as well as advocating and supporting programs that repress risk related behaviour.
Abbotsford Heat Foundation Pillars
• Improving children and youth’s health/wellness, education and fitness
• Development of amateur and grassroots sports - amateur sport associations
• Repressing risk related behaviour such as drug use, gang involvement and crime