Grey banner with three greyscale geometric hearts and the text "In Our Hearts Community Response Fund" in black over-top

Community Response Fund: Update

March 24, 2020

Last updated: October 5, 2020

Note: We are no longer accepting donations or new applications to the Community Response Fund at this time. We encourage further donations to address pressing community needs, such as COVID-19 response and recovery, through our Community Impact Fund.

The Community Response Fund deploys essential relief to charities in BC that provide health and social services and arts, culture, and community benefits that have been impacted by COVID-19 and its economic consequences.

The Fund

    • Total granted out: $17.4M
    • Total fund amount: $17.4M

Founding Donors

    • Vancouver Foundation
    • Vancity Credit Union
    • United Way Lower Mainland
    • Anonymous individual donors to Vancouver Foundation

Grant Recipients

June 30

    • Ocean Wise Conservation Association ‘s mission is to inspire the global community to become Ocean Wise by increasing its understanding, wonder and appreciation for our oceans.

June 19

    • Campbell River Hospice Society  provides caring and compassionate support to children and adults experiencing end-of-life or grieving through a variety of services at no cost.
    • Vancouver Island University Foundation ‘s purpose is to oversee management of the Foundation’s endowment and, working with the Office of Advancement & Alumni, raise money to support Vancouver Island University’s scholarship and awards program and VIU fundraising activities.
    • Bridges for Women Society  is a gutsy, innovative nonprofit inspiring diverse women impacted by violence or abuse, to reclaim their lives and build economic stability.
    • Disaster Aid Canada ‘s mission is to provide and assist in delivering humanitarian aid, shelter, sustainable water systems and hygiene products to people affected by natural and other disasters.
    • Pacifica Housing Advisory Association ‘s mission is to be a leading innovative provider of affordable homes and support services that contribute to the independence of individuals and families.
    • West Kootenay Environmental Centre Society  is a non-profit community-driven organization that brings together local residents to protect the natural environment while building just, equitable, healthy, and livable communities in the West Kootenay region.
    • Victoria Dandelion Society  is committed to supporting our street family, one person at a time. We offer unconditional love to all who come our way and advocate for the voiceless, restoring hope in the places most affected by physical and relational poverty.
    • Kamloops Family Resources Society ‘s vision is a community where families have the support and personal capacity to overcome life’s challenges and reach their desired potential.
    • Together Against Poverty Society (TAPS)  is one of the largest providers of free, face-to-face legal advocacy for people with income assistance, disability benefits, employment standards, and tenancy issues.
    • Sooke Shelter Society  is a grassroots charity working together to increase access to affordable housing for those with lower-income, to prevent and end homelessness in Sooke, BC.
    • Salvation Army Kelowna Community Church  offers seniors’ drop-in programs, weekly children and youth programs, and emergency disaster services, and operates three thrift stores in the the Kelowna area.
    • Hope for the Nations  is a Kelowna-based NGO, empowering children at risk to become children of change.
    • Okanagan-Similkameen Neurological Society ‘s mission is to maximize the developmental growth, emotional health and creative capacity of children and youth in the South Okanagan Similkameen through early intervention and family centred care.
    • Hospice Society of the Columbia Valley  exists to assist individuals and families in recognizing and accepting death as a part of life. We support individuals and families during the dying and grieving process.
    • Desert Valley Hospice Society  is committed to supporting excellence in the delivery of hospice palliative care and end-of-life services for residents of the communities of Oliver, Osoyoos and Okanagan Falls.
    • Cariboo Pioneer Centre, Lac La Hache, BC OAPO 176
    • Shuswap Children’s Association  offers a wide range of programs, services and resources for children 0-19 years of age and their families so that they can play, grow, and thrive.
    • Miscellaneous Productions Society  founded in 2000 in Vancouver, is best described as “a hip hop theatre boot camp” developed for culturally and socially representative youth who face multiple barriers.
    • Burnaby Moresports Society  is a registered charity that provides free out-of-school sports programs and camps for local children and youth.
    • Pacific Opera Association  has earned a reputation as one of Canada’s leading opera companies, thanks to its dynamic repertoire choices, its original productions, and its commitment to creating meaningful opportunities for artists and audiences.
    • Nanaimo Brain Injury Society  provides support, education and advocacy to people on Central Vancouver Island with acquired brain injuries, their family and friends.
    • Mamas for Mamas  supports mothers and caregivers in crisis by providing ongoing support to individuals and families facing various poverty-related struggles.
