A total of $70,000 was granted to 11 Nanaimo non-profit groups on Tuesday, thanks in part to the Nanaimo Foundation.
The charitable foundation, in conjunction with the Community Fund for Canada's 150th and Island Savings, provided the money, which was presented to recipients at Diana Krall Plaza.
Government House Foundation received $7,000 for the Write to Read Project and it will see a library constructed on Snuneymuxw First Nation reserve land.
Ultimately, Doug White II, Snuneymuxw band councillor, was pleased with the grant and said the money will go toward educating the young.
“When you look at our children, a lot of our children don't have the opportunity to see the world, but they can pick up a book in a library and that book can take them anywhere in the world and they can not only travel with a book, but they can learn. They can get inspiration from it, just as I'm inspired today,” said White.
Nanaimo Brain Injury Society was also granted $7,000, which will go toward online resources and support for people who suffer from brain injuries, said Mark Busby, society executive director.
“The $7,000 grant goes towards our online engagement program ... we're going to be developing our web and social media infrastructure to be able to reach a wider population of people with acquired brain injuries,” Busby said.
Laura Bienert, foundation executive director, said the money came from the foundation, federal government and Island Savings, with $35,000 from the government, $25,000 from the foundation and $10,000 from Island Savings.
Bienert said the foundation received more than $300,000 in grant requests this year.