Just one year after the launch of the Yorkton & District Community Foundation the district has plenty to celebrate.
Since launching in October 2019 the community foundation has received over $95,000 in local donations. On behalf of donors, the YDCF created an endowment fund nearing $80,000 that will generate annual grants year after year and an Emergency Community Fund to assist communities with immediate needs. Through an agreement with its national member agency Community Foundations of Canada, the Yorkton & District Community Foundation connected with the federally funded Emergency Community Support Fund to issue $105,000 in grants to local charities.
In a local effort to help seniors stay healthy during the pandemic, the Community Foundation delivered over 9,600 masks to senior housing properties in twenty-three communities and created the Emergency Community Fund to assist charities in addressing other immediate needs linked to the pandemic.
“It was a very productive first year,” says Sharon Tropin who led the YDCF as president in the year leading up to the launch and through its first year.
“However, many people still do not know about the Yorkton & District Community Foundation,” adds Tropin. “Moving forward our volunteer board of directors led by our incoming president, Ray Bailey, will continue to help connect people who wish to donate and make a lasting difference in their community.”
The current board of directors are Ray Bailey (President), Candace Tendler (Treasurer), Andrew Rae (Vice President), Sharon Tropin, Victor Surjik, Trevor Plews, Gerry Ann Fraser, Rob McDill, Lisa Washington.
“We are very grateful to Les Arnelien and Larry Pearen without whose help the YDCF would not have gotten off the ground,” adds Tropin. “Both Les and Larry have indicated their ongoing support for the work of the foundation as their time on the YDCF board ends, and we wish them well.”
Anyone who would like to be considered for the Yorkton & District Community Foundation board of directors can contact a current member or email a letter of interest to info@ydcf.ca.
The Yorkton & District Community Foundation will work with any group or individual in Yorkton and surrounding communities to create funds that connect donors to the donors area of interest. Funds are being created to support arts, culture and heritage, children, youth, seniors and families, the environment, animal welfare, literacy, education and employment readiness, mental health, physical health and recreation. A general community fund was created for when a donor wants to help any or all causes.
Visit the YDCF website or Facebook page to learn more about the Yorkton & District Community Foundation.
