Giving Challenge Week got off to a great start for the Morden Area Foundation.
A $10,000 donation from the estate of Harold Bollenbach was presented by family members last Tuesday morning, and four of his nieces were happy to be doing it on his behalf.
“I know Uncle Harold would be very proud … and we are too,” said Lois Dudgeon.
She noted that she has donated money in the past during Giving Challenge Week, and she thinks her uncle would have been happy to see the extended impact the campaign’s matching donations from Endow Manitoba and the Government of Manitoba provide.
“It’s pretty exciting that it’s doubled in size,” said Dudgeon. “I thought this was the perfect time to earmark the monies he had set aside for the foundation and contribute to this, because it’s matched.”
Sandra Bollenbach felt he would particularly like supporting the foundation because it does so much for the community that he cared so much about.
“He always kept up on the business of the town, so he knew what was going on,” she said. “He was always our scribe for our family. He wrote stories … he put letters in the paper.
“He had an opinion about pretty well everything … if he didn’t agree, he wasn’t shy about saying what he thought.”
Foundation board chair Sue Nelson hoped a gift like this might perhaps be an additional encouragement to others thinking of donating.
“We are absolutely thrilled … it’s wonderful to highlight the beginning of the Giving Challenge,” she said. “This is a great way to put money in … not only is it used right now, but it continues forever.
“We made just over $35,000 in our Giving Challenge last year,” she shared. “I am cautiously optimistic that we can raise $50,000.”
The foundation is now looking forward to announcing its next set of grants as part of their annual Christmas gathering Dec. 11 at the Morden Legion hall.
