Marathon ON, July 15, 2022 – Marathon Family Health Team (MFHT) is pleased to announce the successful recipients of our Micro Grant Program. This opportunity was offered as part of MFHT’s commitment to utilizing the $20,000 prize awarded by ParticipACTION responsibly and meaningfully. Based on public feedback, $8,500 was spent on the development of the Step Outside Program, which included mapping and signage for local trails. The remaining $11,500 was allocated to the Micro Grant Program. The goal of this program is to support local clubs or organizations who encourage and promote local physical activity opportunities.
To date, $7000 has been awarded to six local groups who will be implementing or enhancing programs that will lead to increased access to sport and physical activity for individuals of all ages. A list of the successful applicants, along with a short project description, is included below.
| Organization/Club | Grant Awarded | Project Description |
|---|---|---|
| Marathon Kids Zumba | $500.00 | The program will provide kids with a fun and unique opportunity to be more physically active through music and dance. The grant is expected to lower the cost of registration, increase program capacity and improve resources for performances. |
| Marathon Senior Citizens Club | $500.00 | The Marathon Senior Citizens Club is aiming to increase interest in pickleball for seniors – a fun and social physical activity that can be played indoors or outdoors. The grant will assist with the purchase of graphite paddles and indoor balls to encourage new and existing club members to try the sport. |
| Marathon Cross-Country and Snowshoe Club (MCCSSC) | $1500.00 | The MCCSSC is a volunteer-run organization that encourages local residents of all ages to stay active throughout the winter by providing access to cross-country ski and snowshoe trails. The grant will assist with the recruitment and retention of volunteers, particularly high school chalet attendants, by covering chalet attendant honoraria. This will allow the club to remain open on evenings and to maintain current opportunities for residents to purchase day passes and rent equipment. |
| Peninsula Junior Golf Club | $1500.00 | The program aims to introduce youth 12 to 18 years of age to the sport of golf so that they will continue to play as they age. The grant will assist the club with registering the players with Golf Canada, purchasing prizes for weekly twilights and providing a nutritious lunch at the Junior Open tournament. |
| Marathon Junior NBA | $1500.00 | The goal of the program is to create a financially accessible opportunity for children to participate, experiment, learn and grow through play. The grant is expected to assist with coach training, securing gym space, purchasing additional equipment and keeping the cost of player registration low. |
| Marathon Minor Hockey Association | $1500.00 | Marathon Minor Hockey Association relies solely on community support to keep operational and registration costs at a minimum for children and their families. The grant will be utilized to purchase new training equipment for the players in the Under 7 division. This is expected to keep players engaged and interested as they are introduced to the sport of hockey. |
Congratulations to all successful applicants! We are grateful for your dedication to our communities and for your commitment to physical activity and health. Your projects will present important opportunities for skill-building, physical literacy, socialization and affordable access to physical activity, all of which are vital components of enjoying physical activity and sport through the lifespan.
A second call for applications will be announced in Fall 2022 in order to allocate the remaining funds from the ParticipACTION prize (approximately $4,500) to other community groups. The MFHT looks forward to supporting more eligible clubs or organizations in the near future.
