After receiving notice last month it will be getting $50,000 from the Moffat Family Fund this year, the local committee now is looking for some ideas as to how to divvy up the money.
But those individuals and groups that have ideas as to how that money should be used to help local youth and families only have until Tuesday, Sept. 7 to submit requests, warned Fort Frances CAO Mark McCaig, who also is head of the Moffat Family Fund Committee.
“We have had people come in and pick up applications. And before we even started asking for them, there were some groups already lined up,” he noted.
“I know people are interested. I expect there will be a full docket.”
Individuals and organizations are invited to submit their requests, which 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), before 2 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 7.
These can be addressed and delivered to: Town of Fort Frances, Attn: M. McCaig, Administrator, 320 Portage Ave., Fort Frances, Ont., P9A 3P9.
They also can be faxed to 274-8479, or sent via e-mail to mmccaig@fort-frances.com
An information package is available upon request by writing to the above address or by calling the information desk at the Civic Centre (274-5323).
After the application deadline, McCaig said the local committee will review the submissions and decide which applicants are allocated how much.
“It’s a worthwhile exercise when you can give out money to deserving groups,” he remarked.
The committee then will forward its choices to the Moffat Family Council by the beginning of October. The council, in turn, will review those choices, with its recommendations reaching the Winnipeg Foundation’s board of directors for final approval by December.
Recipients should find out who gets what by January.
Fort Frances is among 12 communities that are being allocated funds to distribute to worthwhile causes this year.
A total of $56,365 was divided up between 13 local recipients this past January as the town disbursed money from the Moffat Family Fund on behalf of the Winnipeg Foundation.
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.
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. That first year, the town was allocated $33,000 to divvy up.
Year after year, the town—along with other communities once served 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
