MONTRÉAL, March 19, 2008 — Ten charity leaders in Montréal have received up to $2,500 each as part of the PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) Leadership Grants program. As part of the PwC Canada Foundation, the program supports the leadership and professional development of existing and emerging charity leaders, which is an acutely under-funded area for non-profits.
"For many charitable leaders, professional development opportunities are not always within their organization's budget," says Guy LeBlanc, PwC Montréal City Leader. "The aim of our Leadership Grants program is to invest in charity leaders — maximizing their potential as leaders by giving them the management tools and skills necessary to successfully lead their organizations into the future," he says.
Recipients can apply the funding to a formal educational program or development opportunity of their own choice that will help them build their skills and gain experience. In turn, recipients will be able to apply their learning to improving their delivery of programs and services to the communities and people most in need.
PwC conducted an internal poll inviting employees to choose the causes that mattered most to them. Children and youth, poverty, education, and the environment were selected the top causes and as a result, organizations in these categories received the majority of grants this year.
The grants given in Montréal include:
- Amcal Family Services
- Fondation Centre de santé et de services sociaux Jeanne-Mance
- Fondation Dollard-Cormier
- Fondation La rue des Femmes
- L'Arche-Montréal
- L'Arrêt-Source
- Le Centre Viomax
- Missing Children's Network Canada
- Saint Columba House
- Théâtre de la Ligue Nationale d'Improvisation inc.
The following are a few examples of opportunities the Quebec grant recipients will pursue:
- Fondation Centre de santé et de services sociaux Jeanne-Mance, Luce Moreau, Executive Director, will use the funds to attend courses at Hautes Études Commerciales and to attend the Association of Fundraising Professionals international conference, Endless Possibilities, in San Diego.
- L'Arche-Montréal, Jocelyn Girard, General Director, will use the funds to attend an international L'Arche conference in Calgary. Sessions of interest for Mr. Girard include dealing with difficult situations and strategic planning.
- Le Centre Viomax, Marie-Claude Lavoie, Director, will apply the funding to participate in courses through Hautes Études Commerciales, specifically those about conflict management and the fundamentals of management.
The mission of the PwC Canada Foundation is to make a positive, lasting change in Canadian communities through the sharing of time, expertise and resources. The Foundation offers multiple programs that provide financial resources to numerous charitable organizations and also encourages and supports the community involvement of PwC's staff and partners. To learn more, visit http://www.pwc.com/ca/foundation.
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