Community Foundation North Okanagan (CFNO) is in its 50th year, and to celebrate the milestone the organization handed out a record 50 grants to groups that make the community tick.
CFNO held its annual grants reception at the Vernon and District Performing Arts Centre Wednesday, June 11, doling out a total of $467,000. The initial grant pool was $300,000, but thanks to additional contributions from donors in the 11th hour, that pool was expanded.
The CFNO supplies Smart and Caring Community grants annually in the spring. Funding supports a wide range of local needs, including mental health, food security, housing, youth programs, seniors' services, arts, education, environment, accessibility, and more.
The program is powered by donors who direct portions of their endowment income to the annual grant pool.
Annette Sharkey, executive director of the Social Planning Council of the North Okanagan, has been on the CFNO grants committee for 10 years and has been involved with hundreds of grants. After giving a land acknowledgement, she showed appreciation for the work that gets put into grant applications.
"I really know and feel the pain and the anguish of grant writing. Sometimes you're really organized when you get everything done in advance, and other times you're just at the last minute trying to get this through. So I just want to say hats off to all the grant writers in the room, I know it takes a lot of time and a lot of energy," Sharkey said.
Given how many grants there were to go through, and as a nod to CFNO's 50th anniversary, grant recipients had 50 seconds to make a speech, down from 60 in past years.
Here is the full list of grant recipients, amounts and projects:
Archway Society for Domestic Peace - Art Therapy workshops for women $7,500
Armstrong Spallumcheen Medical Equipment Loan Cupboard - Medical equipment purchases $4,000
Arts Council of the North Okanagan - Sundog Festival of Arts and Culture $10,000
Awaken Nature Education - Pull & Plant: Native Greenhouse for Community Restoration $5,000
Ballet Jorgen Canada - Vernon & Area Dance Programming $3,500
BC Lions Society for Children with Disabilities - 2025 Winfield Summer Camp for Persons with Diverse Abilities $10,000
British Columbia Lung Foundation - Air Quality Equipment Library Loan Program $5,147
Caetani Cultural Centre Society - Cultivating Community $5,000
Canadian Mental Health Association Vernon - Youth Integrated Services Hub Counselling $20,000
Community Dental Access Centre Society - Community Dental Access Centre $30,000
Community Recreational Initiatives Society - CRIS 2025 North Okanagan Programming $7,000
Enderby & District Community Resource Centre - Computer replacement $1,340
Family Resource Centre Society - 2SLGBTQIA+ Navigator $4,150
Fletcher's Keep Senior Dog Foundation - Paws, Nourish and Nurture: Wellness Alliance to Preserve the Human-K9 Bond $5,000
Forever Home Sanctuary - Farm Animal rescue and rehabilitation $1,000
Fresh Outlook Foundation - 2026 Climate Action Ripple Effect (CARE) $20,000
Girl Guides of Canada, BC Council - Tillicum Lodge - Roof replacement $5,000
Good Food Box Society - At-Risk Seniors and Vulnerable Resident Fresh Food Box Funding $19,000
Halina Activity Centre for seniors - Halina Centre Kitchen & Facilities Renovations $15,000
Healthy Essentials Clinic - Healthy You Program for families $10,000
Independent Living Vernon - Vernon Adaptive Paddle Program $9000
Interior Wildlife Rehabilitation Society - Beaver Care and Release Program $15,000
John Rudy Health Resource Centre Association - Increasing Accessibility $6,690
Kalamalka Starfish Society - Weekend Student Food Program $10,000
Kingfisher Interpretive Centre Society - Conservation through Education $1,000
Lumby Food Bank Society - Year round Greenhouse and Seasonal Gardens $18,000
Nexus BC Community Resource Centre Society - Social Inclusion for Seniors $10,000
Niteo Africa Society - Local Newcomer Family reading program - Story As Community $2,000
North Okanagan Community Chaplaincy - Food services support for the unhoused $10,000
North Okanagan Friendship Center Society - Vernon Safe House - Extension of Operational Hours $5,000
North Okanagan Neurological Association - Tech Talk AAC Loaning Library Initiative $6,000
North Okanagan Youth and Family Services Society - NOYFSS Family Peace Program $10,000
Okanagan Humane Society - 2025 Rescue and Pet Assistance Program: Spay/Neuter Programs $20,000
Okanagan Quality Life Society - Heaven Can Wait - Supporting Seniors and People with Disabilities boating program $5,000
Okanagan Village Housing Society - Helping All People Pursue Housing $10,000
People Place Society - Defibrillator/Laptop $2,380
Ribbons of Green Trail Society - Events Pop up Tent $1,340
Runaway Moon Theatre Arts Society - The Song of the Swan Performance $2,000
Santa's Anonymous Society - Financial support for sustainability of Santa's Anonymous in the North Okanagan $5,000
Schubert Centre Society - Meals on Wheels Program $12,000
Take a Hike Youth Mental Health Foundation - Take a Hike - Outdoor Experience for Youth $5,000
Teens Count Too - Achieving self respect for Teens $3,500
TFL (Technology For Living) - Technology for Independent Living program $6,000
Turning Points Collaborative Society - Turning Points Wellness Initiative $25,000
Upper Room Mission Society - Shelter Renovations $20,000
Vernon & District Association for Community Living - Accessible Day Time Art & Culture for Identified Underserved Groups $5,000
Vernon & District Family History Society - Keeping Seniors Vibrant $4,500
Vernon and District Immigrant and Community Services Society - Newcomer Community Support and Services $20,000
Vernon Restholm Association - Keeping Seniors Comfortable $10,000
Vernon Search and Rescue - VSAR program support $5,000
Vernon She Shed Society - Upgrades of Equipment $5,000
Voices of Vernon Program - Youth Anti-Racism Initiative $5,200
Youth Climate Corps BC - Climate Mitigation and Adaptation Projects for Youth $5,000
