Brock President Jack Lightstone at Thursday's gift announcement from Niagara Recycling.
Niagara Recycling has made an operational donation to Brock University that will help to fund seven community programs that support individuals living with disabilities.
The $180,000 donation over the next four years will fund a co-ordinator position that will have a direct impact on the operation of the programs administered by Brock.
The programs provide children and youth from Niagara with developmentally appropriate physical education experiences that enable participants to utilize their gross and fine motor skills, as well as enhance their fitness and conditioning levels.
Niagara Recycling, a not for profit social enterprise company, has been contributing to the success of disability support programs at Brock since 1997. One of these programs, the Special Needs Activity Program (SNAP), has seen more than 25 thousand individuals with disabilities experience the joy of being physically active in a non-restrictive environment.
“We are delighted that this donation will help sustain our inclusive and adaptive community programs,” says Maureen Connolly, SNAP program co-ordinator and professor of kinesiology. “This donation is an extension of Niagara Recycling’s on-going commitment to support people with disabilities in our region.”
The Niagara Recycling donation will also support the Confident Healthy Active Role Models (CHARM) initiative, the Niagara Penguins program, and the Autism Spectrum Disorder Summer Movement Camp, just to name a few.
Niagara Recycling will also continue to be an active supporter of the Autism Spectrum Disorder Summer Movement Camp at Brock. To date, they’ve contributed more than $117,000 to the initiative.
“Funding this great program at Brock University has been made possible by our long standing partnership with the Niagara Region through the operation of their recycling processing facility,” says Bill McMullan, chair of the Niagara Recycling Board of Directors. “With this new funding initiative, Niagara Recycling has donated over $1.5 million to support programs for developmentally challenged individuals since 1996.”
“Niagara Region enjoys a strong relationship with Niagara Recycling and we are proud of their efforts to support those with disabilities in our community,” said Niagara Region chair Gary Burroughs. “By increasing the amount of materials that we recycle and by continuing to effectively use our Grey and Blue boxes, we allow great opportunities like this to continue.”
Niagara Recycling has helped to create a full-circle relationship with the community. Not only do they support the development of individuals with disabilities as children and youth, they also provide employment opportunities that allow these individuals to live fulfilling, active lives in our region.
