A milestone brunch of generosity and community spirit took place Saturday, April 5th as the Morden Area Foundation (MAF) hosted its 10th annual Power of the Purse event. The evening celebrated a decade of impactful giving, bringing together over a hundred women united by a shared goal—to support local charities making a difference.
“We had 127 women at our event and I think that might be a record high,” -Sue Nelson, Chair of the Morden Area Foundation
A decade of impact
“This was our 10th year,” shares Sue Nelson, Chair of the Morden Area Foundation. “100 women each bring $100, listen to three pitches from charitable organizations in the community for a project that they want to do, and then decide how they would like to assign their money.”
For this special anniversary edition, MAF added an extra boost. “We were super excited to have four charities this year and on top of that the foundation threw in an extra $10,000,” Nelson explains.
Record turnout and generosity
With 127 women participating—what Nelson believes may be a record—the event raised a total of $22,700.
Each participant had the option to donate all or a portion of their contribution to the organization(s) of their choice. The result: four deserving charities walked away with funding for key community projects.
Four local charities awarded funding
The organizations receiving support were Big Brothers Big Sisters of Pembina Valley, Chance 2 Camp, the Douglas Kuhl School of Music, and the Pembina Hills Arts Council.
“Really great organizations doing wonderful things in the community,” says Nelson.
Big Brothers Big Sisters received $5,500 to support their GROW program, a youth workshop initiative. Chance 2 Camp was awarded $6,000 to help send underprivileged youth to summer camps.
The Douglas Kuhl School of Music received $5,200 to fund a conductor for one of its strings programs, and the Pembina Hills Arts Council was granted $6,000 to continue its work enriching the local arts scene.
A legacy of empowered giving
The Power of the Purse event is just one example of how MAF helps connect donors with meaningful causes. Since its founding in 1993, the Morden Area Foundation has worked to support a vibrant and resilient community through long-term, sustainable funding.
To learn more about how MAF supports local initiatives year-round, visit: Home - Morden Area Foundation