Ontario Renovates Accepting New Applications for County of Renfrew Residents To Access Funding For Home Repairs

Pembroke, ON   April 22, 2014: The County of Renfrew, in partnership with the Province of Ontario, is pleased to announce Ontario Renovates will be accepting new applications effective Tuesday April 22, 2014 for funding to assist seniors and disabled individuals to access funding for upgrades to their homes to enhance their quality of life. Ontario Renovates is a program that provides financial assistance to homeowners by way of a forgivable loan to repair their home to acceptable standards while improving the energy efficiency and/or increasing accessibility of their unit.

Carol Neill, General Manager of Renfrew County Housing Corporation, explained that “the target groups for Ontario Renovates include low to moderate income seniors and persons with disabilities residing in the County of Renfrew. This is a great opportunity for some of our residents to make the necessary upgrades to their home and also improve their quality of life. I really encourage our local residents to inquire about this program. The program is based on a first-come, first-serve basis.”

In order to qualify for the program, residents must meet certain criteria including but not limited to:

-The property must be located in the County of Renfrew;
-Applicants must own the home that is their sole and principle residence with a market value below $207,310;
-Applicants must have a total household income that does not exceed $70,100 which includes all sources of income .

In order to qualify for the program, there is a formal application process that is administered through Renfrew County Housing Corporation. Funding is provided in the form of a 10-year, interest free forgivable loan to homeowners based on the cost of approved work items up to $10,000. In addition, funding for accessibility repairs made to a home and/or unit up to a maximum of $3,500 is based upon the cost of approved work items, is in the form of a grant and does not require repayment. The application must provide supporting information and documentation as required.

For more information on this exciting new program, or to request an application package, please call 613-432-3679. Residents of the County of Renfrew can also download the application package by visiting www.countyofrenfrew.on.ca

…..Dr. Robert (Bob) Walker, President & CEO of AECL…..

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Pembroke, ON – Tuesday, August 20, 2013 – The Renfrew County United Way is very pleased to announce that Dr. Robert (Bob) Walker, President & CEO of Atomic Energy Canada Limited (AECL) Chalk River is the organization’s 2013 Honorary Campaign Chair.

Board Chair Shelley Rolland-Poruks believes Dr. Walker’s myriad of experience with Government of Canada Workplace Charitable Campaigns (GCWCC), as well as his leadership for several years of very successful campaigns at AECL will be a tremendous asset to the United Way this year.

“I’ve had the pleasure of working with Bob during AECL’s annual United Way Workplace Campaign”, Rolland-Poruks says. “He is such a passionate and strong supporter of United Way and his leadership at AECL has inspired employees to grow the largest annual workplace campaign that supports the Renfrew County United Way”, she adds.

The 2013 Campaign will officially launch at a Kick-Off Breakfast event to be held on Tuesday, September 10th in Petawawa. In addition, the United Way Board of Directors has set a fundraising goal of $500,000 for this year’s campaign.

”I’m excited by this opportunity to help our county’s United Way meet its 2013 objectives. The United Way campaign is so important because proceeds are put in the hands of community organizations that are best able to address community priorities in Renfrew County,” Dr. Walker states.

Prior to joining AECL in 2010, Dr. Walker served as Assistant Deputy Minister, Science and Technology of the Department of National Defence and the CEO of Defence Research and Development Canada. He is a Fellow of the Canadian Academy of Engineering and is a recipient of the Canadian Forces Medallion for Distinguished Service. Dr. Walker has been awarded an honorary Doctor of Science from McMaster University. He is the Chair of the Board of one of Canada’s Networks of Centers of Excellence and he is also a member of the Board of the Pembroke Boys and Girls Club, a United Way funded agency for 2013.

New Executive Director of the United Way Gail Logan says she was thrilled to be a part of her first cheque presentation. Logan also mentioned that this was the first significant donation to the United Way in 2013.

United Way Funding Support 2013/2014
Media Release - CHANGE STARTS HERE

For immediate release – Wednesday, May 29, 2013 – Pembroke, ON – The Renfrew County United Way (RCUW) is pleased to announce the Renfrew County organizations that will receive funding as of April 2013 and continuing to March 2014.

The RCUW recently changed its funding model to align with its Strategic Priorities. As of January 1, 2013, United Way funds a different mix of agencies region-wide and is no longer funding a select group of agencies that were previously referred to as ‘member agencies’.

Monies raised by the RCUW are now focused towards programs that bridge the gap between what is currently being funded (basic human needs and crisis services) and what needs to be the communities’ primary focus (preventative measures and fixing the underlying cause of problems).

The organization is now directing more resources to addressing root causes and the RCUW encourages agencies throughout Renfrew County to partner, by pooling their resources and their intellects to come up with innovative solutions to the complex problems faced today.

A region-wide ‘Call for Proposals’ was issued at the beginning of July 2012 and by the deadline of September 30th, RCUW received 21 proposals from 16 area agencies. The proposals were evaluated during the fall of 2012 and the following organizations are receiving funding:

• a. Boys & Girls Club of Pembroke for after-school programs for children and youth in Pembroke, Laurentian Valley, Petawawa areas - $30,000.
• b. Petawawa Military Family Resource Centre for pre-natal nutrition and post-natal programs - $10,000.
• c. North Renfrew Family Services for family counseling services for residents of North Renfrew - $36,000.
• d. The Grove Arnprior & District Nursing Home for Arnprior Hospital - adult day program for seniors in Arnprior, McNab-Braeside, Greater Madawaska and areas - $23,000.
• e. Hospice Renfrew for hiring a volunteer co-ordinator – $20,000.
• f. Renfrew County Sexual Assault/Rape Crisis Support Centre for hosting a 2 day conference to provide training and education for health, social providers, community members, allies and parents in order to better understand LGBT issues, improve accessibility, health and social services for lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans youths and adults living in Renfrew County - $10,450.
• g. The Grind - Salvation Army Youth Centre for Monday to Wednesday programs - $10,000.
• h. Phoenix Centre for Children & Families for Equine Therapy Program - $30,000.

RCUW Board Chair Shelley Rolland-Poruks advises “We continue to expand our reach throughout Renfrew County and the Board is very pleased to be able to fund the excellent work of these eight groups and organizations”.

Cathi Fairfield, Chair of the RCUW Funds Distribution Committee says, “There is such a great demand for programming in our area that will improve the lives of residents and the RCUW is very proud to play a major role in achieving this important goal.”

Our Mission
"We will identify and address the needs of our community by organizing the resources of community members to help one another.”

Our Vision
“We shall be a dynamic, caring organization providing for the needs of the community through involvement, collaboration, innovation and financial support.”

The Renfrew County United Way (RCUW) is a community of caring donors and energetic volunteers in eastern Ontario who work year-round to raise funds to achieve the corporation’s mission. The United Way is committed to playing a leadership role in bringing the community together to deal with high priority issues so that positive social change can take place.

For additional information, please contact:

Shelley Rolland-Poruks, Board Chair - Renfrew County United Way
Cathi Fairfield, Board Member and Committee Chair, Funds Distribution Committee - Renfrew County United Way

Tel: 613-735-0436
Toll Free: 1-888-592-2213