***Original published in South Mountain Press, November 23, 2018***
Endow Manitoba Holds 24-Hour Giving Challenge
Local area residents had an opportunity to stretch their donation dollars this past weekend during Endow Manitoba’s 24-Hour Giving Challenge on November 17. All local monies raised are earmarked for area organizations and for every $5 raised, the contribution was boosted by the Winnipeg Foundation and Manitoba government by a loonie a piece up to separate maximums of $2000 per foundation.
Endow Manitoba is an overarching foundation that includes all community foundations in Manitoba that are members of Community Foundations of Canada. It was created by the parent Winnipeg Foundation and its purpose is to provide other foundations with tools and resources to help them flourish in their communities.
For the RM of Clanwilliam-Erickson, the larger Killarney Foundation helps to manage the municipality’s Endowment Fund. To date contributions raised total in excess of $82,000 and disbursements for the last three years have totaled $9377. Recipients for 2018 include the Erickson & District Recreation Association, the Clanwilliam-Erickson Child Care Initiative, and the Comfort Drop-In Center.
Quinn Greavett, the Chief Administrative Officer for Clanwilliam-Erickson, reported that this year’s fundraising effort for the RM’s Endowment Fund was a huge success.
“This has been the 2nd year that Tami Johnson, Jackie Greavett and myself have organized the Artisan Market in an attempt to create awareness for the Clanwilliam-Erickson Endowment Fund, while showcasing some talented merchants of the area. The whole idea behind the endowment fund is to support our community by investing funds back into the community through local programming, activities, or events that create a benefit for the people that live here. We thought the market would be a “win-win” idea. The fund grows, local merchants have an opportunity to sell their products, it’s a social opportunity, and a facility in town gets another use (the market is held at the Legion). We also received fantastic support for our pie table, with 34 delicious pies donated from different people, and of course all of them went!
Between the 50/50 Draw, Table Fees, Pie Table, and Lunch sales, the event took in 1643.75. After the expenses of the hall rental and food supplies, the event profited $1,131.25 for the Clanwilliam-Erickson Endowment Fund, which we are very pleased with.
We took advantage of the 24 Hour Giving Challenge as well to grow our fund and promote the Artisan Market. Jackie spent a few hours on the 17th at the Erickson Co-op receiving donations for the giving challenge which she received $1,440.
All in all, it was a successful weekend for our local endowment fund. On behalf of the three of us, I’d like to express our thanks to everyone who participated in the event by way of attendance, donation of their time, dollars or pies. Every little bit helps.”
For the RM of Harrison Park, the Onanole Foundation and the Sandy Lake Area Fund are the local affiliated organizations. The Onanole Foundation operates on its own and has managed and distributed community funding since the mid-60’s. The original seed money was contributed from the development of Grey Owl Estates.
The Onanole Foundation’s mission is ‘to build an endowment fund to be distributed for the betterment of the Onanole community.’ To that end, for 2018, the Board granted monies totaling $2750 split between the Wasagaming Arts Council, Erickson Palliative Care, Services to Seniors, Serving Onanole, Erickson & Sandy Lake, and the Onanole & District Fire Department.
The Sandy Lake Endowment Fund is associated with the larger Killarney Foundation and came into being from an original donation of $25,000 from Sandy Lake resident Earl Symonds. To date, the Fund has received contributions of $300,000 and has disbursed over $37,000 to deserving Sandy Lake projects.
More information regarding the Onanole Foundation, Sandy Lake Endowment Fund, and the Clanwilliam-Erickson Endowment Fund can be found at the following websites:
http://www.endowmanitoba.ca/wp-content/uploads/onanolefdn_brochure_2016.pdf
http://www.sandylakemanitoba.com/endowment-fund.html
http://www.ericksonmb.ca/endowment-fund.html
Blair is a personification of a ‘Jack of All Trades and Master of None’. He has held several careers and has all the T-shirts. Time to add the title Blogger to the list.