WICS doles out the dough

"There is a total of $630 000 for West Island Community Shares to give out tonight," she said proudly, which represents a 15 per cent increase from 2006.

The brainchild of former Liberal MNA for the Nelligan riding Russell Williams and other politicians and businesspeople, WICS was founded in 1998 as a means to raise funds for the several different community organizations that operate in the West Island.

A funds distribution committee at WICS meets up during the year to discuss how much funding each community group should get, depending on its needs, Holmes explained.

The largest check given out last night, amounting to $ 60, 000, went to AMCAL Family Services, which seeks to help families with troubled teens.

A total of 29 different groups received donations this year, with two brand new ones, Volunteer Accompaniment Services and West Island Youth Action, joining the fold this year.

"When we applied to the West Island Community Shares, we specifically asked for more money to expand our adolescent program," explained Carmela De Lisi, director-general of Avatil, a group that helps intellectually handicapped young adults and teenagers transition toward independent living.

Nathalie Chapman, president of the West Island Association for the Intellectually Handicapped, which wound up receiving $38, 000, said being part of the WICS program goes a long way toward lessening some of the worry about fundraising, and allows WIAH to hire staff.

John Richard Yates, president of the board for Volunteer West Island, also praised WICS' efforts. Besides trying to set up potential volunteers with organizations that fit their skills and interests, Volunteer West Island also runs the Meals on Wheels program, providing lunches for people referred to them by health or social services. Before joining the WICS program, Volunteer West Island could only afford hot meals. "We supplement the

hot meals with cold meals. We used the WICS money to set that up," said Yates. The organization received a $30, 000 check this year, up from the usual $24,000-$26,000 it has gotten in the past, according to Yates.

The evening ended with a memorable concert by the West Island Youth Symphony Orchestra.

"It was so great to see all of them so happy," Holmes told The Chronicle about the various community group representatives.