Greater Peterborough Health Services Foundation announces inaugural recipients of its Senior Care Micro Grant program.

To make a donation to support our Senior Care Fund, please click here

On August 8th, 2024, the Greater Peterborough Health Services Foundation (GPHSF) announced its new Senior Care Micro Grant program.  Two grants, each worth up to $5000, were made available to support senior care projects and healthy aging initiatives within the Peterborough area.  The deadline to apply was September 30th, 2024.   After much thoughtful consideration, two recipients have been selected to receive $5000 each; Community Care Peterborough food insecurity programming and Peterborough Family Health Team’s unattached patient clinics.

“It was a difficult process to narrow down the applications.  Trust me when I say that if we had more grants available this year, we would have funded every project that was submitted.” said Vince Bierworth, Executive Director for the Greater Peterborough Health Services Foundation.  “Our committee, which was made up of healthcare professionals and community members, were very impressed with the quality and variety of projects submitted.  After much deliberation, they settled upon two projects that will have both an immediate and lasting impact for seniors in our community.”

Community Care Peterborough applied to address food insecurity in our senior population by providing funding for their Meals on Wheels program, along with grocery shopping and delivery supports.

“This support from GPHSF strengthens our commitment to ensuring that no senior in our community goes without the nourishment and support they deserve” said Danielle Belair, CEO of Community Care Peterborough.  “Access to healthy meals and essential services like grocery delivery can be life-changing, helping our clients live with dignity and independence. We’re grateful for this partnership and what it means for those we serve.”

The Peterborough Family Health Team applied for equipment to provide increased ease and access to care for our seniors who do not have a family doctor and are utilizing one of the two Peterborough FHT unattached patient clinics.

“These new exam beds will improve accessibility for seniors at the PFHT Health Clinic,” said Duff Sprague, CEO of Peterborough Family Health Team. “We’re addressing the need for primary health care among our Peterborough residents who are without a family doctor or nurse practitioner. This need is more urgent for those with health conditions and older adults with multiple health issues. Since our funding doesn’t mandate care for those without a family doctor, we are doing what we can and relying on community partnerships to support these services. We’re thrilled to receive this contribution to help support those without a primary care team.”

Congratulations to both organizations and thank you to all who submitted applications.  The GPHSF Senior Care Micro Grant program will be a yearly program with the next request for applications opening in August 2025.  To find out more about the program and the Greater Peterborough Health Service Foundation history with Senior Care funding, please see the backgrounder below.

If you would like to make a donation to support the GPHSF’s Senior Care Fund, please do so at www.GPHSF.ca or call 705 740 8074.

Left To Right: Vince Bierworth Executive Director for GPHSF, Danielle Belair CEO for Community Care Peterborough, Chris LeBlanc Director Donors and Public Relations for Community Care Peterborough

Left To Right: Alexis Leroux PFHT Health Clinic Medical Office Admin, Amber Brown Patient Services Supervisor for Peterborough Family Health Team, Vince Bierworth Executive Director for GPHSF.

Left To Right: Vince Bierworth Executive Director for GPHSF, Danielle Belair CEO for Community Care Peterborough, Chris LeBlanc Director Donors and Public Relations for Community Care Peterborough

Left To Right: Alexis Leroux PFHT Health Clinic Medical Office Admin, Amber Brown Patient Services Supervisor for Peterborough Family Health Team, Vince Bierworth Executive Director for GPHSF.

Senior Care Micro Grants – Background

When the Greater Peterborough Health Services Foundation was first established (originally called St. Joseph’s Care Foundation) in 1999, its primary focus was to fund senior care projects and healthy aging initiatives within the Peterborough Community.  Over the years the Foundation has grown, taken on new partnerships, and expanded its focus (also taking on the name GPHSF, Your Family Health Team Foundation), however senior care has remained a primary and important focus for funding.

Our new Senior Care Micro Grant program is meant to be a low barrier applicant process.  The grants can be used as seed money to address a new need or as financial support to an existing program in Peterborough City, County, Hiawatha First Nation and Curve Lake First Nation.  There are two grants available, with up to $5000 in funding available with each grant.

These grants have been made possible due to funding provided by the June Towle Trust. June Towle passed away in 2023.  As part of her legacy, she established the June Towle Trust that would see money from her estate be donated to the Greater Peterborough Health Services Foundation upon her passing.  We greatly appreciate these legacy funds that June left to the Foundation and hope to honour June’s memory through our micro grant program.  To find out more on how you can create a legacy trust of your own to making meaningful healthcare impact in our community, please contact the Foundation at info@GPHSF.ca

Contact the GPHSF: