Submitted by the Selkirk and District Community Foundation
To quote anyone who’s ever been astonished, “Wow.”
Official numbers for the Endow Manitoba Giving Challenge Week have been released, and the Selkirk & District Community Foundation’s kind and caring donors have amazed one more time, donating $98,115 during the week.
Chair Deborah Vitt was enthusiastic about the news.
“It’s a little mind blowing when you see numbers like that,” Vitt said.
“We know how much our donors care, we know they support their communities, and we know they’re committed to making our communities better. But to see that in one week, almost $100,000 donated, it’s humbling. And at the Foundation, we’re grateful. Thank you to everyone.”
Giving week takes place every November, and during the week, donations to the Foundation’s Community Fund are stretched by funds from the Winnipeg Foundation and the Provincial Government. This year, there were 189 donations made to SDCF during Giving Week.
Meredith Boerchers, Executive Director of the SDCF, says it’s an incredible week.
“There’s such a good community vibe in the air during the Giving Challenge, and it’s evident on the final Saturday when the Foundation hosts donors at the Gaynor Family Regional Library,” Boerchers said.
“All these wonderful familiar faces stop by, make their donation, have a cup of coffee and a chat. It’s a day we all look forward to, because we get to spend time with the donors who are at the heart of Giving Week and the Foundation.”
Donations help the Foundation fuel numerous community organizations every year. Last November, the Foundation provided grants to 32 organizations that had applied during the fall intake. Those organizations shared in $204,434.
“It’s donors who make that possible,” Vitt said.
“We’ve just shared the new Vital Signs report with the community, and our granting decisions are guided by that report. The Foundation provided grants to support recreation, housing and other sectors that were identified in the report. The generosity of our donors, during Giving Week and all year long, is what makes that possible.”
The Giving Challenge began province-wide in 2014 and, since that time, has added almost $9 million to the undesignated funds of community foundations across Manitoba. This year, a total of $1,747,057.48 was donated to 56 community foundations.
