Caroline Tison and Community Shares

West Island: After a year of fundraising, during tough economic times, West Island Community Shares was handing out cheques to 40 community groups, according to CBC. Executive Director Caroline Tison told the crowd that, up until three weeks ago, the organization was short $100,000 of reaching their goal. About 400 people packed an auditorium at CEGEP Gérald Godin for the organization annual fund distribution ceremony. But several corporate donors came through, and the grand total topped a whopping $1,215,000 — $15,000 more than last year. Every year these organizations touch the lives of 50,000 West Islanders, half of them at risk youth. Every cent of the donations go to groups supported by Community Shares. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.