Recognizing the Innovation & Creativity of Non-Profit Organizations

Gold

EDMONTON COMMUNITY LOAN FUND SOCIETY'S PROJECT, "The Community Loan Fund"

Helping low income individuals, families and neighbourhoods achieve economic self reliance by providing capital and other support has been the focus of this micro enterprise funding project.  Providing capital, coaching and business planning assistance as well as support services to socially responsible projects, this organization assists low income people overcome barriers and helps them escape poverty and improve their quality of life.

Loans of up to $10,000 made by the Edmonton Community Loan Fund Society's project, The Community Loan Fund, to disadvantaged people makes a big difference, helping motivate clients with solid business ideas, helping start their operations, and helping them to generate income.  Through a partnership with Distinctive Employment Counselling Services of Alberta, these loans may be levered up to $75,000 for people with disabilities.

The Community Loan Fund is supported by donations from the community, grants from foundations, and an anonymous donor to provide financing to assist clients with micro enterprise successes.  The capital provided assists in numerous ways, from purchasing a critical piece of equipment, buying inventory or assisting with marketing.

Communities benefit as new businesses are created, allowing unemployed or underemployed individuals achieve a stable earning capacity.  These loans can also help develop new and transferable skills.  As the micro enterprise grows, it often creates employment opportunities for others.

Silver

ON "R" OWN HOME SOCIETY  "Generations Growing and Gardening Together Project"

This project joins senior citizen volunteers as mentors, with volunteer coordinators and residents of low-income housing complexes, providing the opportunity to create a sense of neighbourhood and instilling pride and community involvement where little existed prior to its creation.

Working in partnership with Capital Region Housing, City of Edmonton Community Services, private businesses, community leagues, churches, seniors and neighbours, this project encourages involvement of all residents, including children and has increased safety and security for residents and helped to reduce vandalism.

On "R" Own Home Society's Generations Growing and Gardening Together Project encourages personal growth and skill development for members to garden and promotes friendships while providing fresh produce to families.  It also offers a networking opportunity for residents with respect to information and resources available.

The On "R" Own Home Society's Generations Growing and Gardening Together Project began in 1999 focusing on south Edmonton residents of Capital Region Housing complexes by providing garden boxes at the door of each unit.  The first year saw 121 participants from 12 complexes and by 2002 there were 526 participants from 23 complexes.

This project has since been replicated in West Edmonton, in another Capital Region Housing Project.

Bronze

BOYLE McCAULEY HEALTH CENTRE'S "Edmonton Directly Observed Therapy for Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy Project (DOT for HAART)"

Since its inception a short 18 months ago, this project has responded to the diverse and unique needs of Edmonton's inner city.  Operating in close collaboration and with support from Edmonton HIV specialist physicians, Capital Health Authority and community agencies including HIV Edmonton, this project's goal is to provide effective HIV treatment by promoting strict adherence to a complex multi-drug regimen of highly active anti-retroviral therapy to HIV positive individuals with a high-risk or chaotic lifestyle.

The Boyle McCauley Health Centre's Edmonton Directly Observed Therapy for Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy Project (DOT for HAART) was initially located in a nursing clinic.  This environment produced poor enrolment and was relocated to a small inner city house.  Moving there attracted more clients and allowed for a social network with benefits and resources to deal with addictive, emotional, nutritional and housing problems.

The Boyle McCauley Health Centre's DOT for HAART Project is the first and only program of its kind in Alberta and exists as the only pilot project anywhere in North America.  The DOT for HAART Project has been enormously successful in targeting the homeless and in promoting the required 90% medication compliance goal, a full 15 months ahead of schedule.

Other potential benefits of this project include decreased HIV drug resistance, decreased patient morbidity and mortality, decreased HIV transmission and decreased net health care and societal costs.