Nine charities have received a financial boost from the Clarien Foundation as part of its continuing commitment to enhancing and strengthening the Bermuda community.

The charities represent various areas including health, education, families, entrepreneurship and human rights.

Michael DeCouto, Clarien’s executive vice-president and chief digital and marketing officer, said: “It is with great pleasure that we announce the names of our Clarien Foundation donation recipients for 2022.

“Each year, we select a number of deserving charities to support, based on the current and future needs of the Bermuda community.

“Now especially, as the island continues its pandemic recovery journey, we recognise that non-profits need our help as they continue to provide essential services to support Bermuda and its people in getting back on our feet.”

The recipients are: Bermuda Cancer and Health; Bermuda Centre for Creative Learning; Family Centre; Ignite Bermuda; OutBermuda; The Reading Clinic; Tomorrow’s Voices; WindReach Bermuda and Young Men’s Social Club.

Tammalita Joseph, fund development manager at Windreach, said: “We are delighted that Clarien has chosen to support our educational and therapeutic programmes.

“This donation will help us to continue to empower approximately 200 individuals living with special needs who visit our facilities weekly.”

Lynne Woolridge, chief executive of the Bermuda Cancer and Health Centre, said the charity was “very grateful” for the grant, which would allow it to continue to offer its important programmes for those battling cancer.

Ms Woolridge said: “Annually, over 300 people in Bermuda will be diagnosed with cancer, and more than 80 will die of the disease.”

Sandy De Silva, Family Centre executive director, said the grant would support the organisation’s counselling services, community outreach programmes, and advocacy initiatives offered free of charge to families in Bermuda.

She said: “Unfortunately, Bermuda like the rest of the world, is experiencing the same increase in the number of children, youth and families that are being mentally, emotionally, and socially challenged because of the pandemic in addition to other existing challenges.”

Stacy Hill, the funding and development officer at autism charity Tomorrow’s Voices, said the funds will go towards supporting therapeutic programmes and assisting individuals living with autism and other developmental disabilities.

Adrian Hartnett-Beasley, the chairman of OutBermuda, said: “This grant will be used specifically for programming that supports the mental health and wellbeing of our LGBTQI+ community.”

Nancy Smith of the Bermuda Centre for Creative Learning, said the donation will finance support a child with language-based learning differences who could not otherwise attend BCCL and receive specialised support.

Troy Lewis, of Young Men’s Social Club, said: “As a charitable organisation, we rely primarily on sponsorship and fundraising to fund our programmes and events.

“This support enables us to reduce the cost of enrolment and more importantly gives us the flexibility to allow some youth to enrol at a reduced or no cost, based on their financial situation.

“The funds received from Clarien will be primarily used towards yearly equipment purchases, including balls, goal nets and training uniforms, as well as our annual Back to School family picnic.”

For more information about the Clarien Foundation, visit here.