For Robert Martens, it is extremely gratifying to see how far the Altona Community Foundation (ACF) has come in the 30 years since its inception in 1994.
Martens helped kickstart the organization all those years ago, and was among dozens of board members, past and present, and steadfast donors who gathered Thursday evening to celebrate this milestone.
While he says tremendous support poured in from businesses and individuals in order to raise the $200,000 and earn a $100,000 matching grant from Thomas Sill Foundation, there were no guarantees the overall concept would take off and raise enough money to be significant in the long run.
"When you start these things, you just don't know if they will be able to carry on on their own [...] but that has turned out really well and it's gratifying to see that," commented Martens.
Today, ACF boasts an impressive nearly $2.6 million in assets spread across 11 funds: primarily the ACF-managed capital campaign, the Thomas Sill Fund, Future Ag Leader Scholarship, the Curtis Klassen Memorial Fund, Kendall Ann Wiebe Memorial Award, Richard Neufeld Legacy Fund, Menno H. Friesen Fund, Youth in Philanthropy (Yip), Rosenfeld Cemetery Fund, Neubergthal Heritage Fund and finally, Bergfeld Missions Fund.
Each of these has contributed to over $1 million granted back into Altona and surrounding area since 1994.
"I think you always had hopes that it would grow significantly but yes, to this level, we didn't have a number in mind. We just hoped there was enough to make a difference and there is, and it's getting bigger," beamed Martens.
Hope for the future
Additionally, Martens said it's great to see the next generation getting involved in the Foundation and taking the lead.
"I have been involved with different charitable organizations and so often, everybody sitting around the board table has white hair like me," he explained with a chuckle. "And it's great to see these younger people taking this on."
Martens is also encouraged by the Foundation's partnership with the Youth in Philanthropy (Yip) committee at the local high school, W.C. Miller Collegiate, noting it gives him hope for the organization's future.
"I think that helps bring them into the Foundation at a later date."
Current ACF President, Haydon Friesen, is part of that next generation of leaders and says it's an honour.
"To look around the room and see all of the people who have brought it to this point and all the work that they've done to build it up to what it is today," he said. "(To) continue the momentum as much as we are able to, as the current board, and honour those that have put so much effort to get it here."
Re-investing in the community
"It really has come full circle," added Friesen. "To be part of the organization now and to have grown up with the founders and who have supported projects that I have been able to take advantage of growing up. I'm partly giving back as much as I can, but also to see the growth and to build on the foundation that they have built for us and to continue to see that flourish in our community."
In 2023, the Foundation approved the largest single-project grant of $50,000 to the Kiddie Sunshine Center expansion project over five years. Also, that year, ACF received its largest single donation to-date from the Thomas Sill Foundation, $750,000, which pushed its total assets over the $2.5 million mark.
With the amount of granting dollars continuing to grow on an annual basis, the expectation is there will be even more money available for projects and organizations to take advantage of in the coming years.
"These accomplishments are a testament to the generosity of our donors, the dedication of our volunteer boards and, most importantly, the passion of our grant applicants who have set out on our mission to enhance our community as a whole," stated Friesen in his speech Thursday evening.
Also at the celebration, ACF doled out its 2024 Fall Grants, a total of $31,500. They are as follows:
- Gretna Stars Rec. Hockey: $1,250 for a skate sharpener
- Altona Minor Baseball: $2,750 for clay and clay bricks for diamonds
- Gardens on Tenth: $3,500 for a new industrial dishwasher at The Apartments
- Kiddie Sunshine Centre: $2,200 for a laptop and floor cleaner in the new facility, and $600 for a new vacuum cleaner at the Centre Ave. location
- Youth for Christ: $1,750 for sporting equipment
- Pembina Counselling Centre: $1,750 for new computers
- Altona Angel's Softball: $4,500 for dugout roofs
- Altona Community Healthcare Board: $1,700 to for a physician's office/break room renovation at the Altona Clinic
- Access Field: $2,900 for digital video boards
Learn more about the Altona Community Foundation here.