Community Foundation of the Kootenay Rockies Grants over $50,000 and Grows Endowment Funds by $32,000

Elkford, Sparwood, Fernie, and Cranbrook, BC (May 17, 2021) – The Community Foundation of the Kootenay Rockies has recently completed its largest ever annual granting program, allocating a total of $53,300.19 to 41 community projects/initiatives. In addition, a total of $32,730.77 has been re-invested in the principals of seventeen endowment funds, to grow future granting.

“The Community Foundation is thrilled to support the excellent work of these local non-profit organizations that contribute so much to each of our communities, especially during the current pandemic,” stated Lynnette Wray, CFKR Executive Director.

The Community Foundation of the Kootenay Rockies (CFKR) provided 2021 grants to a wide range of community projects and programs. All grant applications were reviewed by CFKR’s local volunteer committees, with granting decisions ratified by the CFKR Board.

 

The Elkford Community Fund awarded a total of $3,157.53 in its second year of granting:

  • Wapiti Ski Club (picnic tables and heaters): $1,500.00
  • Elkford Public Library Association (books for youth): $658.03
  • Elkford Skating Club (skating program): $599.50
  • Twin Meadows Animal Rescue Society (veterinary care): $400.00

Tara Olsen, Wapiti Ski Hill – Secretary (with daughter Aubrey) and Ethel Robinson, Elkford Community Fund Steering Committee Member

 

Alex Faucher, Elkford Public Library – Director and Vera Rees, Elkford Community Fund Steering Committee Member

 

Tiffany Canlas, Elkford Figure Skating Club – President and  Shawna Klein, Elkford Community Fund Steering Committee Member

 

Punjeet Grewal, Twin Meadows Animal Rescue Co-President and founder (with dog Lily) and Terry Vandale, Elkford Community Fund Steering Committee Chair

 

The Sparwood Community Fund granted a total of $4,442.24 to the following projects:

  • Elk Valley Seniors Housing Society (Meals on Wheels): $1,530.00
  • Sparwood Golf Club (clubhouse lighting project): $1,206.12
  • Twin Meadows Animal Rescue Society (veterinary care): $1,206.12
  • Columbia Basin Environmental Education Network (Wild Voices Sparwood): $500.00

Sparwood Golf Club

 

Meals on Wheels – Sparwood

 

The Fernie Community Fund allocated their $3,744.01 granting total as follows:

  • Fernie Family Garden (accessibility project): $1,500.00
  • Fernie and District Arts Council (public arts festival): $1,000.00
  • Association Francophone des Rocheuses du Sud (Story Walk): $744.01
  • Fernie Legion (facility improvement project): $500.00

 

In Cranbrook and area, $13,683.22 in grants were provided by several endowment funds, including the Cranbrook Community Fund; Seniors’ Enhancement Fund; Kimberley-Cranbrook 2008 Winter Games Arts/Culture and Sports Funds; Knights of Pythias Fund; Arts, Culture, and Heritage Fund; Environment Fund; and Outdoor Recreation Fund:

  • Knights of Pythias community volunteerism award: $500.00
  • Columbia Basin Environmental Education Network (Wild Voices): $1,000.00
  • Cranbrook & District Search and Rescue Society (medical supplies): $1,500.00
  • Community Connections of SE BC:
    • Edible Garden at new Cranbrook Food Bank location: $1,029.02
    • Better At Home – Transportation for Seniors: $1,500.00
  • Cranbrook and District Arts Council (new laptop): $1,244.89
  • The Dwelling Place Church Ministries (door project): $1,273.91
  • East Kootenay Foundation for Health (Foundry EK): $1,500.00
  • East Kootenay SPCA (cat towers): $741.95
  • Galloway Curling Club (hot water heater replacement): $1,143.45
  • Symphony of the Kootenays (outdoor concert): $750.00
  • Wildsight (Eco-Stewards): $1,500.00

Sean Campbell (CFKR Director) with Jenny Lee Crown and Carrie Chernove from Cranbrook & District Search and Rescue Society

 

Nancy Reid (Executive Director, Community Connections Society of SE BE) with Carol Hatala (CFKR Vice-Chair)

 

LaVerna Peters and Yvonne Vigne (Cranbrook & District Arts Council) with Sean Campbelle (CFKR Director)

