Donald's Market and River Market have managed to shortlist finalists - from 36 submissions - for this year's ONE Prize, a grant program for community and educational projects.
After deliberations, the jury - including staff from Donald's Market and River Market, as well as two local residents - has decided on a shortlist in both ONE Prize categories. Now it's up to current ONE members - whose shopping dollars comprise the fund - to choose the winners, said a River market media release.
When ONE members shop at Donald's, the grocery store contributes one per cent of every dollar spent to the community fund. This year, it's added up to $6,000 in prize money. For 2013, half the fund will support education in New West. The team at Donald's recognizes the fundamental value of educational programming, so this year's ONE Prize includes a $3,000 grant to be awarded to a project that supports education and children's programming in New Westminster. As well, three general community projects will each receive a $1,000 prize.
Current ONE Members are now voting by online ballot for the winners in both categories. ONE Prize winners will be announced in early May. The finalists are as follows:
Finalists for the General Community Grant (three will be named as winners):
- New Westminster Festival of Trees - a fundraising display of Christmas trees set up at River Market and decorated by children at local elementary schools.
- Build-a-Bicyclist - a program designed to introduce cycling into peoples' day-to-day lives by equipping them with a quality bike and the skills they need to ride it.
- Crafts for Kids at Heart - monthly craft events for adults that offer the chance to meet new people, have fun and get crafty!
- Brew Westminster Hops on the Quay - will spread "craft beer cheer" in New Westminster by growing hops in the Edible Gardens at River Market and introducing and educating new people to home brewing.
- Papergirl - a global art movement that includes community-based art-making workshops, an exhibit and distribution of the donated art to unsuspecting community members by a team of cyclists.
Finalists for the Education Community Grant Shortlist (one will be chosen as the winner):
- ArtStarts on Sundays - free, hands-on art workshops for kids led by performing artists and visual artists from many different cultures, to be held at River Market on the last Sunday of every month.
- The Purpose Society Reading Circle - Students from Purpose Non-Traditional High School will read to and do crafts, songs, puppets and stories with children aged 18 months to five and their parents.
- QayQayt Elementary School Art Collaboration - the students of Ecol John Robson Elementary School will work with First Nations artist Winadzi (Simon Daniel James) on a carved wood panel that will be a gift for their new school currently under construction.
To view the shortlisted proposals, visit www.rivermarket.ca/oneprize.
For ONE membership - which also comes with savings and perks at Donald's Market and throughout River Market - sign up with a Donald's Market cashier.
