A total of $15,315 was granted to the following 18 projects:

The amount of funds available for grants was $15,713. 30 proposals were reviewed, with requests totaling $35,700. 14 projects were recommended for funding with grants totaling $15,110. The amount remaining available for disbursement is $603. The following is a list of projects that are recommended for funding. 

Back Bay Home and School Association, Back Bay Community Ball Field, $1,500. Back Bay Home and School has been working for the past two years to construct a baseball field at Back Bay Elementary School and has raised over $3,000 toward groundwork and field preparation and fund raising continues.  It was recommended that FCF provide this grant to go toward the cost of fencing. 

Blacks Harbour Elementary School, Literacy Circles, $1,000. Literacy Circles is an activity where groups of students engage in critical thinking and reflection as they read, discuss, and respond to the same set of books. For this to happen, multiple copies of appropriate books are required. This grant is to assist in the cost of the books and the provision of additional teacher training materials. 

Charlotte County Boys and Girls Club, Summer Camp-Experiential Field Trips, $1,750. The CCBG Club now offers experiential field trips for its members as part of a summer day-camp activity. Trips are taken to St. Andrews, Calais, and Saint John for various outings such as museum visits, a trip to the movies, swimming excursions, etc. Many of the children who attend these field trips have little or no opportunity to have these experiences elsewhere. This grant is to assist in covering some of the travel costs. 

Charlotte County Roots of Empathy Steering Committee, Roots of Empathy, $1,000. This program is building on its successes of previous years where a volunteer parent and his/her baby visit kindergarten classrooms throughout the school year, and with the aid of a trained facilitator, the children learn about the baby’s growth and development. This program is very effective at teaching empathy toward others. This grant is to go toward the training of more facilitators so the program can continue and expand in Charlotte County. 

Grand Manan Community School Car Club, Race Car Restoration, $1,000. This on-going extra-curricular activity has been very successful in offering a popular incentive for Grand Manan students to be involved with and excel at school. This grant is to go toward the expenses of the restoration of another racecar for the club. 

Grand Manan Sailing Association, Purchase of Sailboat for Instruction Purposes, $1,000. The Grand Manan Sailing Association offers yet another safe and healthy alternative activity for youth who otherwise have limited options for healthy and active things to do while living in a fairly remote island setting. The activity is volunteer-driven, and has a tremendous amount of community support and involvement. This grant is to go toward the purchase of a sailing boat for teaching young people how to sail. 

Healthy Communities Healthy Youth – Charlotte County, HCHY-Phase I, $1,100. This organization arose as a direct result of the Youth Dialogue, which was hosted by FCF in October 2003. The group has three task forces aimed at bringing the Search Institute’s Developmental Asset Framework to life for youth in Charlotte County. This grant is in support of this initiative.

Hospice of Charlotte, Artists By The Sea, $860. Hospice has organized a fundraiser involving a silent auction of works by local and regional artists. Funds raised will go to support the work of Hospice in Charlotte County. This grant will go toward some of the expenses associated with hosting the event. 

John Howard Society Charlotte County, Family Nurturing Program, $1,000. The Family Nurturing Program is a 12-week program aimed at building family cohesion and improving communication between parents and youth. This program is targeted for “at-risk” families having difficulties with such things as communication, discipline, depression, and eating disorders. Trained facilitators help these families work through their difficulties. This grant is to cover the costs of books and materials for this program. 

Learning Unlimited Charlotte County (L.U.C.C.), Tots ‘n Tales, $1,500. L.U.C.C. offers this program to pre-school children to acclimatize them to the school environment and ready them for entering kindergarten. The program involved reading and activities in the school libraries and has been effective especially for those children who otherwise may not have access to other pre-school programs. This grant is to go toward the cost of age appropriate books. 

St. Andrews Youth Action Centre Boys and Girls Club, Summer Day Camp Project, $500. This project will provide activities for children aged 6-11 from St. Andrews and surrounding areas during the summer months. Activities involve esteem building; trust building, and exploration of St. Andrews through exposure to music, art and natural life. 

