There were shrieks of joy, gasps and even tears from the crowd Wednesday night at the Morden Area Foundation's 30th year of giving out grants at the yearend meeting. The brief AGM outlining the work of the organization and financial statements flowed into a time of wine and cheese and granting of $57,000 to 9 different organizations for various projects and one matching grant for the Discovery Trails Track and Field project.
The night ended with an announcement from Sam Andrews, a founding member and Director of the Thomas Sill Foundation.
MAF Board Chair Sue Nelson had a big smile on her face as she recounted the news.
"Tonight, we received $1.188 million from the Thomas Sill Foundation to be put into the Thomas Sill Fund in the Morden Area Foundation. So, that means this fund will generate approximately $50,000 that we can give away to charitable organizations in the Morden and area. The charitable groups are doing the work on the ground and it's so great that we are able to help them."
When describing the crowd's reaction Nelson said, she had cried when she first received the good news and what this means for the community.
"I don't know what it was like. I know that there were some gasps. I know there were some, especially some from the Founding Members, and it's just kudos to them for having the vision to have started it, because it's going to be good forever. It will have a lasting impact on this community. I can't imagine the wonderful things that will come out of it and the wonderful projects and what we'll be able to support will be amazing."
MAF celebrated its thirtieth year of giving back to the community with over $4 million dollars in their fund. This year, with grants, matching grants, Power of the Purse fundraiser and bursary and scholarships, $107,000 were awarded.
Andrews explained some history of the TSF and why the money is being given now.
"Well, it started 35 years ago and over the years it has, I believe, distributed in excess of $40 million. For these last. 35 years when that disbursement was in the vicinity of 38 million. So that money is now being turned over to various foundations."
The TSF is wrapping up and other foundations will also benefit from the dispersing of the funds.
Andrews, responded to what it was like, as a founding member, to be able to make this announcement on the 30th anniversary on behalf of TSF.
"I think back, there were seven of us on that original board. It was a challenge. The thing that really started this was the challenge grants that the Thomas Sill Foundation set up for community foundations. At that time, I think it was a 2for1 matching thing. And we were the first foundation to do that with the Sill Foundation back in 1993. And to see it have grown to $4.1 million is pretty amazing. Pretty amazing."
Nelson estimated the funds generated by this new money will be an additional $50,000 per year, forever, which will leave a lasting impact on Morden and the surrounding area.
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