TD Park People Grants Program grows to foster more community events across Canada
TORONTO, January 16, 2018
Park People and TD Bank Group are thrilled to announce that the TD Park People Grants Program has officially opened for 2019 funding submissions. This year, the program will expand to two new cities and will provide essential funding to support 75 community groups and 225 park-based events in Metro Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Greater Toronto Area, Ottawa, Montreal and Halifax Regional Municipality.
In 2018, TD Park People Grant Program supported 155 events in green spaces across Canada. Three of those events were hosted by Hives for Humanity, a Vancouver non-profit that builds resilient communities through beekeeping, that hosted a series of bee-themed walks in urban green spaces close to the city’s Downtown Eastside. “The skills and understanding the 30 participants developed, by interacting with bees and plants in urban green spaces, serve as a foundation for building a deeper respect for the natural world, empowering action, and connecting people to each other in community.” says Sarah Common, the organization’s Co-Founder.
“It’s been proven that well-programmed parks are key to realizing the benefits of our shared green spaces. With TD’s support, we’ll help increase the positive impacts of parks across Canadian neighbourhoods through outdoor events for everyone to enjoy,” said Dave Harvey, Executive Director of Park People.
“Green spaces help build healthy, vibrant communities for everyone to enjoy,” said Carolyn Scotchmer, Executive Director of TD Friends of the Environment Foundation. “As part of TD’s global corporate citizenship platform, The Ready Commitment, we’re proud to support accessible and inclusive events that help build stronger ties within communities and foster a deeper connection with nature.”
Starting today, Qualified organizations and community groups that have experience hosting accessible, sustainable park events are encouraged to apply to receive a $2,000 grant to host three events in their local parks or green spaces between Earth Day, April 20, 2019, and New Year’s Eve, December 31, 2019. The application process is simple, and TD and Park People have developed a number of resources to help groups plan and host engaging community park events in green spaces. Deadline: March 4, 2019
About Park People
Park People supports and mobilizes people to help them activate the power of parks to improve quality of life in cities across Canada.
About TD Global Corporate Citizenship
TD has a long-standing commitment to enriching the lives of its customers, colleagues and communities. As part of its corporate citizenship platform, The Ready Commitment, TD is targeting CDN $1 billion (US $775 million) in total by 2030 towards community giving in four areas critical to opening doors for a more inclusive and sustainable tomorrow – Financial Security, Vibrant Planet, Connected Communities and Better Health. Through The Ready Commitment TD aspires to link its business, philanthropy and human capital to help people feel more confident – not just about their finances, but also in their ability to achieve their personal goals in a changing world. For further information, visit td.com/thereadycommitment
For other stories about successful grant applicants from 2018 see:
- A waterfight to bring the community together
- An elaborate show and tell: learning from Marpole Seniors Centre