Here we are, nearly two thirds of the way through 2020! It’s hard to believe some days how fast the calendar pages have flipped by! While reflecting on all the changes we have seen over those months, we should be proud of our resiliency and fortitude.
It’s interesting to think about the ways this pandemic could revolutionize how we do business, attend school, interact with others, spend vacation time, and reprioritize our lives. Change is never easy, always has impact, and may be the only thing that is certain!
At the Community Foundation of Northwestern Alberta, we have been focusing on the victories! We have a community that cares beyond measure! The region still boasts some of the most generous and philanthropic people, dedicated to securing a future in the amazing communities spread across the northwestern section of our province.
Along with the Government of Canada and Community Foundations of Canada, we were able to reach our communities with funds through the Emergency Community Support Fund. We disbursed over half a million dollars throughout the short timeline, and supported 25 fantastic projects which boosted organizations and their client focused initiatives!
In our regular work, we have opened our Student Award portal, where we are accepting applications to support students pursuing post-secondary education. During this time, there are so many uncertainties for students, so we are grateful for our generous fund holders who have made financial support available, helping them move forward with their futures!
As health restrictions have eased, I am thrilled to have been able to meet a few of our fund holders in person to learn the why behind their fund, and examine opportunities to further their impact in manageable ways. I love this part of my role, and look forward to more opportunities to meet our incredible supporters.
As we reluctantly say goodbye to our summer, we look forward to the opportunity to be present in our community. We are still honoring loved ones, supporting causes meaningful to our donors, and continuing to keep our finger on the pulse of the needs in our region. Our aim is to leave no one behind, and with your support we can continue making strides towards that objective!
Wishing you a fantastic wrap up to summer and renewed vigor as we head into the next season!
Warmly,
Laura LaValley, CEO
Aimee Carter Bushel and a Peck Fund
Generosity, enthusiasm, friendliness, loyalty and resilience are all words used to describe Aimee Carter. Her family has focused on those strong virtues and gifts of character in establishing a fund with the Community Foundation of Northwestern Alberta in her memory – The Aimee Carter Bushel and a Peck Fund.
Born and raised in the Valhalla area, Aimee and husband Adley made their home on a farm on the Emerson Trail, raising five children and spending 40 years together. After being widowed at 59 years of age, Aimee spent another 14 years on the farm before moving to Grande Prairie where she continued to cultivate relationships through social activities and other commitments, giving her the strength to meet all of life’s challenges with a buoyant spirit.
Aimee always gave fully and freely and happily shared what she had with others. She was a cheerful and loving giver. With a quick smile and sense of humour, Aimee was a woman who fully engaged in living, even when life threw her some curveballs.
Steadfastly loyal to the people and places she loved, she had a deep understanding of what the little things were and how important they were. “She always followed through on both the big things and the little things as a way of demonstrating her commitment to the love of her family and community,” shares her children.
As a way of continuing the legacy of Aimee’s generosity, her family has established the Aimee Carter Bushel and A Peck Fund with the Community Foundation.
Aimee would close her conversations with her family by saying “I love you a bushel and a peck and a hug around the neck,”
We hope this fund puts a “Bushel and a Peck” of fun into the lives of seniors in our community and gives people the opportunity to enjoy some of Mom’s other virtues of friendliness, loyalty, and resilience.
You can make a difference in our community – not only for today but forever. When you make a donation to the Aimee Carter Bushel and a Peck Fund, we invest that gift into a permanent endowment fund and the original gift is never spent. Earnings from your gift are distributed in our community to support seniors. Donations can be made online here – https://www.canadahelps.org/en/dn/46903 or by calling the Community Foundation at (780) 538-2820.
Student Awards Open
Financial circumstances shouldn’t be a barrier to post-secondary education. That’s why the Community Foundation of Northwestern Alberta offers a range of student awards to help students with financial need achieve their post-secondary goals.
Apply online here – https://buildingtomorrow.cloudstudio.ca/student-awards/
Emergency Community Support Fund
Since May 19, 2020 the Community Foundation of Northwestern Alberta was able to award $545,990 amount in grants to a number of charities in the Northwestern Alberta region, as listed below, to address various needs such as food security, communication upgrades, connection with local citizens, and mental health, to name a few. The grants announced today are part of the Emergency Community Support Fund (ECSF), funded by the Government of Canada.
The ECSF is a $350 million fund that is being implemented with Community Foundations of Canada, the Canadian Red Cross, and United Way Centraide Canada, in partnership with local foundations across the country. Its goal is to provide support to charities and non-profit organizations serving vulnerable Canadians.
“We are very honored to be able to help facilitate this support across our region. We have heard so many stories over the past few months about how these organizations are trying to pivot and maintain connection with those they serve, still doing the good work they do in communities big or small.” says Laura LaValley, CEO of the Community Foundation of Northwestern Alberta. She adds, “We have been moving fast to disburse the funds as requested by the Government of Canada, and we know that these organizations are in need as they serve our most vulnerable populations.”
For a full list of grants awarded through Community Foundations of Canada’s network, visit the CFC website.
