Women 4 Change fund to support women and girls with $60,000 in grants

The Hamilton Community Foundation is investing almost $60,000 into local programming for women and girls.

The grants — part of the foundation’s Women 4 Change fund — will support a program for new moms, a coding boot camp for women, a legal advisory program for newcomers and visible minorities, and girls’ programs.

“Each of these grants addresses a crucial transition point in the lives of women and girls,” Sheree Meredith, vice-president of philanthropic services, said in a news release. “The goal of Women 4 Change is to provide support to manage through the changes at these critical times and support a positive trajectory for their lives.”

Women 4 Change was established in 2012 to boost the effectiveness of women’s philanthropy and enhance the lives of local women and children. The recipients include: FAB (Fit, Active, Beautiful) — $5,000

The grant will allow FAB, which empowers young girls in low-income communities, to expand its program for high-school age girls in the Riverdale neighbourhood.

YWCA Good Beginnings — $5,000

It provides assistance for moms with infants and focuses on women with postpartum depression.

Kiwanis Boys and Girls Club — $35,000

The grant will support the girls’ programs with an expansion to include a STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) component and add a boys’ program on healthy relationships.

Industry Education Council — $10,000

The grant will provide a 12-week coding boot camp for women at the Eva Rothwell Centre as a partnership with Mohawk College.

Social Planning and Research Council (SPRC) Legal Holistic Project — $2,000

The program provides legal advice, advocacy and community development for newcomer and visible-minority women.