Kia Communities in Motion proudly unveils seven charities and non-profits across Canada that will receive funding this year, expanding the reach of the program to five new regional markets.

With a commitment to fostering inclusivity and innovation, Kia Communities in Motion continues to empower communities nationwide. In partnership with Community Foundations of Canada (CFC), Kia Communities in Motion is a grassroots initiative that supports local projects that are building inclusive communities through innovative programming that encourages movement.

Elias El-Achhab, Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Kia Canada, emphasizes the program’s foundational mission: “Kia Communities in Motion is working to advance marginalized groups while promoting holistic community development. At Kia, we want to support mobility not just physically in our vehicles, but also socially, economically, and environmentally, to help communities across the country thrive.”

Project impact on communities

“We are inspired by the transformative power of engaging with and empowering communities,” says Andrea Dicks, President at Community Foundations of Canada. “The projects funded demonstrate the vital role of charities and non-profits in driving towards a future where everyone belongs. We look forward to the important impact these projects make in their communities.”

CFC has a network of over 200 community foundations across Canada, each with a deep understanding of their local community’s needs. This year Kia Communities in Motion is working with five community foundations across the country including:

• Banff Canmore Foundation, Banff, Alberta
• Fondation du Grand Montreal, Montreal, Quebec
• Community Foundation of Newfoundland and Labrador, St. John’s, Newfoundland
• Waterloo Region Community Foundation, Waterloo, Ontario
• Annauma Community Foundation, Nunavut

Funded charitable organizations

The seven selected charities and non-profits will address the unique needs of their community and will implement innovative solutions to tackle social challenges, encourage inclusivity and create critical change at the local level. This year’s funded charitable organizations include:

• Town of Canmore: Moving Together: Good Relations in the Bow Valley
• Bridges Social Development: Mînî Hrpa Organizational Development and Capacity Building
• Connecting Horizons: Kahnawake Drive to Succeed
• Trans Support NL: TransEmpowerNL: Advocacy Collective
• Mokami Status of Women Council: The Fireweed Project
• Kitchener Waterloo Multicultural Centre: Waterloo Region Rural Communities Welcome Newcomers 
• Nunavut Association of Non-Profit Organizations: Piliriqatigiinnirmut 2024 

Each project is committed to advancing community well-being through innovative, movement-focused approaches. For example:

• The Waterloo Region Rural Communities Welcome Newcomers project is a community-driven initiative led by the Kitchener Waterloo Multicultural Centre (KWMC). The project fosters belonging and connections with newcomers in rural areas and seeks to enhance cross-cultural awareness and increase inclusion for newcomers, ultimately strengthening community cohesion and supporting economic growth.

Connecting Horizon’s Kahnawake Drive to Succeed project offers driving license and employment support to vulnerable community members aged 18-40, including those with special needs or mental health challenges, providing structured assistance, economic incentives, and ensuring road safety in the Kahnawake Mohawk Territory.