2024 Community Fund Recipients

UWNL funded the Environmental Education Commission with $6,620!     

 Program: “Camp Rainbow – Trans Joy”

Camp Rainbow is a specialty camp aimed at trans, two-spirit, and gender diverse youth living in Newfoundland and Labrador. Camp Rainbow will include activities like swimming, canoeing, campfires, arts and crafts, map-reading, outdoor games, gardening, and yoga, with plenty of opportunities to choose activities and to take time for self-care.

“Camp can be a life changing event for many youth. In this project we are targeting a particularly vulnerable age group where having friends in your peer group is very important. Camp provides a perfect opportunity for friendships to grow while having fun. Many of the campers will come from financially challenging circumstances and would not have benefited from camp experience otherwise.” Donald Spencer, BOD, Environmental Education Commission

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Canadian National Institute for The Blind

UWNL funded the CNIB $10,000 for their “Family Camp”

CNIB aims to embolden people with of all ages sight loss to lead independent, active lives and chase their dreams by offering innovative programming, irreplaceable peer supports and powerful advocacy. Our work is supported by volunteers, donors, partners – together we’re working toward true equality, universal accessibility, and absolute inclusion.

“Family camp connects families living with sight loss and creates important bonds that offer emotional support. Camp creates a close-knit extended family for our participants, and they stay in touch long after camp ends; supporting one another as they navigate raising a child with sight loss (and sometimes other disabilities).

In 2024 we welcomed some new families to the camp experience!  This is always and exciting time because we get to witness the growth that occurs firsthand.

It was wonderful to watch the growth of new families over the course of the week. We witnessed three young children gain new confidence and independence.  These children went from being nervous, quiet and unable to navigate the building or daily activities without their parent nearby – by the last day of camp they were navigating the building on their own, getting their own meals from the cooks, hanging out with new friends, laughing and being involved.  We watched as the children realized their own skills, interests and abilities. We watched new friendships form. And heard conversations between parents that were full of encouragement, understanding, information sharing and support”.  Amanda Halliday, Coordinator, Community Giving