Field Law, a regional law firm with offices in Calgary, Edmonton and Yellowknife, is proud to be celebrating its 100 year anniversary by granting $100,000 to initiatives throughout Alberta and the Northwest Territories via the annual Field Law Community Fund Program. 

Now in its third year, the Program, which supports local community projects and initiatives, received a record number of 105 applications, 57 of which came from the Southern Alberta market. Field Law granted 2 grand prize awards and 4 additional awards in the Southern Alberta area, providing a total of $40,000 to help launch or grow each local project.

Field Law, a regional law firm with offices in Calgary, Edmonton and Yellowknife, is proud to be celebrating its 100 year anniversary by granting $100,000 to initiatives throughout Alberta and the Northwest Territories via the annual Field Law Community Fund Program. Now in its third year, the Program, which supports local community projects and initiatives, received a record number of 105 applications, 57 of which came from the Southern Alberta market. Field Law granted 2 grand prize awards and 4 additional awards in the Southern Alberta area, providing a total of $40,000 to help launch or grow each local project.

The selection process for this year’s winners included a combination of online public voting and deliberation by a local judging panel composed of Field Law representatives, as well as interested clients and community members. The online voting portion of the Program allowed the public to share their thoughts on which projects they felt most deserved funding in their community. Votes provided panelists a clear idea of which projects resonated with members of the community and factored into the final decision-making along with additional criteria. Field Law’s preferred causes include (but are not exclusive to) those that support education, healthcare, at-risk youth, homelessness, women’s organizations, community and sports or arts and culture.

“It is a privilege to be sharing the achievement of Field Law’s 100 year anniversary with the community through this year’s awarding of $100,000,” said Doreen Saunderson, Executive Committee Member in the Calgary office. “The Community Fund Program is close to our hearts and it’s always inspiring to see the enthusiasm with which the community participates in both the application and voting processes. We saw a number of worthy groups request funding in 2015 and we are thrilled to be paying-it-forward to causes that will positively impact our communities and make a real difference in people’s lives.”

Field Law congratulates the following prize winners of the 2015 Community Fund Program:

Between Friends ($5,000 recipient)

The Between Friends Volunteer in Training program was developed for participants with disabilities. This program empowers participants living with a disability to gain independence and self-confidence while growing as leaders.

Dare to Dream ($5,000 recipient)

Dare to Dream is a justice education and outreach program for First Nation, Métis, and Inuit youth aged 11 to 14. They support Aboriginal communities by encouraging and inspiring Aboriginal youth to become leaders and role models.  

Girl Power Summer Camp ($5,000 recipient)

The Women’s Centre will offer Girl Power Camps this summer to mentor girls ages 10 to 12 and promote basic values of equality, self-determination and empowerment.

Healthier Families – Healthier Lives ($5,000 recipient)

The Ronald McDonald House program will focus on providing coping mechanisms for parents with sick children.

Personal trainer led boot camp classes will allow for a healthy release of energy to relieve frustration and help parents cope with the daily stress of having a child in hospital receiving long-term care.

CANNONBALL! ($10,000 recipient)

The Cannonball Program offers professional mentorship for youth playwrights to collaboratively write the 2015 full-length mainstage production - Atlantis. The program also includes a festival of youth-written, directed, and performed work.  

Disaster Preparedness ($10,000 recipient)

During the 2013 floods, the Alberta Animal Rescue Crew Society stepped up to save hundreds of animals affected by the devastating floods in Southern Alberta. AARCS will continue to develop their program so that they can be ready to assist in any emergency situation.

In addition to the $40,000 distributed in the Southern Alberta market for the 2015 Community Fund Program, Field Law will also distribute an additional $40,000 and $20,000 in the Northern Alberta and Northwest Territories markets, respectively. The Program launched through all three of Field’s offices in Alberta and the Northwest Territories in 2013 and is now an annual initiative. To learn more, visit www.fieldlawcommunityfund.com.

As part of Field Law’s continued commitment to its communities, the firm also presented a commitment of $50,000 to the RESOLVE campaign at its annual Stampede event. RESOLVE is a unique collaboration of nine partner agencies raising $120 million to build affordable and supported rental housing for 3,000 vulnerable and homeless Calgarians. Field’s contribution to the campaign will be directed towards Horizon Housing Society, a not for profit organization that provides affordable, integrated and supported homes to over 700 individuals in the city of Calgary. For more information, please visit www.resolvecampaign.com.