More than 2,000 non-profit community groups across British Columbia will benefit from an immediate injection of $15 million in new grant funding, Premier Christy Clark announced today.

"We're putting families first by providing more funding for programs that support healthier children, stronger families and more vibrant communities," said Clark. "We're fulfilling our commitment to provide an immediate boost of $15 million to community gaming grants. These non-profit organizations turn the small amounts they receive into big benefits for the communities they serve."

The restoration of funding will bring over 500 organizations back up to historical funding levels, including youth arts and culture groups; community service groups like Rotary and Kiwanis; fairs, festivals and museums; and organizations involved in community education like parent support services.

Many groups in the health and social services sector - such as transition houses, food banks and drop-in centres - already received funding this year at approximately 100 per cent of historical levels. This new funding will provide an extra 25 per cent to help food banks meet growing demand, as well as to support youth and family programs; PACs and DPACs; community centres; cultural organizations; and scouts and cadets.

"We are now targeting extra gaming grant funding, over and above what we've provided in the past, to groups that help families and individuals who are struggling," said Community, Sport and Cultural Development Minister Ida Chong. "These are organizations that provide critical services in communities, and this added support will help ensure those services can reach even more B.C. families."

The year-end funding boost will also provide:

* An extra $5 per K-12 student for extracurricular sports and music programs across B.C. This represents a 25 per cent increase from the $20 per student that parent advisory councils and district parent advisory councils received earlier this year from gaming grant funding.

* Parents of young people in scout troops and cadet corps with an additional $25 per participating child, to help them cover registration costs.

* $300,000 to support seniors' participation in nine annual sports competitions known as Seniors Games Zones.

The additional funding brings to $135 million the total community gaming grant funding that approximately 6,000 community organizations will share in 2010-11. This represents a 12.5 per cent increase from the previous year's total.

Contact:

Shane Mills
Director of Communications
Office of the Premier
250 661-1015