$110,800 OTF Capital Grant Makes a Splash with I Challenge Diabetes
Summary
--On Friday, I Challenge Diabetes (ICD) was pleased to share the impact of the one-year, $110,800 Capital grant it received from the Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF) last year to help it meet an increased demand for its programming at Sugar Valley Farm, at a time when third-party venues and partners in the outdoor education space have closed their doors. "Programs like I Challenge Diabetes offer youth the opportunity to feel accepted and understood in a welcoming community of their peers," said Doug Downey, MPP for Barrie Springwater Oro-Medonte. "Funds from the grant were used to purchase of eight canoes, a canoe trailer and passenger van thtat will enable ICD to increase access to its programs, remove financial barriers to participation, and enhance delivery of inclusive, quality, active programming in Simcoe County.Youth living with Type 1 Diabetes (T1D) experience social stigma and isolation due to the disease. Paired with devastating mental health outcomes associated with COVID-19, current research shows they have a higher incidence of anxiety, depression, and eating disorders. As an agency of the Government of Ontario, and one of Canadas leading granting foundations, last year, OTF invested over $110M into 1,022 community projects and partnerships.