BPCF hits $2 million milestone with 2018 grants
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- Published on Tuesday, July 3, 2018
Photo courtesy of the Beautiful Plains Community Foundation
On June 19, the Beautiful Plains Community Foundation awarded $125,660 in grants for 2018. The recipients (pictured) represent not-for-profit organizations from the Town of Neepawa, RM of Rosedale, RM of Glenella-Lansdowne and the Langford portion of the Municipality of North Cypress-Langford that serve residents from babies to seniors.
By Kate Jackman-Atkinson
Neepawa Banner & Press
There were lots of smiles this year as the Beautiful Plains Community Foundation (BPCF) gave out their annual grants.
Not only did the June 19 luncheon result in the distribution of over $125,000 in grants for 2018, attendees who filled ArtsForward also celebrated a new milestone for the Foundation, the distribution of over $2 million in grants since its establishment in 1995.
As an endowment fund, the BPCF takes donations, which are then pooled and invested by the Winnipeg Foundation. Annual grants are distributed from the interest earned on those investments. This year, grants were given out in four different streams: Youth Advisory Committee, Gaynor Vivian Flow Through Grants, Community Fund and Designated Funds.
The Youth Advisory Committee (YAC) were the first to give out their grants. This 11 member committee is made up of high school students, working under the direction of teacher advisor Bruce Menzies. YAC members Graeme Chapman and Max Palkowski presented the grants, which totalled $2,900. The Neepawa and District Drop In Centre received $300 for washroom improvements, primarily toilets and flooring; The Neepawa Veterinary Clinic Ltd. received $500, which was to be split between the Angel Fund, which pays for emergency situations where the owners do not have the funds necessary, and to support vaccinations, neutering, and food for strays; the Beautiful Plains Archives received $100 for archival storage containers for glass negatives; the Neepawa Bird Sanctuary received $400 for maintenance of buildings, veterinarian costs and feeding equipment; ArtsForward and Prairie Mountain Health received $400 to cover the food costs of a joint project to provide healthy eating workshops; the Neepawa Tiger Lilies received $500 to purchase an outdoor vegetable planter for the school’s courtyard; Home Assistance Neepawa and District received $200 to be used for paper and printing, postage and advertising for the seniors support services programs; and Neepawa Theatre Centre (Roxy Theatre) received $500 to be used for materials for support of floor joists or Phase 2 of their brick repointing project.
BPCF vice president and luncheon emcee Keith Jury next introduced Gaynor Vivian to present his annual grant. This flow through grant, which totals $10,000 was given this year to Neepawa Minor Hockey. The money will be used for a subsidized program which will introduce kids to hockey in a cost effective manner.
Community Fund grants
In total, $35,270 in Community Fund grants were distributed. Not-for-profits serving the Town of Neepawa, RM of Rosedale, RM of Glenella-Lansdowne and the Langford portion of North Cypress-Langford can apply for these annual grants. This year, 11 organizations received grants totalling $35,270. This year’s recipients included: ArtsForward, which received $1,000 for electrical upgrades; the Beautiful Plains Museum, which received $5,500 to remove paint and repoint bricks; Franklin Memorial Hall, which received $5,610 for repairs to the hall; Glenvilla Senior Centre, which received $1,000 to assist with operating costs; Langford Recreational Trails Association, which received $3,000 to purchase an industrial strength mower; NACTV, which received $4,500 to purchase equipment and software needed to continue to film and broadcast in the community; Neepawa & District Medical Committee, which received $2,726 to purchase suite appliances; Neepawa Nursery School, which received $2,050 to purchase shelving; PMH—Health Unit, which received $4,549 to purchase a pediatric smart scale, a project which also received $1,165 from a new private grant, as well as $3,691 from the hospital fund; Victoria’s Quilts—Neepawa Branch, which received $2,500 to provide funds to purchase supplies for handmade quilts to donate to people living with cancer in Manitoba; and Yellowhead Centre, which received $5,000 to help with the relocation of the ticket booth.
In addition to supporting the Neepawa Health Unit’s pediatric scale, the new private fund also distributed grants to Diabetes Canada, which received $1,000 to support a child from the Neepawa area to attend summer camp and the Franklin Hall, which received $1,000 for upgrades.
Finally, $74,325 in designated fund grants were distributed. This money comes from investment funds established for a specific beneficiary, which receives an annual grant. The Foundation’s various designated funds distributed the following grants: Allan Lytle Memorial Fund grant for 4-H public speaking, $340; IOOF & Rebekahs grant for Belles, Beaux & Builders 4-H Club, $215; Arts Stabilization, awarded to ArtsForward, $480; Arts Stabilization, awarded to Burrows Trail Art Council, $480; Contact MB ’95, awarded to the Neepawa & District Fine Arts Festival, $220; Beautiful Plains Museum $4,855; Country Meadows PCH, $7,230; Country Meadows PCH Courtyard, $170; Touchwood Park, $1,285; Neepawa Health Centre, $47,115; Naomi Chapter grant, presented to the Neepawa Health Centre Children’s Ward, $200; IOOF & Rebekahs grant, awarded to Neepawa Minor Ball, $585; Riverside Cemetery Fund , $105; Kin Club of Neepawa Scholarship, $305; NARTA Scholarship, awarded to a student at William Morton Collegiate, $200; Jeff McCannell Memorial Scholarship, $525; Eden Scholarship, $200; IOOF & Rebekahs NACI Band scholarship $1,045; Mrs. A.K. & Joe Butcher Scholarship $5,085; NACI Safe Grad Scholarship, $1,095; Whitmore Family Scholarship, $2,090; Community Donor Award, $500.
The Foundation accepts donations all year long and the deadline for grant applications is Mar. 31.
