Recognizing the pressure local charities are under during the COVID-19 pandemic, The Oak Tree Project, a charitable funding program based in Guelph, saw a way to help.

It is focused on the now through a fundraising effort and is focused on the next through a partnership with the University of Guelph to improve life in the local community.

The short-term component of Oak Tree 6 involved raising $30,000 for the Guelph Community Foundation/United Way Guelph Wellington Dufferin COVID-19 Community Response Fund. Funds will be distributed to local charitable organizations in need of support.

The long-term effort involves a partnership with U of G’s Community Engaged Scholarship Institute (CESI) and ICON programs. CESI is dedicated to fostering campus-community collaborations for social change. It brings faculty, students and community members together to put knowledge into action. ICON is a course that teaches students the skills needed to address today’s pressing challenges.

Local charities are invited to summit project proposals by July 15, based on the theme of strengthening our community in a post-COVID-19 world. Three charities will be selected as semi-finalists to further develop their ideas in a collaborative and engaging process with student teams from ICON. An additional financial contribution from Oak Tree will help the charities and student teams develop their pitch together. A winner will be selected before Christmas 2020 and will receive $7500 to implement their project.

Information and submission guidelines can be found at The Oak Tree Project website.

The Oak Tree Project was established in 2014 by the Mactaggart family to empower Guelph and Wellington County charities.