CAAWS  – CAAWS announces its support for the 10 recipients of the WISE Fund grants.  

Toronto, March 15, 2017 – CAAWS is delighted to present the list of 10 organizations and individuals selected to receive a Women in Sport Encouragement (WISE) Fund grant for 2017. Each of the recipients is offering or creating opportunities and programming for girls and women in sport, and CAAWS is proud to support their efforts.

The WISE Fund is awarded annually in the form of 10 grants valued at $1000 each to support professional development or programming. Since 2004, CAAWS has awarded more than $100,000 in grants to over 100 organizations and individuals as an investment in the advancement of women’s participation and leadership in sport in Canada.

This year, CAAWS received more than 90 applications for the WISE Fund. The depth and diversity of programs and services presented in these applications was encouraging to see. The final list of grant recipients showcases this diversity, with a wide array of sports and initiatives reflected across eight provinces/territories.

“We are impressed by the drive and determination shown by the applicants as they strive to expand opportunities for girls and women. Selecting 10 to support from among them was no easy task, but we are enthusiastic about the chance to help these worthy recipients reach their goals. We look forward to seeing the impact they will have,” said Allison Sandmeyer-Graves, CEO of CAAWS.

The 2017 WISE Fund recipients, supported by their respective National Sport Organizations, are as follows:

• Alberta Soccer Association (Canada Soccer)
• Kingston Field Hockey Club (Field Hockey Canada)
• Lauren Kucera (Alpine Canada)
• Lisa Myers (Canada Wheelchair Sports Association)
• Melfort Minor Softball Association (Softball Canada)
• NWT Judo Association (Judo Canada)
• Rugby Nova Scotia (Rugby Canada)
• Team Saskatchewan Volleyball North American Indigenous Games 2017 (Volleyball Canada)
• Tiburon Waterpolo (Water Polo Canada)
• Triathlon Manitoba (Triathlon Canada)

For detailed bios of the grant recipients, please visit the CAAWS website.

CAAWS would like to thank Sport Canada for funding this initiative.

The Canadian Association for the Advancement of Women and Sport and Physical Activity (CAAWS) is a national non-profit organization dedicated to creating an equitable sport and physical activity system in which girls and women are actively engaged as participants and leaders.  CAAWS provides a number of services, programs and resources to a variety of clients, including sport and physical activity organizations, teachers, coaches, athletes, volunteers, health professionals and recreation leaders.  Since 1981, CAAWS has worked in close cooperation with government and non-government organizations on activities and initiatives that advocate for positive change for girls and women in sport and physical activity.

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Contact:

Terri Temelini
Intern, Projects and Administration
Canadian Association for the Advancement of Women and Sport and Physical Activity
Terri@caaws.ca