St. Stephen Middle School, D.A.R.E. Program, $900. The D.A.R.E. program or Drug Abuse Resistance Education program is an R.C.M.P. initiated program, which targets young people at an age when they are most receptive to drug prevention education and before they are likely to have experimented with tobacco, alcohol and drugs. The program helps youth achieve skills necessary to recognize and resist social pressure to become involved with substance abuse. It teaches positive alternatives to substance abuse and other destructive behaviors and develops skills in risk assessment, decision-making and conflict resolution. This grant is in support of the purchase of materials for this program. 

Sir James Dunn Academy, Footloose, $500. The Sir James Dunn Academy has been involved in the production of the musical “Footloose”. The production has involved 25% of the student body, and countless hours of volunteer effort from the school staff and community. This grant is in support of the cost of materials for the construction of portable sets, many of which can be re-used in future community drama productions. 

Vocational Plus, Restroom Renovations, $1,500. Vocation Plus offers skills training for people with mental disabilities. The facility has two bathrooms in need of repair. This grant is in support of covering the costs of materials for this work. 
 

Fundy Community Foundation Fall Grants 2003

FCF received 32 proposals with total requests for funding in the order of $40,453. The Grants Committee recommended funding $15,645 to a total of 18 projects.  Grant-Making funds came from FCF's Community Endowment Funds.

The following are projects that were funded in the Fall 2003 Grant Making Session:

Action Ministries of Grand Manan, Freezer for Food Bank, $885; Action Ministries of Grand Manan volunteers operate a food bank serving approximately 45 families. This grant is to assist the food bank in the purchase of a freezer and the installation of an electrical outlet and wiring to accommodate the freezer which will enable the food bank to better serve its clients. 

A.E.P. Kiwanis Station School, Art Program, $700; The Alternative Education Program (A.E.P.) serves “at risk” students from southwest Charlotte County. The Art Program gives students the opportunity to explore their artistic potential, provides a creative outlet and develops a sense of accomplishment and success among the students. This grant is to assist in covering the cost of this program. 

Beaver Harbour Community Venture Ltd., Archive Project, $500; The Beaver Harbour Community Venture operates a community center. The organization brings together people interested in history and especially the history of Beaver Harbour, NB. The aim of the group is to discover, procure, collect, preserve, display, and interpret material of historical value associated with the area and to encourage and assist in the writing of histories and historical essays and the recording of personal reminiscences; to disseminate information by way of local media, lectures, pictures and discussions, festivals and other means to awaken general public interest.  This grant was to assist in the finishing of the basement section of the community hall. 

Charlotte County Boys and Girls Club, Library Project, $1,000; The Charlotte County Boys and Girls Club in St. Stephen operates a dynamic after school program for St. Stephen and area youth. The organization has recently relocated and required assistance to create a library room where youth can participate in a homework/tutoring program, a reading buddies program, or just have access to a quiet place to read after school. This grant is to purchase materials and supplies for the library. 

Charlotte County Coalition for a Drug Free Community, Community Worker, $800; The Charlotte County Coalition for a Drug Free Community is partnering with the Charlotte County Boys and Girls Club to host a university student intern who will assist in the development of an after school program and activities for the members of the Boys and Girls Club as well as gather baseline data on the local prevalence of drug use from police, doctors, emergency rooms, etc. This information will be used to develop a public information campaign that will assist in the fight against drug abuse. This grant is in support of this initiative. 

Charlotte County Coalition for a Drug Free Community – Youth/Parent Awareness and Education Sub Committee, Dads Make a Difference; $300; This group sees the importance and influence of a caring family in the lives of children as imperative and part of a necessary component of drug and alcohol abuse prevention. This grant is in support of the delivery of a family-oriented program called “What a Difference a Dad Makes”. This workshop, offered to fathers, is a management skills program that empowers Dads to improve their capacity and influence as a positive role model within the family. 

Community Reach Grand Manan, Fight Against Drugs, $1,000; Community Reach Grand Manan educates Island residents on drug and alcohol abuse, family violence, etc. This grant will assist a community-supported initiative to bring former Canadian Heavyweight Boxing Champion, George Chuvalo to Grand Manan to speak about drugs and how they impacted his life. Mr. Chuvalo’s story of having lost three sons and his wife as a result of substance abuse delivers a powerful message, which has a lasting impact on those who hear him. 

Enterprise Women’s Institute, Tower Hill Floor Project, $1,000; The institute is a group of 22 rural women in the Tower Hill area that does volunteer work for the community. It informs and educates women, building stronger families and communities and a better rural life. The organization holds monthly meetings and raises funds for local charitable causes by having public suppers, card parties, yard sales, craft and food sales and support jamborees. This grant is in support of the organization’s need to install a properly insulated floor for the community hall. 

