May 22, 2014 (Ottawa, ON) – On Saturday, May 31, the Ottawa Community Foundation will launch a city-wide challenge to the non-profit sector to devise new and innovative ways to secure affordable and nutritious food for those in need. According to recent statistics, more than 75,000 people in Ottawa worry that they won’t have enough food to feed themselves or their families due to finances and/or their living situations. Over the last three years, there has been a 12% increase in food bank use, over a third of which is for children.
“It’s these kinds of disturbing numbers and trends in our city that we’re hoping to change with this challenge by inspiring and empowering the community to find innovative, sustainable solutions to Ottawa’s most pressing needs,” says Marco Pagani, President & CEO of the Ottawa Community Foundation, “and we feel that helping to provide better access to nutritious, affordable food is definitely the right place to start.”
The amount of funding to be provided will be announced on May 31 at the public launch taking place at Nanny Goat Hill Community Garden at one of the city’s pop-up Good Food Markets (details below). Following the launch, registered charitable organizations and partnering groups will have until Sept. 15 to submit their proposals to the Ottawa Community Foundation. The final selection from the top three proposals will be announced at a live, juried event in early October.
New Leaf Community Challenge Launch
Saturday, May 31, 2014 at 11 a.m.
Nanny Goat Hill Community Garden
Corner of Laurier Ave. W. and Bronson Ave.
Established in 1987, the Ottawa Community Foundation is a public, non-profit organization created by and for the people of Ottawa. It connects donors who care with causes that matter and serves as a trusted resource for addressing issues and leveraging opportunities in the community. Priding itself in enabling generous citizens to enhance the quality of life in their community and to achieve their own charitable objectives, the Community Foundation currently manages assets worth over $100-million and has provided more than $70-million in grants to the community since its inception. For further information, visit www.cfo-fco.ca.
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For more information or to schedule an interview, please contact:
Iona Green
Manager, Marketing and Communications
Ottawa Community Foundation
(B) 613-236-1616 X 232
(C) 613-408-1616
igreen@cfo-fco.ca