    • Cariboo Friendship Society  in Williams Lake, British Columbia began in 1969 to provide Shelter and has expanded considerably over the years to address the growing needs in the community.
    • Keats Camps  provides everyone, whether a camper, staff, or guest, an opportunity to grow, learn and explore in a safe and nurturing environment, surrounded by supportive and guiding roles models.
    • New Westminster Symphony Society  serves music enthusiasts in the Lower Mainland of British Columbia and beyond. The NWSO offers a popular program of four to five indoor concerts each year and other musical presentations in the Lower Mainland.
    • United Players of Vancouver  is a long-established community theatre company renowned for its exciting repertoire of high-quality productions.
    • Zee Zee Theatre Society  believes in individual stories that provoke and inspire us, and that foster common understanding and empathy across our diverse human experiences.
    • Kawkawa Camp Society  mission is to transform, build, and impact lives in God’ creation by living in community, offering programs and services and teaching and modeling Christ through our camp staff and facilities.
    • Wildsight  works locally, regionally and globally to protect biodiversity and encourage sustainable communities in Canada’s Columbia and Rocky Mountain regions.
    • Nikkei National Museum & Cultural Centre  is a campus of three non-profit organizations working collectively for the good of our local, national, and international Canadian and “Nikkei” (Japanese ancestry) communities.
    • Green Teams of Canada ‘s mission is to inspire stewardship of nature by connecting diverse individuals through hands-on educational environmental activities.
    • Stanley Park Ecology Society  promotes awareness of and respect for the natural world and plays a leadership role in the stewardship of Stanley Park through collaborative initiatives in education, research and conservation.
    • HUB Cycling  is a charitable not-for-profit organization that has spent over 20 years removing barriers to cycling in Metro Vancouver, while cultivating the health, environmental, and economic benefits that active transportation can bring.
    • Pacific Legal Education and Outreach Society (PLEO)  seeks to ensure that the non-profit sector and low-income artists and arts organizations are informed about and empowered to exercise their legal rights and responsibilities under the laws which govern their activities.
    • Farmfolk/Cityfolk Society  is a not-for-profit society connecting, empowering, and inspiring people to strengthen BC’s sustainable food systems.
    • Braintrust Canada Association ‘s mission is to bring the issue of brain injury to the forefront, reduce preventable brain injuries and maximize the potential of those who have been affected by brain injury through programs and advocacy
    • The University of British Columbia (UBC)  is a global centre for teaching, learning and research, consistently ranked among the top 20 public universities in the world and recently recognized as North America’s most international university
    • Community Radio Education Society​  runs the MAC (Media Arts Committee) program, Step Up and Solder Technical Training Program, and other technical, radio and sound art workshops for the purpose of training, education and access
    • BC Wheelchair Sports Association  provides exceptional wheelchair sport programs and services that build community and promote active living and the pursuit of excellence.
    • Vancouver Recital Society  is one of the premier concert presenters in North America, offering a milestone debut series for rising stars and an internationally renowned concert series for the world’s most celebrated performing artists.
    • Vancouver Opera Association  creates extraordinary experiences that engage, inspire and entertain our community through voice, music and theatre.
    • Kokoro Dance Theatre Society ‘s mandate is to re-define the meaning of Canadian culture through teaching, producing and performing new dance theatre with an emphasis on multi-disciplinary collaboration and cross-cultural exploration.
    • Power to Be Adventure Therapy Society  is a nonprofit organization that empowers people living with a barrier or disability to explore their limitless abilities through inclusive adventures rooted in nature.
    • Zajac Ranch Society ‘s mission is to develop and operate an accessible, innovative, and inclusive facility for children and young adults with medical conditions, who otherwise would not have the opportunity to attend camp.
    • South Peace Art Society  operates the Dawson Creek Art Gallery, a public gallery dedicated to the presentation, interpretation and advancement of the Visual Arts.
    • Gabriola Arts Council ‘s mission is to engage, enhance, and inspire cultural vitality through collaboration, leadership, and service.
    • Salal Foundation  was established to protect the environment by encouraging best practices in the transport, storage and use of toxic substances.
    • Mount Pleasant Neighborhood House  plays a leadership role in building a healthy and engaged neighbourhood by connecting people and strengthening their capacity to create change.
    • Victoria Native Friendship Centre ‘s mandate is to encourage and promote the well-being of Urban Aboriginal People, by strengthening individuals, family, and community.
