It was Thanksgiving come early for many community groups who were the beneficiaries of grants from the Shuswap Community Foundation at their annual community meeting Thursday night.
A total of 24 different grants totalling $234,569 were formally distributed by the foundation which, for the first time, operated two granting cycles in both the spring and fall. This enables the foundation to respond to the needs of non-profit groups throughout the year.
Dave Wood, foundation president told the assembled crowd at the Prestige Inn that the foundation’s capital sets should soon surpass $7 million, which provides the interest generation that allows the foundation to disperse the community grants.
“Community Foundations play a crucial role in how people give back where communities need it most. We connect people, families and companies with causes that inspire them – pooling resources, knowledge and expertise to achieve greater impact,” he notes in his report.
Funds went to groups throughout the Shuswap, including as far ranging as Seymour Arm, Celista and Malakwa.
Some of the funded projects for Salmon Arm include the construction of a bird observation town in Peter Jannick Park, funding for trail projects, renovations to the SPCA shelter, support for symphony performances, as well as upgrades to the fairgrounds and R.J. Haney Heritage Park. Other grants went to the creation of programs such as a kids gardening project at the Shuswap Day Care, support for programs for at-risk teens and a cultural program for adult education students at Okanagan College.
For Sicamous:
Grants to the Sicamous area included funds for the Eagle Valley Support Society’s community garden program, the Malakwa Communtiy Centre Association’s permanent stage for Music in the Park, renovations for the Malakwa Thrift Store and the Sicamous and District Seniors Centre Society for an awning to protect motorized scooters from the elements.
New endowment funds created this year include the Dearing Family Endowment, the Jack and Edith Stead Hospital Endowment, the Lloyd and Joy Johnson Family Endowment, the Mickey Petersen Endowment, the Nina Dickens Family Endowment, the Rick and Linda Hirtle Family Endowment, the SABNES Endowment and the Shane Gorner Memorial Endowment.