For a third year, the Town of Fort Frances will be receiving money from the Moffat Family Fund to give to local groups and service clubs with the aim of helping youth and families.
Town CAO Mark McCaig, head of the local Moffat Family Fund Committee, will be calling a meeting in the next month, after which the committee will put out a call for individuals and organizations to submit their requests.
As in previous years, the requests can run between four-six pages long and must include a specific dollar amount and the rationale behind it (as well as charitable numbers for organizations).
The funding proposals must benefit children, families, and the “less advantaged.”
The deadline for submissions will be Oct. 1, 2004.
After the local committee reviews the applications, they then will be reviewed by the Moffat Family Council in November, with recommendations reaching the Winnipeg Foundation’s board of directors by December.
McCaig, who became CAO after the application deadline last year, said he’s looking forward to being part of the process.
“I think it’s an excellent thing,” he remarked. “I see the Moffat Family Fund as a real bonus to the community.
“I have a deep appreciation for the work the Winnipeg Foundation does—they really touch some areas that are in need of financial assistance.
“As far as the town goes, we’re more than happy to facilitate the process,” he added.
Fort Frances is among 12 communities that will be allocated $50,000 to distribute to worthwhile causes this year.
A total of $56.365 was divided up between 13 local recipients back in mid-January as the town disbursed money from the Moffat Family Fund on behalf of the Winnipeg Foundation.
Last year’s recipients included the Kiwanis skate park committee, Fort Frances Highlanders, Fort Frances Volunteer Bureau, Fort Frances Centennial Celebrations Advisory Committee, Fort Frances “Community Chest”/Canadian Cancer Society, and the Fort Frances and District Association for Community Living.
The others were the Fort Frances Museum, Friends of the Library, Friends of Little League, Joy of Life Fellowship Church, Memorial Sports Centre, Fort Frances OPP (D.A.R.E. program), and Rainy Lake Air Cadet Squadron.
The recipients were chosen by the local committee back in June, 2003. It had received a total of 21 applications from various local individuals, groups, and organizations with a total request value of $175,202.30.
In 2002, the Moffat family entrusted $100 million to the Winnipeg Foundation, which, in turn, is responsible for investing the money and distributing it to communities in need.
After learning of this, Fort Frances applied for—and was chosen to be—one of these recipient communities.
Year after year, the town, along with other communities once serviced by the Moffat family’s cable television business, is eligible to receive some of the interest from that $100 million investment.
Fort Frances Times
Local News from Across the Rainy River District