    • Take a Hike, Youth at Risk Foundation  partners with public school districts to engage vulnerable youth in a full-time mental health and emotional well-being program embedded in an alternate education classroom.
    • Great Charity
    • Vancouver Venture for Diversity Society ‘s mandate is to provide the critical support and services on an individual as well as group basis, to foster children, youth and families as well as advance educational opportunities to address any special needs as well as cultural competent activities and gatherings.
    • Food Stash Foundation​  is a Registered Canadian Charity founded in 2016 with the goal of rescuing surplus food directly from suppliers and redirecting it to households in our community that experience food insecurity, while reducing the environmental impact of food waste.
    • Touchstone Family Association  is a non-profit community based social service agency. We have been providing services to Richmond and nearby areas since 1983.
    • Collingwood Neighbourhood House Society ‘s mission is to promote the well-being of the Collingwood community by providing leadership and working collaboratively with individuals, families, agencies and other groups to develop and support inclusive, innovative, sustainable initiatives and services that respond to the community’s social, educational, economic, health, cultural and recreational needs.
    • The Vancouver Art Gallery Association  is recognized as one of North America’s most respected and innovative visual arts institutions. The Gallery’s innovative ground-breaking exhibitions, extensive public programs and emphasis on advancing scholarship all focus on the historical and contemporary art of British Columbia and international centres, with special attention to the accomplishments of First Nations artists and the art of the Asia Pacific region­—through the Institute of Asian Art founded in 2014
    • Community Mental Wellness Association of Canada (CMWAC)  serves as a platform that connects those with mental illness to their family members and other people with shared mental health concerns via culturally appropriate counseling services, education and training referrals provided within a caring community environment.
    • Plan Institute for Citizenship and Disability ‘s mission is to improve the lives of people with disabilities and their families so that they can lead a good life now and in the future. We do this by offering a suite of educational initiatives, collaborating on community based projects, and advocating for policy reform.
    • Friend 2 Friend Social Learning Society  creates and delivers programs and services that focus on addressing the social inclusion, peer play and friendship needs of individuals with autism and their peers.
    • Pain BC Society  aims to transform the way pain is understood and treated in our province.
    • Autism Speaks Canada  is a national Canadian charity, dedicated to promoting solutions across the spectrum and along a life span for needs of people with autism spectrum disorder and their families.
    • Gordon Neighbourhood House  strives to ensure that the West End of Vancouver is a vibrant and active community, where everyone is empowered to play an active role in civil society.
    • Canadian Society of Intestinal Research  is committed to improving the lives of people with gastrointestinal and liver conditions, supporting research, advocating for appropriate patient access to health care, and promoting gastrointestinal and liver health.
    • Aquafit for All Association  mission is to work with existing community groups/organizations to design and provide accessible aquatic exercise opportunities for people with disabilities/injuries who may not be able to access regular aquatic programs.
    • Starbelly Jam Society  runs the Starbelly Jam, an annual outdoor music festival held in Crawford Bay, BC on the third full weekend of July.
    • Vancouver Cherry Blossom Festival Society  is the city’s signature springtime event and the annual celebration of cherry blossoms inspired by the age-old Japanese cultural tradition of hanami (flower viewing).
    • Massey Theatre Society  hosts musical theatre hits, international music and dance forms, children’s entertainers, orchestras, choirs, ballets and stars of music.
    • Pacific Assistance Dogs Society  breeds, raises, trains and supports certified assistance dogs, partnering them with people living with disabilities, and with community care professionals.

June 8

    • Langley Arts Council  understands that artistic expression is essential for the overall health and well-being of the communityand provides the resources and support that allow art to thrive.
    • First Pacific Theatre Society  is committed to the development of emerging artists, fostering new work, creating an artistic home for established practitioners, and engaging the community at large.
    • Justice for Girls Outreach Society  is a Canadian non-profit organization and registered charity which promotes equality, freedom from violence, and the health and wellness of teenage girls who live in poverty.
    • The Only Animal Theatre Society  works across disciplines, with artists emerging and established, to create undeniable events. We Inspire by sharing our means and methods with audiences and artists alike
    • Langham Cultural Society  is a unique cultural centre showcasing artists and performers from across Canada, while celebrating our thriving community arts and culture scene.

Share This Story