The goal to become Canada's healthiest community took another step yesterday (July 12) when the Airdrie and Area Health Benefits Co-op (AAHBC) received a large grant from the Calgary Foundation.  

The AAHBC was the recipient of a $145,000 Community Grant from the foundation, something CEO Dr. Tom Feasby says they're grateful for.  "We are honoured and grateful to the Calgary Foundation and the 70 volunteers on the selection committee for this grant and for recognizing our common mission and values including facilitating sharing, collaboration, and learning as well as inspiring a community with citizens engaged in community building."

Airdrie Mayor Peter Brown says the recognition from the Calgary Foundation gives the AAHBC impetus to keep going.  "It's pretty outstanding to see that the efforts and the work that's been done to date was worthy enough for the support of the Calgary Foundation.  I'm just really proud of the efforts of everyone associated with the initiative and it's giving us even more momentum to keep going.  Our fundraising efforts are kicking in and we're just looking forward to the future"

Brown feels a comment he received from Eva Friesen, the President and CEO of the Calgary Foundation sums up what Airdrie is doing.  "She said, 'You're going to be the mayor of the healthiest community in Canada.'  I said that's our mission, absolutely.  So they saw the vision and they invested in us and we're very grateful."

For her part, Friesen cited the role the community had in obtaining the grant.  "The scale and positive community impact expected through the City of Airdrie and AAHBC's community building as a foundation for a proactive approach to community health needs is impressive and unique," she said.  "We look forward to seeing this progress and watching the citizens of the greater Airdrie area collectively work toward such a worthwhile goal."

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