Grand Manan Community School, Graphic Art for “At Risk” students, $750; Students at the Grand Manan Community School will be able to design their own graphic art on a computer, and transfer the design in color onto various materials (t-shirts, placemats, banners, etc.).  The graphic arts club will be self-sufficient once the initial hardware and supplies are purchased, as items made will be sold. This program offers a unique opportunity for students to develop skills in graphic art and design and give something back to the community with the production of materials. Students must have a passing average to be in the club. 

Grand Manan Community School, Car Club, $750; This grant is another in a series of grants in support of this unique opportunity for Grand Manan students to be involved throughout the school year in the restoration of a race car. Students must exhibit good behavior and maintain good grades in order to participate in the club. Club members are often involved during evenings and weekends learning about working on vehicles and they participate in a trip to the race at the end of the year. The program also promotes safe driving by making it clear that racing is meant only for the track under strict safeguarded conditions – and not on local roads. This safe and popular activity has kept many potentially “at-risk” students out of trouble. 

John Howard Society-Charlotte County Outreach, C.H.A.N.G.E. Program, $1,000; The C.H.A.N.G.E. program is an accredited twelve week program that targets negative thinking and negative attitudes and looks at improving alternative coping strategies needed to have better relationships with others at home, in the classroom and in the community. This grant is in support of the delivery of this program, which is being delivered to St. Andrews youth through a partnership with The John Howard Society and the St. Andrews Youth Action Committee.

Lawrence Station Home and School, Playground Upgrade, $600; This grant is in support of the completion of a playground project which was launched five years ago by local volunteers. This final phase will involve the purchase of a new basketball net with post and backboard, the repair of two tire swings and the maintenance required to make the playground safe. The playground is used year round. 

N.B. Easter Seals March of Dimes, Equipment Load/Recycle/Renewal Project, $1.000; The N.B. Easter Seals March of Dimes project maintains an equipment loan/recycle program of special rehabilitation aids for persons with disabilities in the province of N.B., and including the communities of Charlotte County. The program offers wheelchairs, bath aids, walkers etc. by collaborating with other healthcare organizations and the provincial government. This grant is in support of a need to renew the inventory of equipment, which will be used in Charlotte County. 

Pennfield Elementary School Playground Committee, Community Safe Play Project, $1.500; In June 2003, parents, grandparents, and friends of students of Pennfield Elementary School joined together for a community playground restoration project. The final phase of the project involves the development of play fields where presently only rocky terrain exists. In order to define the school area from neighboring areas used by all-terrain vehicles, the school needs a fence. This grant is to go toward the purchase of the fence, which will protect the play areas. 

St. Andrews Community Channel, Independent Television Production, $1,000; The St. Andrews Community Channel records, edits and broadcasts many community events, makes promotional videos, and provides a valuable bulletin board service for the community of St. Andrews. The community channel is operated completely by volunteers. This grant is in support of an initiative to expand its service beyond the present cable subscribers and operate as an independent television station so that more viewers will have access to the station. 

St. James Youth Group, Education for Better Living For Youth, $800; The St. James Youth Group is a rural youth organization offering programs and activities for youth who otherwise would not have such opportunities as they live outside the St. Stephen area. This grant is in support of this organization’s programs for this year. 

St. Stephen Middle School, Commemorating Ste-Croix 2004, $860; The St. Stephen Middle School is engaged in a year-long project involving all staff members and all students which will commemorate the events of 1604. The project involves a study of “Champlain Summer”, a novel by David Boyd, a study of events from the point of view of first nations and Europeans, a variety of reconstructions as well as the production of period costumes. Materials produced will be displayed in St. Stephen storefronts to add to the community celebration. This grant goes toward covering the cost of some of the materials required to complete this project. 

Vocational Plus St. George, Computer for Agency, $1,200; Vocation Plus provides services for mentally challenged adults in St. George. This grant is for the purchase of a computer to have on-site which will enable more clients to access both educational and recreational activities. The computer will also be used to compile a listing of employment opportunities and access a job bank.

