Field Law, a regional law firm with offices in Calgary, Edmonton and Yellowknife, is pleased to announce four winners of the 2014 Field Law Community Fund Program. The Program, which was created to support local community initiatives, had 84 applicants in its second year, with 33 stemming from the Northern Alberta market. Field Law granted one grand prize award and three additional awards in the Northern Alberta market, providing funds to help launch or grow each local project.

Winners were selected through a combination of online votes and deliberation by a local judging panel composed of Field Law people, interested clients and community members, allowing the public to weigh in on the projects closest to their hearts and communities. This allowed the panelists to know which projects resonated most with the local community so that they could factor this into their decision-making along with other criteria. Field Law's preferred causes (but not exclusive) are those that support education, healthcare, at-risk youth, homelessness, women's organizations, community and sports or arts and culture.

Corporate social responsibility and community engagement is front of mind for the team at Field Law, both at a professional and personal level.

"We're thrilled with the continued success of our program and response from the community," says Dan Carroll, Edmonton Managing Partner. "There are many groups that are dedicated to the welfare of those residing in Northern Alberta, and we're proud to be part of their success in meeting communities' needs and helping them grow. Together, we can make a difference in people's lives."

Field Law congratulates the following grand prize winner of the 2014 Community Fund Program:

GLOW Girls Leading Others Wisely ($15,000 recipient)

GLOW is a program that enriches girls ages 8-14 with the self-confidence to step out and be their authentic self, by providing powerful programs that engage girls in discussions about pre-teen/teen topics such as Body Image, Friendships, Healthy Eating, Physical Activities, Bullying, Leadership and more. By providing girls a safe environment to share their ideas and opinions, it strengthens their confidence and self-esteem and encourages them to express themselves more fully and critically think through their behaviour and choices.

Field Law congratulates the following additional winners of the 2014 Community Fund Program:

Music Without Boundaries ($8,000 recipient)

Music Without Boundaries will allow adults with developmental disabilities to explore aspects of music that exceed and enhance the scope of regular activities. The objective of this project is collaboration between disabled adults and professional musicians from the Edmonton region in the creation and presentation of original music. Compositions will be rehearsed, professionally recorded and distributed in CD and digital formats. Upon conclusion, all parties will be encouraged to participate in a celebratory album release event.

Abbottsfield Music Program ($4,000 recipient)

The Abbottsfield Music Program (AMP) is working with neighbourhood schools and service organizations to offer positive life choices for neighbourhood children. AMP will establish and operate a music school that will offer free music lessons (in guitar, piano, and voice) to 50 children ages 6 to 12 years old in the Abbottsfield, Beacon Heights, Bergman, Beverly Heights and Rundle Heights neighbourhoods of Edmonton.

Aboriginal Fathers Love Their Children Too ($3,000 recipient)

The intent of "Aboriginal Fathers Love Their Children Too!" is to develop a Rights for Fathers and Resource booklet and documentary for Aboriginal fathers and grandfathers who are involved in the child welfare, criminal justice and corrections systems to identify gaps in knowledge and barriers to access in fully exercising their parental rights.

In addition to the $30,000 distributed in 2014 in the Northern Alberta, Field Law will distribute $30,000 in the Southern Alberta market and $15,000 in the Northwest Territories market to deserving projects, for a total of $75,000. The Program launched through all three of Field's offices in Alberta and Northwest Territories in 2013 and is now an annual initiative. To learn more, visit www.fieldlawcommunityfund.com.