Since the October 2019 launch, the Yorkton and District Community Foundation has accepted donations for an annual grants program to support the work of local charities. Fifty-two thousand dollars has been donated to date by 22 donors.
鈥淒onations of any size are welcomed, 鈥� says president, Sharon Tropin. 鈥淚n the first year the Community Foundation hope to establish an initial endowment fund by encouraging one hundred large donations.鈥�
鈥淭he First 100 Caring People鈥� campaign is underway with individuals, businesses and groups accepting the challenge to make a donation of one thousand dollars or more. The 鈥淔irst 100鈥� will also be recognized going forward as having founded the Yorkton and District Community Foundation.
Bailey鈥檚 Funeral Home was the first business to step forward, followed closely after by Michael Riecken of C.A. Reed Consulting Engineers, Westland Insurance Group Ltd operating as Farrell Agencies, and Sensus Chartered Professional Accountants Ltd.
The first individuals to donate to 鈥淭he First 100鈥� campaign include Delores and Clarke Anderson, Gene and Gladys Krepakevich, Sharon and John Tropin, Larry and Sonia Pearen, Vic and Evelyn Surjik, Les and Jenice Arnelien, Rob McDill, Laurie Renton, Dick Deryk, Raymond and Elsie Malinowski, Allan Bailey, George and Dolena Plews, Gerry Ann and Earl Fraser.
鈥淭here is still opportunity to be recognized as one of the first one hundred people, groups or businesses to leave a lasting legacy to the community by helping establish this annual grants program,鈥� says Tropin.
The first grants will be awarded in March 2021.
Tropin says that leaving a legacy in a person's will is also an option. The Community Foundation is aware of a number of individuals that have left endowments in their wills valued at over two hundred thousand dollars.
Donations can be arranged through personal financial advisors, and directly by contacting any of the Community Foundation board members, or by setting up an appointment by
email to [email protected]. The Yorkton and District Community Foundation website provides information on the methods of donating which include secure online donation.
鈥淓veryone has their personal reason for giving鈥�, says Sharon Tropin. 鈥淢y husband, John, and I like the fact that our donation to the Community Foundation will generate grants to help people in our community, year after year, and even beyond our own lifetime.鈥�
Tropin says that for others it may be that the Yorkton & District Community Foundation is an easy way to connect with the causes that matter to the donor; or that, donations given now and in the future can build until the donor can have a fund named for themselves, their business or for someone they wish to recognize.
Three organizations have also donated to the campaign including the Yorkton Chamber of Commerce and the Rotary Club.
鈥淭he largest donation to date comes from a group of people in the community who had raised funds to support mental health,鈥� says Tropin. 鈥淭he Yorkton Mental Health Association disbanded a few years ago and were looking for a way to support mental health in the community with the money that they had raised.鈥�
There are six major cause areas for which the Yorkton & District Community Foundation hopes to build endowment funds. Every donor can state the cause area they are most passionate about supporting. Smaller donations will contribute to the 鈥淕eneral Community Fund鈥� for projects that address the most pressing needs in the community.
Donations of $5,000 have the option to be a named fund and $10,000 or more can be attached to a specific cause area. With donations of $100,000 or more the donor may specify that the donation be used to support a specific charity, or community.
鈥淭he Yorkton Mental Health Association donation of $30,000 will become a named fund specifically linked to mental health project grants and others will be able to contribute to that fund if they wish to support mental health,鈥� adds Tropin. 鈥淥ver time we hope to see endowment funds to support all cause areas.鈥�
The complete list of donors and more information about donating can be found on the Yorkton and District Community Foundation website www.ydcf.ca.