Fundy Community Foundation Spring Grants 2003

FCF received 37 proposals with total requests for funding in the order of $59,000. The Grants Committee recommended funding $20,005 to a total of 23 projects.  Grant-Making funds came from FCF's Community Endowment FUnds and the T.R. Meighen Family Foundation through the CANB Program. 

The following are projects that were funded in the Spring 2003 Grant Making Session:

Charlotte County Boys and Girls Club, Acting on Change Together (A.C.T.), $1,000. The A.C.T. program is a violence awareness program offered and facilitated by the John Howard Society.  The twelve-week program targets “at risk” behavior for all youth. Participating youth learn violence prevention strategies, which will have long-term positive impacts on communities andenables youth to serve as positive role models to other community youth. 

Charlotte County Coalition for a Drug Free Community, Substance Abuse Prevention Program for Middle School Students, $400.  The Charlotte County Coalition for a Drug Free Community arose out of the St. Stephen Task Force on Prescription Drugs, which hosted an FCF sponsored community dialogue to address this serious issue in the Spring of 2002. The Coalition focuses on prevention of substance abuse using a three tiered approach engaging parents, media and youth.  This grant is in support of a “Boomerang” project aimed at teaching high school students how to teach middle school students about drug prevention. The premise is that middle school students are more responsive to messages delivered by high school students than those delivered by other adults.

Charlotte County Fundy Kin Club, Kin Centre Kitchen Equipment, $1,000. The Charlotte Fundy Kin Club is part of Kinsmen and Kinettes of Canada.  It has served the communities of Eastern Charlotte though volunteer service work for the last 23 years.  The club facility has undergone major renovations over the last year and now has a seating capacity of 150 people. The building will be rented for meetings, dinners, and community events. This grant is in support of the purchase of kitchen equipment (dishes, flatware, etc) so the facility can be used as a fund generator for community initiatives. 

Charlotte County Roots of Empathy Team, Literacy for Roots of Empathy, $600. The Roots of Empathy program began in September 2002 with 12 facilitators across the county reaching kindergarten students in 12 schools.  Each facilitator brings a mother and her infant to the classrooms on a regular basis throughout the school year. Children learn about the baby’s development and how and why they respond to certain stimuli.  The program focuses on raising levels of empathy resulting in more respectful and caring relationships and reduced levels of bullying.  This grant is in support of the purchase of resource materials so the program can be expanded to include children of older grades. 

Deer Island Community School, Outdoor Recreation Initiative, $1,150. This grant is in support of a community initiative to install outdoor recreation equipment beginning with basketball nets for older students at the k-8 school. As Deer Island is a somewhat isolated community, opportunities for healthy physical activity are limited. 

Grand Manan Community School Car Club, Race Car Preparation, $200. The GMCS Car Club students have purchased a carwith their own money to restore and prepare for drag racing. The Car Club already has one racecar, which is overhauled each year by the students. The program provides the students, some of them “at risk” with an activity which engages them throughout the year.  Their participation is conditional on their staying in and doing well in school. Because of the popularity of the activity, a second car was required. This grant is combined with the Teens in Philanthropy (TIP) grant of $1,000 in support of this youth-based initiative.

Grand Manan Community Grade 11/12 School Outdoor Pursuits Class, “Give Back to The Community, $500. Senior students of the Grand Manan Community School have embarked on an innovative idea involving the clean up and repair of a site for young people to enjoy. The site, located at the local farmers market has a paved area and basketball poles. The students are partnering with the Village of Grand Manan and the local RCMP in cleaning up and fixing the area for basketball and recreation as a parting gift to the younger students who will use the area as a meeting and recreational place. FCF is pleased to support this worthy initiative of the Grand Manan students. 

Grand Manan Library, Summer Library Program, $1,000. The Grand Manan Library offers programs to island residents.  Children’s programs are aimed at promoting a love of reading.  This grant is in support of a Summer Reading Club and Power Reader Program. The program involves weekly themes, stories, crafts, activities and games. Participating children are required to read a minimum of five books during the summer. Two summer students are hired to coordinate the programs. 

FCF has also provided funding in the amount of $400 for the Grand Manan Library to purchase a hard-copy edition of the Canadian Directory to Foundations and Grants from the Canadian Centre for Philanthropy. This directory will be available as a resource for the many non-profit groups and organizations seeking financial assistance for their initiatives on Grand Manan. 

