Thursday, September 18, 2014
Fusion Youth Activity and Technology Centre
Expansion to Culinary Program with Cold Spring Grant: Fusion is recipient of Cold Spring Farm’s Fund
The Fusion Youth Centre is proud to announce the recent funding from Cold Spring Farm (Maple Leaf Foods Inc.) Fund in the total of $17,500.
The grant funding will be used to complete current kitchen renovations by developing an outdoor patio and garden space at the Centre. With the addition of the outdoor space, Fusion will be able to expand current Nutrition programs to serve more youth, provide additional service to the community and offer expanded learning around gardening, growing your own foods and nutritious meal preparation with a focus on local foods.
The current kitchen and café renovation will allow community partners access to a barrier free cooking space and outdoor patio area. With an increase in the program space and the addition of commercial kitchen equipment, the Centre is able to increase the number of client participants as well as skills development in the culinary field. In 2013, Fusion saw 961 youth participants engaged in the culinary arts programming and 659 free meals were provided.
Cold Spring Farm announced $20,000 in grants to three Oxford County organizations, including the Tillsonburg Senior Centre and Habitat for Humanity. The grant was established as an endowment fund to honour Harvey and Erma Beaty, founders of Cold Spring Farms and to support food security programs, which includes education and outreach program to provide healthier food options. The Cold Spring Farm’s Fund was administered through the Oxford Community Foundation.
Fusion staff and youth would like to thank Cold Spring Farm (Maple Leaf Foods) for their funding support with this initiative.
Quotes:
“The staff and youth at Fusion are grateful for the support that the Cold Spring Farm Fund is able to provide to our café renovation and nutrition programming. This will provide a great opportunity for youth to grow their culinary skills, including a strong focus on local foods and nutritious meal preparation.”
— Jason Smith, Manager, Fusion Youth Centre
“We feel very lucky that we have the endowment fund and that we’re able to make a difference in our community.”
— Jean Carson, Donor advisory committee chair/executive assistant
Media Contact:
Jason Smith
Manager
Fusion Youth Activity and Technology Centre
Cell: 519.200.4227
jsmith@ingersoll.ca
Keith Hudson
Executive Director
Oxford Community Foundation
519.539.7447 ext 229
info@oxfordcommunityfoundation.org
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