Nourishing the potential of Winnipeg’s youth

Assiniboine Credit Union is one of two lead partners in The Winnipeg Foundation’s newest endowment, the Nourishing Potential Fund. Over the next several years, ACU will give a total of $250,000 to this fund, helping it grow to its projected $5 million. 

Nourishing Potential will grant up to $10,000 to community organizations providing nutritious food to children and youth from economically disadvantaged communities, so they can learn and develop to their full potential. Priscilla Boucher, ACU’s VP of Corporate Social Responsibility, is a member of the Nourishing Potential Committee, which oversees grant distribution.

“Part of our mission is to partner in the community with organizations like The Winnipeg Foundation to foster sustainable communities,” says Boucher.  “There is no room for hunger or poverty in sustainable communities.” By investing in this fund, ACU knows it is helping to create healthier lives which will build stronger communities.

A large percentage of young people in Winnipeg — 31% of those aged 5 to 12 and 62% of teenagers — don’t eat breakfast every day. Nutrition is a critical factor in the physical, mental and emotional development of children and youth, yet so many struggle to meet their dietary needs. 

Some of the groups that received grants in the first round also include education and hands-on experience with the food they provide. This gives an added community-building element to the programs and also much-needed skills. 

Resource Assistance for Youth, for example, offers a cooking class that uses low-budget foods and items easily available at a food bank, side-by-side with the hot lunches they serve every weekday to approximately 30 youth.

ACU members interested in supporting this fund should visit wpgfdn.org/nourishingpotential.php or more information, or call The Winnipeg Foundation at 204.944.9474. Donations can be made online, by phone, or by mail.