The Bridge Youth & Family Services is excited to announce that their Etcetera Youth Group is one of three successful recipients of the Fortis BC Community Giving Award received at the Union of BC Municipalities in Whistler, BC.   

Every year, Fortis BC reaches out to community leaders of UBCM for recommendations of the most deserving non-profit organizations in their communities. Winners receive a Community Giving Award of $15,000 to support their good work. In June of this year,  Councillor Loyal Wooldridge nominated Etcetera for the Community Giving Award. “Investing into marginalized youth with early intervention, upstream programs helps build community resiliency and leaders of tomorrow”, explains Wooldridge, a Councillor for the City of Kelowna.

Etcetera youth are 11-18 year olds who identify as 2SLGBTQIA+ and benefit from a safe space with peers, receive support and information from trained and compassionate adult facilitators, and participate in a huge range of social and educational activities such as art, music, social justice projects, games, and community Pride activities.

Etcetera is a true grassroots collaboration that has served hundreds of the vulnerable young people in the Central Okanagan region. Funding for Etcetera makes a critical difference in the ability to provide after school and evening snacks, activity/art supplies, transportation support for youth, basic program supplies and much more. A gift to Etcetera truly protects the safety and futures of young people.

The Bridge Youth & Family Services is thankful to Fortis BC for granting Etcetera with this great honor and to Loyal Wooldridge for his nomination. “We realize that every donation is an expression of confidence in the work that we do and for that we are truly grateful,” says Celine Thompson, Executive Director of The Bridge Youth & Family Services.