Vancouver Foundation helps 224 families cope with disability

In 2009, Vancouver Foundation, through its Giving in Action Society (GIA), gave a total of $7.3 million to 224 families in BC who care for a family member with a disability.

January 19 – 2010 — In 2009, Vancouver Foundation, through its Giving in Action Society (GIA), gave a total of $7.3 million to 224 families in BC who care for a family member with a disability.

The grants went to a variety of home renovation projects — including lifts, elevators, ramps, flooring, door widening, bathroom improvements — and adaptations to vehicles to make them wheelchair accessible.

“The families we support face many daunting challenges,” says Andria Teather, Executive Director of the Giving in Action Society. “Just doing the basics for a child with a disability — feeding, bathing, dressing, medical care, transportation — can be a struggle. Many of the individuals who have a disability require round-the-clock care. Their parents are exhausted, and often can’t afford to pay all the costs for the necessary physical improvements or adaptations in their house or vehicles that could make life a bit easier.”

Vancouver Foundation’s GIA grants can be life changing: they not only help the individual with a disability, but also their entire family. Home renovations help some families stay together in their home. Vehicle adaptation can enable the family member with a disability to leave the house, perhaps for the first time in years, or for the family to get out into the community more often.

Giving in Action (GIA) is a non-profit organization founded by the Vancouver Foundation. With generous support from BC’s Ministry of Children and Family Development, and Community Living BC, GIA helps people with disabilities and their families stay together by addressing accessibility issues in their home. Since 2006, GIA has assisted 702 families with 419 home renovations, and has put 441 wheelchair-accessible vehicles on the road.

For more information:
www.givinginaction.ca