 

Pastor Ron Short (The Dwelling Place) with Sean Campbell (CFKR Director)

 

Carol Hatala (CFKR Vice-Chair) with Brenna Baker (Executive Director, East Kootenay Foundation for Health)

 

Christy King (Executive Director, East Kootenay SPCA) with Sean Campbell (CFKR Director)

 

Joanne Gareau (Galloway Curling Club) with Sean Campbell (CFKR Director)

 

Ian Adams and Jim Webster (Symphony of the Kootenays) with Sean Campbell (CFKR Director)

 

Jill Jennings (Wildsight, Education Coordinator)

 

CFKR’s agency/designated endowment funds provided the following grants:

  • East Kootenay Community Credit Union Endowment Fund to Cranbrook Salvation Army food programs: $2,525.76
  • Columbia Outdoor School/Blue Lake Camp: $2,066.02
  • Cranbrook History Centre: $1,314.18
  • Cranbrook Community Theatre: $500.80
  • Children First (early childhood education/support): $1,661.62
  • East Kootenay Foundation for Health: $1,121.39
  • EKFH-Roy & Annabel Maundrell Fund: $255.53

Major Ginny Kristensen – Cranbrook Salvation Army with Carol Hatala (CFKR Vice-Chair)

 

Marnee Bellavance – Cranbrook Community Theatre with Carol Hatala (CFKR Vice-Chair)

 

CFKR’s donor-advised funds granted the following:

  • Casey and Corrine Hanemayer Fund provided operational grants to CMHA-Kootenays/Haven Gardens for $4,500.00 and to CFKR for $8.642.63
  • Melodie Hull Fund for Mental Health and Addictions (BC Schizophrenia Society, local support groups): $485.07
  • Greg Fisher Community Fund: $1,306.14 to The Kidney Foundation of Canada, BC/Yukon Branch
  • Janice Regnier Fund for Mental Health and Addictions: $522.10 to The Kidney Foundation of Canada, BC/Yukon Branch
  • Community Matters Fund (Foundry EK): $246.95
  • Hough Ingalls Fund for Animal Welfare (EK SPCA cat towers): $375.00

Brooke Belkin (CMHA-Kootenays, Director of Women and Youth Services) with with Carol Hatala (CFKR Vice-Chair)

 

Bonnie Spence-Vinge (B.C. Schizophrenia Society, East Kootenay Regional Educator), Carol Hatala (CFKR Vice-Chair), and Melodie Hull (Melodie Hull Fund for Mental Health and Addictions)

 

CFKR looks forward to awarding our 2021 scholarships in the coming months:

  • Dr. Sparling and Mrs. Mary East Memorial Scholarship (Fernie): $1,000.00
  • Mark Mahovlic Memorial Scholarship (Cranbrook): $1,000.00
  • Pidoca Construction Group Memorial Scholarship (Cranbrook): $750.00

 

Thanks to their long-standing commitment to grow CFKR’s permanently invested endowment funds, the Casey and Corrine Hanemayer Funds re-invested a significant portion of their 2021 grants in the following endowment funds:

  • East Kootenay SPCA Fund: $5,000.00
  • Friends of Fort Steele Fund: $5,000.00
  • Cranbrook History Centre Fund: $5,000.00
  • East Kootenay Foundation for Health Fund: $5,000.00

 

In addition, numerous other endowment fund holders also re-invested their 2021 grants, thereby growing their principals and their future granting:

  • Joyce Metcalfe Memorial Fund (Cranbrook Bugle Band): $444.60
  • Key City Theatre Legacy Fund: $235.71
  • Friends of Fort Steele Fund: $5,315.65
  • Symphony of the Kootenays: $2,373.19
  • Niedermayer Family Fund: $1,643.08
  • Hough Ingalls Fund for Animal Welfare: $21.63
  • Northern BC Friends of Children East Kootenay Branch Fund: $312.99
  • Cranbrook Chamber of Commerce Education Fund: $279.71
  • Cranbrook Boys and Girls Club Fund: $320.85
  • East Kootenay SPCA Fund: $282.69
  • Cranbrook Past and Present Teachers’ Legacy Fund: $274.85
  • Cranbrook Public Library Fund: $727.01
  • Key City Gymnastics Club Fund: $498.81