Hospice of Charlotte, Celebrating Life, Your Journey Through Illness, $1,000. Hospice of Charlotte provides practical and emotional support to palliative patients and their families. Celebrating Life: Your Journey Through Illness is an all day workshop designed for people facing a life threatening illness and their caregiver. The workshop goal is to improve the quality of life for participants and their families by providing access to information and introducing new skills. This grant is in support of this workshop, another of many successful initiatives of Hospice of Charlotte. 

Kiwanis Community Station School, Art Program, $1,500. The Kiwanis Community Station School serves students who are experiencing difficulty in the regular school system and are deemed to be “at risk”. This grant is in support of an arts program to enhance the self-esteem and self worth of the students and to give the students the opportunity to experience mediums of art that they would otherwise not be able to afford. Upon completion of the art program, each student is asked to donate a piece of his or her art for sale at the Students’ Art Show. Funds generated by the sale are directed back to the Art Program.

Learning Disabilities Association – St. Andrews Chapter, 4th Annual Learning About Learning Disabilities Workshop, $500. The St. Andrews LDA each year brings knowledgeable speakers and presenters to workshops on learning disabilities, providing valuable information to teachers, parents, caregivers, and the community at large.  This year’s theme is on dyslexia and autism.  Qualified speakers will give valuable information on these disabilities and practical advise on how to cope with them in daily life. 

Learning Unlimited Charlotte County (L.U.C.C.), Promotion and Awareness, Phase II, $650. Learning Unlimited Charlotte County (L.U.C.C.) mobilizes community resources to promote pro-social skills and enhance the resiliency of children.  How communities care for children early in life and throughout youth has a profound influence on how productive and compassionate they become. L.U.C.C. will conduct an asset mapping exercise to identify community resources and promote their availability to parents and parent groups. 

Royal Canadian Legion Branch #39, Building Renovations, $500. The Royal Canadian Legion Branch #39, Blacks Harbour is undergoing significant renovations to its infrastructure. The Legion provides support and assistance to local veterans and their families and engages in a number of youth activities including the Blacks Harbour Community School Remembrance Day Service, the Remembrance Day poster contest and the branch youth dart league. The RCL also participates in the provincial track and field competitions and present bursaries to local high school graduating students with veteran connections. This grant was in support of its building renovation project

St. Andrews Centre for the Arts, Start-Up Funds, $755.  The St. Andrews Centre for the Arts is a newly formed community organization with a mission to construct a multi-purpose facility that will provide a venue for performing arts in St. Andrews. The facility will provide opportunities for drama, theatre, dance, film, music, professional performances, art shows, conferences, multi-media productions, cabarets, and dinner theatres. This grant is in support of start-up costs for incorporation fees, planning, fund raising, etc. 

St. Andrews Youth Action Centre, Karaoke Machine, $650. The St. Andrews Youth Action Centre provides a sage, supervised place for teens to gather, socialize and relax in a non-competitive atmosphere.  The Centre has accumulated various pieces of equipment from the Town and the Anglican Parish of St. Andrews (television, computer, board games, furniture, etc.). This grant is in support of the purchase of a karaoke machine for the youth. 

St. Croix Estuary Project, Professional Presentation Equipment, $1,000. The St. Croix Estuary Project (S.C.E.P.) is planning a proactive education and outreach program promoting the Whidden and Eleanor Ganong Nature Park. Park programs will include Story Telling, Animals at Night, Heritage Gardens, Mud Muckers Shore Tours and more. The Outreach Program will be delivered through schools and local groups and public lecture presentations. This grant is in support of the purchase of presentation equipment for the outreach program. 

St. George Community Playground, Community Playground,  $1,500. The community of St. George is planning the construction of a community playground accessible to families and tourist throughout the year. This grant is providing seed funds for the start-up of this ambitious venture. 

St. Stephen Shark Attack Parent Committee, Swim Meet 2003, $1,000.  The St. Stephen Community Pool has experienced a rapid increase in usage over the last ten years.  The St. Stephen Shark Attack Parent Committee is spearheading an initiative to upgrade the aging facility in order to host this year’s provincial swim meet. Funding is required for such things as wheel chair accessibility, improved plumbing, improved dressing rooms, starting blocks, picnic tables, driveway and parking area. FCF is pleased to support St. Stephen’s youth and the long-term benefits associated with the proposed improvements to the community pool, and joins the Teens In Philanthropy (TIP) in making a grant for this project.

