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MAF Board and WSD Trustees with the cheque for the $25, 000 Matching Grant.
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MAF Board and WSD Trustees with the cheque for the $25, 000 Matching Grant.
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The Morden Area Foundation (MAF) was happy to invest in several projects in 2023, it's 30th year of giving back to Morden and the surrounding area. Several of the seven founding members of the organization were in attendance for the evening to celebrate. 

The AGM started the evening giving an overview of MAF's work and financial statements, indicating the grants are given based on the just over $4 million in its fund. 

MAF Board Chair Sue Nelson explained the breakdown of the funds given out this year.     

"Our granting tonight was $57,000 for projects, and then $25,000 was the matching grant, and then, if you would include our scholarships ($14,700) and our Power of the Purse ($11,000), it was $107,000 this year into projects. I think that's pretty awesome." 

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MAF Chair Sue Nelson

Nine organizations shared the $57,000. 

The Morden Activity Centre (MAC) invested its funds ($8,174.59) in one employee in particular, receiving the "Happy Custodian" grant to buy a floor cleaner. 

MAC Executive Director Wendi Dyck explained Randy Friesen has been working at the center for close to 20 years, and he has washed the close to 10,000 square feet of floors after every event (and more) with a mop and bucket. 

"Most people know Randy. He is the person who sets up rentals, takes them down, he talks to the people renting, the people that do programs. Randy is there behind the scenes. He gives his time to everybody, and he makes sure that everybody has what they need, and he is very deserving plus more for being able to get this. So, we're just very thankful to the Morden Area Foundation for giving us this opportunity to give back to a staff member who's giving back to the center for years." 

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Cheque presentation to Morden Activity Centre

The other 8 grant recipients were:  

Chance to Camp received $4,000 to send kids to camp. 

Many Hands received $10,000 for a Reviving Wheels of Hope Food Bank delivery van. 

Pembina Valley Humane Society received $2,000 for a snowblower. 

1-6 Community Club received $10,000 for the conversion from fossil fuel heating to electric heating for the over 100-year-old building. 

BTHC Foundation received $3,822 for an updated Crash Cart. The current cart was used in Winkler's Bethel Hospital. 

SCRL Morden Circulation Desk received $1,500 towards the circulation desk project. 

EMMS received $10,000 towards the replacement of an aging playground structure. 

Minnewasta Golf and Country Club received $7,500 for a golf simulator. 

One Matching Grant was given to Western School Division (WSD) for the Discovery Trails Track and Field project. The school division raised $25,000 successfully in November and early December. 

WSD Trustee David Guenther explained a bit about the project. 

"The Morden Area Foundation has generously partnered with us to match donations up to $25,000 towards the Discovery Trails Track and Field, which is the first rubberized track in Southern Manitoba. An investment in the community that will last for generations, and it partners well with their mandates of investing in community, making sure the donations outlast them."  

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WSD Trustees David Guenther and WSD Vice Chair Darcy Wolfe

Guenther said this is a good reflection of the community support the $1.4 million project is receiving. 

"So, the $25,000 Matching Grant matched really nicely with all the community members and small businesses also contributing $25,000. This $50,000 kicks us right over our 75% mark. We've raised a total of just over $760,000 now." 

MAF also highlighted two new funds for 2023, the Learn & Return Healthcare Bursary Fund to recruit Heathcare workers for BTHC and Morden Menzies Medical Centre and the Royal Canadian Legion Morden Branch #11 in honour of the late Bill Lyne.  

The end of the evening closed with a special announcement from the Thomas Sill Foundation making a donation to MAF for $1.188 million, bringing the crowd to its feet with gasps, cheers and even tears. 

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