Libro Prosperity Fund awards $80,000 locally

by Sylene Argent

During a special ceremony hosted at the Ciociaro Club on Wednesday, September 5, representatives of Libro Credit Union forwarded around $80,000 to seven local, specially selected, recipients of the 2018 Libro Prosperity Fund.

  In total, through the 2018 Prosperity Fund grant program, Libro forwarded $460,000 this year to 31 programs and projects across Southwestern Ontario. Selected programs are helping to grow prosperity in three focus areas, including regional economic development, youth leadership, and money-smarts.

  The Harrow and Colchester South Chamber of Commerce was awarded $15,000, which will be put towards its economic development project, “Win this Space Harrow.”

  Through this program, area entrepreneurs will complete business preparation sessions. The finalist will be awarded with free commercial space in Harrow.

  Amherstburg’s Firehorse Leadership Organization was awarded $21,049 to expand its Learn and Lead youth leadership program. This program provides financial literacy, life skills development, and leadership mentorship to youth between the ages of 14-25.

  The On Track to Success-Youth Mentorship Program, which is operated through United Way/Centraide of Windsor/Essex County in Leamington, was awarded $18,951. The funds will help provide career mentoring and hands-on learning experiences with local employers with economically disadvantaged youths in Essex County.

  Three projects were granted $5,000 each, including the Safe Haven project of Charity House (Windsor), an after-hours activity program for adolescents and young adults who are addiction treatment graduates, for recovery-friendly activities and a substance-free social network; the Kent Agriculture in the Classroom Action Committee received the funds for its Plant Agriculture Science Kit, which will be provided to grade three students as an introduction to modern farming and plant care; and Blenheim’s Youth Action Team project, through the Blenheim Youth Centre, will provide leadership training and workshops to youth developing the skills needed to lead other youth programs.

  The Liberty Project, of Enactus House in Windsor, received $10,000. It is a social enterprise providing consulting and employment to survivors of human trafficking. This program pays a living wage to survivors to manufacture reusable menstrual pads, which are then further donated to underdeveloped countries.

  Lori Atkinson, Regional Manager of Libro for Essex-Kent, was pleased to recognize and award all the recipients after a hearty breakfast. She hoped the funding would contribute to the achievement of the goals set out in each program.

  Each Libro branch has a Council, comprised of owner representatives, who participated in assessing the winning grant submissions.