Summer Fun F.A.N. Club, Summer Fun 2003, $1,500. The Summer Fun (2003) Camp is a day therapeutic/recreational camp for children and teens with sever disabilities. Last summer these children were mostly autistic. The day camp will have the benefit of skilled arts therapists, plus one volunteer speech pathologist. Each child has a minimum of one key assistant. The day consists of morning circle of song and dance, individual therapy and activities, outside play and excursions, which are all within Charlotte County’s boundaries and explore the natural environment.  This grant is in support of this camp, which builds on the success of last summer’s pilot initiative. 

Vincent Massey Home and School, Playground Maintenance and Improvement, $1,000. The St. Andrews Playground was built several years ago through a monumental community effort involving hundreds of local people carrying out the construction over a period of several days. Local contractors donated time and equipment, and elementary school students were involved in the design and even part of the construction. Despite annual maintenance by community volunteers, wear and tear and heavy usage has resulted in the need for some repairs and upgrading primarily for safety purposes. This grant goes toward some of the necessary improvements to ensure that the playground remains a safe and attractive community facility. 

The Volunteer Centre of Charlotte County, Inc., Food Bank and Red Cross Loans Facility, $1,000. The Volunteer Centre of Charlotte County is building a new facility because it has outgrown its present location.  The new facility will house the offices of the Volunteer Centre, Red Cross Loans Program and Emergency Food Bank. The Centre has received considerable community support fort the facility and has been successful in its fund raising efforts to cover the cost of the facility. This grant is toward the last $12,000 required to complete the project. 

VON Healthy Baby and Me, Juice and Eggs Project, $1,000. The Von Healthy Baby and Me Juice and Eggs project is part of a nutritional training program for pregnant or post-natal adolescents in Charlotte County. Expectant and postnatal mothers are given one dozen eggs and two frozen orange juice cans every other week, thus increasing the protein and citrus intake of the mothers and children. Often young mothers will forgo their own nutritional requirements when struggling to provide diapers, baby food, clothing and other baby items. This grant is in support of this program, which is aimed at addressing the overall nutritional health and well being of young mothers and their children.

Born to Read, Books for Babies, $200. Born to Read is a literacy project which encourages parents to read to their children from birth and to understand their important role as their child’s most influential teacher. The program provides a cheerful canvas “Born to Read” sack filled with beginner books to all mothers giving birth in New Brunswick.  This grant compliments the Teens In Philanthropy (TIP) grant of $500, and provides the funding required for the expected births in Charlotte County for the next year.

Youth Advisory Committee Grants: 

FCF Youth Advisory Committee, TIP (Teens in Philanthropy) make grants to local non-profits. The Committee members, Mike Arsenault, Catrina Haun, Katie Logan, Shawn Seeley, David Raye, Cayleih Robertson, Casey Lindsay, and Rhiannon McVay met to review the same proposals received by the Fundy Community Foundation. This year they kept youth as a priority. 

TIP granted $500 to the Born to Read Program, which promotes early childhood literacy by encouraging mothers to read to their children from birth. Each child born in New Brunswick receives a tote bag with beginner books as a gift to inspire mothers to start reading right away. 

The St. Stephen Shark Attack Parent Committee received a grant of $1,000 toward the updrading of the St. Stephen Community Pool in preparation for the provincial swim meet which they intend to host this summer. “We felt that the swim meet has come a long way since its start and this proposal fit our mandate very well”. 

The Grand Manan Community School Car Club received $1,000 to go toward the purchase of a second vehicle to be overhauled and made ready for next year’s end of year races. “We had a video conference with the students as well as the man in charge. We agreed that we liked what we heard and it also fit our mandate very well”.

The St. Croix Blades Speed Skating Club received $1,000. “This group has been extremely successful and it includes youth of all ages from many different places”. 

The Deer Island Safety Net received $1,000 for the food bank. “We felt that this was a good cause because with the war, people don’t seem to be giving as much and the food banks are at a greater risk”. 

Finally, $500 was awarded to the New Brunswick Youth Orchestra in support of three Charlotte County members who will be going with them to New York to perform at Carnegie Hall. The students reasoned that, while it was important to support youth at risk and “safety net” type projects, it was also important to support the strong individuals who work hard to excel.