After receiving notice it will be getting even more money than last year from the Moffat Family Fund, the Fort Frances Community Fund is looking for some ideas as to how to spend more than $56,000.
“There are a lot of people waiting for this,” said Fort Frances CAO Bill Naturkach, who heads the community fund committee first struck up last year to disperse the funds.
“When we made the awards last year, I told all those who applied but didn’t get anything to try again. And since then, there’s been several inquiries about the endowment.
“So, I’m expecting more suggestions than we got last year,” he added.
The Moffat Family Fund, through the Winnipeg Foundation, is specifically intended to support “children and families,” noted Naturkach, and any applications should be specifically geared to these areas.
The total amount of money to be divvied up this year is $56,365.06—over $26,000 more than last year.
Naturkach explained there were two reasons for this, the first of which is the nature of the Moffat Family Fund.
Last year, 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.
“It’s the proceeds from that investment growth that we receive. It’s market driven, and apparently, it was a pretty good year,” said Naturkach, adding the town has been informed the annual amount it receives potentially could reach $100,000.
Also, the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, Lodge No. 313 had been awarded $6,365.06 from the fund last year for vehicle rental and transportation costs for a driving program to assist disadvantaged individuals and to determine the extent of out-of-town specialty health care needs of Fort Frances residents.
But the Elks later determined the amount was not enough to successfully implement this service and so requested the Moffat Family Fund sub-committee to re-award this amount to another of its programs which provides hearing aids to the young and elderly.
Town council on Monday night declined to re-award the $6,365.06 until the recipients for the 2003 program have been processed, therefore adding that amount back into the pool.
Individuals and organizations are invited to submit their requests, which can run between four-six pages and must include a specific dollar amount and the rationale behind it (as well as charitable numbers for organizations) on or before 2 p.m. on Tuesday, April 15.
These can be addressed and delivered to: Town of Fort Frances, Attn: B. Naturkach, Administrator, 320 Portage Ave., Fort Frances, Ont., P9A 3P9.
They also can be faxed to 274-8479, or sent via e-mail to bfn@fort-frances.lakeheadu.ca
An information package is available upon request by writing to the above address or by phoning the information desk at the Civic Centre (274-5323).
The Fort Frances Community Fund committee will pick its submissions in late April or May, with funds being dispersed in the summer.
Last year, the town received $33,000 in funding from the Winnipeg Foundation.
The sub-committee reviewed 14 submissions, with the recipients chosen being the Rainy Lake Air Cadet Squadron, local Ontario Students Against Impaired Driving, Fort Frances Museum, Friends of Little League Baseball, Fort Frances Toy Lending Resource Centre, Planned Out-of-Home Respite program, the local Salvation Army after-school kids’ club, and the Elks.
Fort Frances Times
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