Planning, paperwork, and a little time may be all that’s standing between your organization and the funding it needs to benefit seniors. Once again, the government’s popular New Horizons for Seniors program has announced its launch date. As of May 15, 2013, eligible organizations could apply to receive federal grants and contributions.

This funding is specifically for organizations that are actively involved in assisting seniors to make a difference in the lives of others and their communities. Many such organizations who applied for grants through last year’s program have now received their funding. I’m happy to note that those communities and organizations included several in the constituency of Yorkton-Melville.

Seniors clubs and centres in Esterhazy, Lintlaw, Preeceville and Stenen each received up to ten thousand dollars to improve and/or repair their facilities. Grayson, Invermay, and Tantallon each received from eleven to fourteen thousand dollars for renovations and programming. Organizations in Yorkton and Prairie River were granted between sixteen and twenty thousand each, in one case to replace a roof and another to build for the future. Seniors facilities in Kamsack, Lemberg, and Rama, all received larger grants of between twenty-three and twenty-four thousand dollars for facility upgrades and programming. And an at-large organization received a similar amount for outreach and education to further their mission of preventing elder abuse.

To be eligible for funding, projects must be led or inspired by seniors and address one or more of the following five program objectives:

• promoting volunteerism among seniors and other generations
• engaging seniors in the community through the mentoring of others
• expanding awareness of elder abuse, including financial abuse
• supporting the social participation and inclusion of seniors
• providing capital assistance for new and existing community projects and/or programs for seniors

To determine whether or not your organization and project may qualify for New Horizons funding, I encourage you to visit: www.hrsdc.gc.ca, then click on seniors and funding on the menu. New Horizons for Seniors funding reaches out to almost any organization that has a strong seniors element built into its programming. Some of those (but not all) are:
· not-for-profit organizations

• for-profit enterprises
• coalitions and networks
• municipal governments
• band/tribal councils and other Aboriginal organizations

Organizations may apply yearly, and people are encouraged to be creative in their applications and intent to use this funding. As an example, one of the projects funded in Yorkton-Melville in previous years was the creation of a computer skills workshop that incorporated the skills of local high school students to teach computer skills to seniors.

Don’t miss this valuable opportunity to enhance the lives of some of our most generous citizens. Forms and submission dates are available at: www.hrsdc.gc.ca. You may also call 1-800-277-9914 and ask for information about the New Horizons Program.

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The audio version of Garry's May 21, 2013 op-ed column can be heard by clicking here