BOW VALLEY – A $40,000 donation will help local children and youth keep active by removing financial barriers to participate in sports and recreation.
The Wim and Nancy Pauw Foundation gave $40,000 to KidSport Bow Valley with the intention of helping local families register in sports.
"Sport, physical activity and recreation are essential to a child’s well-being, not just physically, but for their mental and social well-being,” said Simmi Latulippe of KidSport Bow Valley in a media release.
“The donation from the Wim and Nancy Pauw Foundation will help community-based organizations reduce barriers and ensure children, youth and families of all abilities can access opportunities that match their individual need.”
KidSport Bow Valley began operating in 2010 to help cover registration fees and costs for sports by offering grants of up to $500 per child each year for kids 18 years old and under.
Parents can apply for funding through KidSport Alberta and use it to offset registration fees for organized sports.
“KidSport has been doing essential work in the Bow Valley for over a decade. Demand is up year-over-year and the Wim and Nancy Pauw Foundation is pleased to continue to support their programs,” said Cathy Geisler, the executive director of the Wim and Nancy Pauw Foundation in a media release.
“Recreation and a healthy lifestyle are integral for families and essential in creating an engaged and vibrant community – and the foundation is pleased to be able to reduce financial barriers whenever possible.”
The Wim and Nancy Pauw Foundation was created in 2013 as a private Banff-based foundation. It’s funded by the Banff Caribou Properties Ltd. and Banff Lodging Company with the aim of reinvesting in the Banff and Bow Valley community through supporting projects that promote an active and vibrant community.
The organization, which has a $1.4 million budget for 2022, is focusing on initiatives that meet active lifestyles, education and community building.
KidSport Bow Valley is expecting to see a record number of requests this year.
“KidSport Bow Valley is a volunteer run organization with limited resources that are often divided between outreach and fundraising,” Latulippe said.
