The Morris Area Foundation celebrated its 10th anniversary in conjunction with its annual general meeting last week.
About 30 people were on hand at the Riverview Golf Course to hear highlights of the past year including the annual giving challenge in November and second annual grant award gala in December when 10 awards totalling $26,500 were presented.
The Red River Valley Lodge and Morris Early Learning Centre, both recipients of past grants, gave updates on their recent successes.
Morris Area Foundation chairperson Curtis Evenson emphasized the benefits of the foundation.
“The principal is never spent. Most younger people want immediate return; this is forever. It’s a pretty cool thing,” he said, noting how donations received by a foundation build the permanent endowment funds from which the interest can be given out as the grants to benefit the local community.
“In 2023, the foundation received $81,388 from donors, bequests, matching and round-it-up challenges,” said Evenson.
“We want to get to know groups that need assistance. The Morris Area Foundation represents the whole Rural Municipality of Morris, and we are aiming to be more visible in the future.”
Formed in 2001, the Morris Area Foundation received full status in January 2013, and it raised $137,000 by its third year of operation through a series of giving challenges.
Having a strategic plan has helped the foundation with growth.
“(The foundation) is gaining momentum, thanks to generous donors, with $632,000 of endowment funds raised,” noted director Del Stevenson. “Where will we be in another ten years?”
More information about the Morris Area Foundation can be found at themafinc.com website.
