Grants flow to community projects

By Lethbridge Herald on May 15, 2025.

Alejandra Pulido-Guzman
Lethbridge Herald

The Community Foundation of Lethbridge and Southwestern Alberta recently awarded over $500,000 in support of charitable initiatives including some for the Lethbridge Public Library and Father Leonard Van Tighem School. 

The grants awarded were the result of the spring call for applications to the Community Priorities Fund, the Henry S. Varley Fund for Rural Life, and multiple Field of Interest Funds. These funds support 49 projects and initiatives with grants totaling $509,135 through the spring application cycle.

Charleen Davidson, executive director of the Community Foundation, said the money comes from donors and it is endowed and invested in perpetuity. 

“The income that money earns through our investments, is the money that we are able to put back into the community as grants,” said Davidson. 

She said they are honoured and proud to be able to provide funds to the community and it is very exciting for them to be able to do it. 

“I know it’s probably more exciting for the recipients because the grants impact their work, but their work impacts our work, so we love the opportunity to be able to do this,” said Davidson. 

The Lethbridge Public Library received $10,000 to be used to expand the Children’s Computer Gaming Café with additional computers and software geared towards teenagers. Manager of children services Bonnie Mikalson-Andron said the computers will be added to both the main branch and the westside Crossings branch.

“I think it’s important because it is meeting them at their point of interest,” said Mikalson-Andron. “Gaming and E-Sports is growing in popularity and being able to run that for them with high-end computers and user licence interface is great.”

Father Leonard Van Tigham School received $7,500 to help build an outdoor classroom and picnic shelter. School council chair Kaleigh Rey said the grant allows them to begin the first phase of the project, by adding the funds to what the school has been able to raise through their own fundraising initiatives throughout the school year. 

“We have raised $20,000 and adding the $7,500 will allow us to complete the first phase, which is the concrete base,” said Rey. 

She added that they decided to do it in stages, just in case something happens, and they are unable to continue to fundraise, the space will be able to be used as is. 

“Current school spaces are maxed out and we want kids to be outdoors more, as with mental health problems on the rise, one thing we want people to do is being outside,” said Rey. 

The outdoor classroom will also be used as a picnic shelter, which will benefit the community outside of the school as well.