Cinéfest, Social Planning Council receive Trillium grants

Sudbury MPP Rick Bartolucci announced Monday that four local non-profit groups are receiving $483,100 from the Ontario Trillium Foundation.

The city's film festival, Cinéfest, will receive $124,000 to hire a strategic development officer who will help increase awareness, partnerships, audience participation fundraising and sponsorship initiatives.

Les productions Café-musique de Rayside-Balfour is getting $111,700 for to hire staff and purchase equipment over the next two years to help host a heritage festival as well as other special events. The Social Planning Council of Sudbury, meanwhile, will receive $147,900 to hire staff who will enable the organization to continue to build strong cross-sectoral partnerships and establish a social development strategy for the community.

And the Sudbury Manitoulin Children’s Foundation will receive $99,500 to hire a director of marketing and research, whose job it will be to “enhance and expand programming for disadvantaged children.”

“Our government has always been committed to strengthening local not for profits in Sudbury, and through the Ontario Trillium Foundation, has been successful in enhancing the lives of many people in our community,” Bartolucci said in a news release.

“These local organizations are important to people of all ages and abilities and play an important role in the health and vibrancy of our community. This investment is creating jobs while providing not for profit organizations with the funds needed to continue the important work they do in our community.”

The Trillium Foundation provides about 1,500 grants to not-for-profit and charitable organizations across Ontario. It's purpose is to “strengthen the capacity of the voluntary sector through investments in community-based initiatives,” Bartolucci's release said.

@darrenmacd