Youth charity gets $5M from Oilers foundation

The Edmonton Oilers Community Foundation is donating more than $5 million to the Inner City Youth Development Association.

The donation will help the Inner City High School, which is part of the ICYDA, become financially self-sufficient and set up the youth association for long-term sustainability, a Friday news release said.

“This gracious donation from EOCF allows the ICYDA to provide Edmonton's marginalized urban youth with preventive social service and educational programming for years to come,” said Joe Cloutier, ICYDA'S chief operating officer, in the release.

The association works with marginalized Indigenous and urban youth, providing support that bridges them to Inner City High School and an eventual high school diploma.

The foundation purchased the land and building of the former Native Friendship Centre in 2010, renovating it to serve as Inner City High School's new home.

Since then, the foundation has helped with operating costs, maintenance, and provided annual scholarships for students of the high school looking to pursue post-secondary education.

“We are extremely excited to make this donation to our friends at Inner City High School. It gives them independence and creates a self-sustaining model that will continue to instil positive change in Edmonton's inner city youth for years to come,” said Janet Riopel, the foundation's board chairwoman.