The Coldwell Community Foundation is celebrating a landmark year in 2025, marked by significant growth, new partnerships and record-breaking support for the Lundar-area community.
Treasurer Irene Runolfson said the foundation’s success was made possible through the generosity of donors and continued community engagement, with a full review of the year to be released in its upcoming annual report.
A major milestone came in June when, after 20 years of incorporation, the foundation established its first permanent office space. The organization began renting space in the Pauline Johnson Library on Main Street in Lundar, creating a visible and accessible location for the public.
Runolfson said the move has strengthened the foundation’s ability to connect with donors, meet prospective fund holders and welcome community members to learn more about its work.
The new location also reflects a meaningful connection in the foundation’s history. Former Lundar resident Donald K. Johnson, who donated funds to build the Pauline Johnson Library, also launched the foundation’s endowment fund in 2010 with a $25,000 gift.
In 2025, the foundation expanded its impact with the creation of two new scholarship funds.
The Johann and Helga Sigurdson Scholarship Fund was established by family members in honour of Helga Sigurdson’s 105th birthday and in recognition of the couple’s longstanding contributions to the Lundar community. Beginning this June, the fund will award an annual scholarship to a Lundar high school graduate pursuing post-secondary education.
The Sveinbjorn and Mary Olafson Family Fund was also created in the fall, with plans to begin awarding an annual scholarship starting in 2027. Details of the scholarship are expected to be announced at a later date.
The foundation also received a major financial boost in September with a $50,000 donation from Richard Hughes, former owner of CFRY radio in Portage la Prairie. In a letter accompanying the gift, Hughes said the donation was made in recognition of the support the station received from communities served by the foundation.
Runolfson said the contribution will have a lasting impact by strengthening future granting opportunities.
The foundation responded quickly to an urgent community need in October when the Lundar Co-op Senior Citizen Home required immediate upgrades to its door locking system ahead of winter.
An initial $5,000 was allocated from a budget surplus, and when a previously approved $10,000 grant for another project was deferred to 2026, those funds were redirected to the seniors’ home. The combined support helped cover nearly the full cost of installing a new computerized door monitoring system in time for the colder months.
Community support remained strong during the Endow Manitoba Giving Challenge in November. The foundation received 53 gifts, raising $17,370 for its unrestricted granting fund and securing the full $4,000 in stretch funding from The Winnipeg Foundation and the province.
Overall, the foundation distributed a record $73,084.58 in grants, flow-through funding and scholarships in 2025. Runolfson said the year’s achievements reflect the strength of community spirit in the region and position the foundation for continued growth in the years ahead.
