“How far that little candle throws his beams!
So shines a good deed in a weary world.”
– William Shakespeare
August is a tremendous month for your Community Foundation of Northwestern Alberta. We are blessed to enjoy some beautiful sunny days in the amazing landscape that is Northwestern Alberta. This summer, in particular, was full of uplifting energy and a shared excitement around Canada’s 150th Anniversary. At your Community Foundation, we were fortunate to be able to support eight fantastic local initiatives honoring the historic occasion; the last Canada 150 celebration that we supported this year took place Saturday. Vice Chair of the Board Steven Hinkley stopped by the Celebrate Bezanson – Homecoming, Fair & Horseshow to say a couple of words on behalf of the Community Foundation about how proud we are to be able to support important community initiatives. While Steven was speaking in Bezanson, I was enjoying a sunshine filled morning of golf with some beautiful community members at the Sexsmith & District’s Play for Community Golf & Fundraiser. A huge thank you goes out to everyone who dedicated their time, donated prizes, and joined us for a great day of golf!
Taking a look back at August is a reflection of just how many wonderful opportunities your Community Foundation of Northwestern Alberta has to support our region. The newsletter below, our website, and our Annual Reports are full of our stories – stories that share the enormous impact that your Community Foundation can have. As we head into September, the importance of our work and the demand from the community for support is apparent, now more than ever. Every day we see the impact of our community working together, and it’s amazing! My invitation for this month is for every person to take that extra step in becoming involved with our community. Whether it’s attending Nourish the North Wine & Auction for the first time or buying an entire table to fill the seats with guests, every community member and every contribution make a difference.
Your Community Foundation works to invest in and strengthen our region because community matters. Nothing demonstrates that commitment to creating healthy and resilient communities like Northwestern Alberta Vital Signs®. We invite you to join us Tuesday, October 3rd for the launch of 2017 Northwestern Alberta Vital Signs®. This community check-up is a powerful tool for informing and engaging the community at large and the Northwestern Alberta Vital Signs® Report inspires important discussion about the quality of life in our region.
Please feel free to contact me at (780) 538-2820 to discuss how you can partner with the Community Foundation of Northwestern Alberta and how you can impact and inspire others.
Connect people. Build community. For good, and forever.
Warmest Wishes,
Tracey Vavrek, CEO
GIVING
Nourish the North Wine & Auction 2017
You are invited to an amazing evening of food, fellowship and philanthropy where community members come together to learn and be inspired.
As our team puts our nose to the grindstone this month we are so fortunate to be able to look up and see the incredible impact of the work that we do, none of which would be possible without the amazing dedication of our amazing ambassadors, community partners, donors, volunteers, and guests. We encourage the community to join us Thursday, September 28th for an evening of food, fellowship, and philanthropy. Nourish the North Wine & Auction is always an engaging, inspiring, and beautiful evening that guests won’t soon forget!
Join your community, buy tickets to Nourish the North today! Can’t make this year’s event? You can still donate in support of your community.
inspiring & engaging local youth
Not only is Nourish the North Wine & Auction an amazing event where community champions connect and come together, it is an opportunity for your Community Foundation to support our region.
One of the most enjoyable aspects of the annual event is having the opportunity to bring great Canadians to our region and this year we’re spreading the love! The keynote speaker at Nourish the North Wine & Auction 2017, Mr. Frank O’Dea, will engage & inspire local youth before taking the stage to share his message with guests.
On the afternoon of Thursday, September 28th Mr. O’Dea will present his message of hope, resilience, and the power of philanthropy to youth at the Grande Prairie Composite High School, which will be live-streamed and available to schools throughout our region. Students will have the opportunity to ask questions and to truly engage with Frank’s powerful message.
Empowering and engaging youth develops the community champions of tomorrow! Your Community Foundation invests in community because community matters and we are excited to share Frank O’Dea’s inspirational message throughout the region!
Student awards: applications are due!
Through the generosity of our donors, the Community Foundation of Northwestern Alberta has been able to award thousands of dollars to post-secondary students from our region. In 2016 the Community Foundation of Northwestern Alberta presented over $30,000 in Student Award Funds to local students!
Investing in the success of local youth is an investment in the future of our communities. We invest in local youth because community matters.
Applications for our annual Student Awards are available until September 30th. Don’t procrastinate, apply today!
SEE THE IMPACT
professional counselling: Supporting mental health needs in our region
Mental health is a significant component of overall wellbeing and is an issue that greatly impacts individuals, families and youth in our region.
Professional Counselling is a Catholic Family Services run program dedicated to providing affordable, and timely professional counselling services to community members. Individuals from all walks of life require access to affordable counselling services and there are circumstances when people cannot afford to pay non-subsidized rates. In 2016, the program provided over 1300 session to 187 new clients, including seniors and youth.
Supporting Catholic Family Services’ Professional Counselling program is working to ensure all community members have access to the support they need. Empowering individuals to become more resilient creates healthy and vital communities.
Are you interested in supporting access to mental health services in our region? There is an opportunity to support access to mental health and counselling services in our region through this year’s Nourish the North Wine & Auction event. Interested individuals or organizations are encouraged to get in touch!
Wellness & Belonging for local youth
Did you catch our story about Experience Fun Experience Fitness? Your Community Foundation developed this program to address some of the emerging issues facing local youth as identified by our 2015 Vital Signs Report. We take a lead role in investing in our region because community matters.
Guests at this year’s Nourish the North Wine & Auction will again have the opportunity to empower youth through the $50 Philanthropy Wall. Through last year’s event we allowed 80 local kids to Experience Fun Experience Fitness. Let’s see if we can do even better this year!
Join your community in supporting local youth, buy tickets to Nourish the North today!
INVESTING in our region
Every year, in partnership with our donors and fund holders, the Community Foundation of Northwestern Alberta provides grants to innovative charitable projects, both large and small. Since inception in 1996, over $4.45 million has been invested into all sectors of the region. It is through the generosity of our fund holders and donors that we are able to offer these grants to our region to promote a healthy and vibrant community.
As we recieve final reports from the amazing programs & initatives we were able to support in 2016 we are even more inspired to move forward with this year’s Community Impact Grants. We invest in our region because community matters.
Are you a registered charity or qualified donee? There’s still time to apply for a Community Impact Grant! Apply by 5pm Friday, September 1st to be considered.
WE COULDN’T DO IT WITHOUT YOU!
Through the generosity of our fundholders, the support of community partners, and the continued success of events like Nourish the North Wine & Auction your Community Foundation supports meaningful projects and programs to build smart and caring communities. Your Community Foundation of Northwestern Alberta invests in our region because community matters. Join us in being part of the Community Foundation movement.
