Wouldn’t it be nice if your one-time gift could keep creating revenue for local charities, for years to come? That’s exactly what the Steinbach Community Foundation does. Executive Director Lynda Lambert explains.
“Community foundations are all about legacy and longevity and sustainability of your region, forever. So with the Steinbach Community Foundation, 100% of your gift is invested. We do not take any fees off it. And then every year interest is earned, and that’s the money we get to grant. So your gift will be part of a different local project every year, to infinity.”
Lambert is enthusiastic about the many grants the Steinbach Community Foundation has made in the past.
“We grant out to anything from arts, culture, and heritage to medical, education, youth, seniors, you name it. Last year we granted to the Children's Rehabilitation Foundation. They are not within our jurisdiction, but the people they were assisting were. So we granted to two children from our region who were in the care of the Children’s Rehabilitation Foundation.”
The Pat Porter Active Living Centre is a busy place that hosts many groups in the Southeast. Lambert says the stage at the centre had been falling into disrepair and was becoming a hazard, particularly considering the many dances that are held in the centre, so the Steinbach Community Foundation gave the PPALC a grant to replace the whole floor, which has made a world of a difference for so many people.
“We've also granted to Chalet Malouin, which is housing for seniors in St. Malo. They had big, heavy metal doors that were very difficult to open – particularly for people who use wheelchairs and walkers. So we gave them a grant to add mechanisms to their doors to make them automatic, so seniors could get in the building easily.”
These are only a few examples of the many ways the Steinbach Community Foundation makes a difference in local lives every day, for always.
You can support the Foundation in continuing to make a difference for your kids, grandkids, and everyone in the Southeast, by joining the Giving Challenge now until Sunday.
“The more money we put into our General Community Fund, the more interest it will generate, and the more money we’ll be able to grant out to the community,” shares Lambert.
Lambert says the best part is that if the Steinbach Community Foundation raises $10,000 this week, matching funds have been pledged from Harvest Honda, David Banman and Anne Barkman, The Winnipeg Foundation, TDS Law, and the Government of Manitoba.
“But first we have to raise $10,000 before November 17th. Only then will they match $10,000. So if we reach our goal by Sunday, that's an immediate $20,000 for our local Community Foundation! And then we get to invest that money, and we'll be able to grant out more next year!”
The Giving Challenge is on now, and ends this Sunday. So feel free to challenge a friend, or a friend’s entire workplace, to give just like you are! A bit of friendly competition is perfect for this community project.
Lambert notes that in order for your gift to count for the matching donations, you need to make sure you give this week.
“You can send me a cheque, or let me know where to pick up a cheque, as long as it's written out between November 12th and 17th, we're good.”
To contribute to the Giving Challenge right now, click here: https://www.mycharitytools.com/gift/wpgfdn/donate?fund=274
To learn more about the Steinbach Community Foundation, click here: https://steinbachcommunityfoundation.ca/
“If you're going to give, this is the time to do so. If you want your money to work as hard as you did to earn it, this is it. This is the time.”
