MEDIA RELEASE 

OCISO Receives $265,700 Ontario Trillium Foundation Grant

June 19, 2020, Ottawa, ON – We are pleased to announce that OCISO has received $265,700 in funding over three years from the Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF) for our Wrestling with Champions program.

This program, currently scheduled to begin in January 2021, will be in line with public health directives related to COVID-19. It will offer recreational wrestling classes to immigrant and refugee children and youth in the Ottawa region. Wrestling with Champions is part of our youth program for newcomers, YOCISO. Mohammed Alkarad Mohammed, a 12-time Syrian wrestling champion, will coach participants in this program.

“Thanks to this OTF grant, we look forward to offering newcomer youth a high quality physical and social activity that fosters a sense of inclusion and helps to facilitate their integration process,” says Donnielle Roman, Program Manager, YOCISO. “Our recreational wrestling classes are offered to boys and girls, many of whom come from families that cannot afford the high cost of participating in organized sports.”

The Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF) is an agency of the Government of Ontario, and one of Canada’s leading granting foundations. OTF awarded $108 million to 629 projects last year to build healthy and vibrant communities in Ontario. www.otf.ca

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For more information, please contact:

Donnielle Roman
Program Manager, YOCISO
613-518-0680, ext. 110
[email protected]