Fuelling Women Champions unveils $100K grant program for female amateur sport

Canada's dairy farmers empower female athletes with funds to achieve sports excellence

OTTAWA, May 31, 2016 /CNW/ - Sports play a vital role in a healthy lifestyle, yet due to complex societal barriers, the majority of Canadian females are not engaged in sport. Canada's dairy farmers are combatting this social issue with the creation of the Champions Fund, a new $100,000 grant program designed to support girls and women across the country in achieving sports excellence.

"As champions of healthy living, Canada's dairy farmers are continuing to band together nationwide to address these gender inequalities through the Fuelling Women Champions initiative," says Caroline Emond, executive director, Dairy Farmers of Canada. "Implementing the Champions Fund is an important extension of our initiative. Through this national grant program, we are encouraging females to continue with their love of sport and seeing that no hurdle exists that might hinder the passion for the game."

This nation-wide program, an extension of the Fuelling Women Champions movement that launched in April 2015, comes in the form of a $100,000 fund, which will be distributed this year as 20 grants of $5,000 to female athletes, teams and organizations across Canada. The top 40-50 applicants will be selected based on a scorecard and the merits of their applications. Then, the Champions Fund Committee, a board of 11 individuals comprised of dairy farmers and Fuelling Women Champions stakeholders, ambassadors and partners, will select the 20 final grant recipients, who will be announced in November 2016.

The need for this type of national grant program is crucial. According to a recent research publication entitled Women in Sport — Fuelling a Lifetime of Participation, unveiled in March 2016 and commissioned by Canada's dairy farmers, there is severe gender inequality for Canadian girls and women in sport. Among many negative implications, this ultimately results in a significant decline in female sport participation, especially as girls transition into adolescence. Among the research publication's key findings: 41 per cent of girls between the ages of 3-17 years do not participate in sport — and this jumps to 84 per cent in adult women.

The Champions Fund, and the overarching initiative, Fuelling Women Champions, aims to inspire girls and women, regardless of age or ability, in local communities across Canada to realize the universal benefits of sport.

For more information, to apply for the Champions Fund, or to get involved in the initiative, visit www.womenchampions.ca. The application period runs from May 31 to September 29, 2016. Fund recipients will be announced in November 2016. Follow and join the movement online to #ChampionHer.

About Fuelling Women Champions
Fuelling Women Champions is a national, multi-year initiative spearheaded by Canada's dairy farmers and it is dedicated to the advancement of women in sport. Canada's dairy farmers are personally committing their time, energy and resources to this cause, and have partnered with several thought-leaders, celebrated athletes, and sports organizations.

SOURCE Dairy Farmers of Canada (Corporate)

Media requiring further information, please contact: Sandra Da Silva / Geneviève Fontaine, Dairy Farmers of Canada, [phone] / [phone], [email protected] / [email protected]