Duane Hicks
The “Knox Renewal” bid for funding to build an elevator at Knox United Church here fell short of cracking the top 10 in the Aviva Community Fund national competition.
Voting for the project, which began Nov. 18, wrapped at 11 a.m. today, which saw Knox end up in 13th place with a total of 5,450 votes.
This was only 250 votes away from making the top 10 and advancing to the semi-final round, fundraising team member Bill Gushulak noted late this morning.
“It was not a very big margin,” he remarked.
“In fact, with us having over 950 supporters, last night we were at 5,000 around midnight, so we picked up almost 500 votes overnight,” Gushulak said.
“So that was good.
“But it looks like the other ones mustered up and came up the backstretch, too,” he added.
“Unfortunately, we failed in our quest for this but we’re gong to keep our chins up.”
Gushulak said the team has got some other things planned for fundraising ideas.
“Hopefully we’ll be able to garner some support on that,” he remarked.
“I am sure we will. The community has always been very generous.”
If anything, the Aviva bid raised the profile of the need for an elevator at Knox United and when it is mentioned in the community in future, many people will be familiar with it.
Meanwhile, the “I Am Awesome! (And I Know It!)” self-esteem and empowerment retreat for young women is among the projects which made it to the semi-final round of the Aviva Community Fund competition.
The retreat, which ran for the first time Sept. 26-29 at Hanson’s Hideaway Lodge in Nestor Falls, will be vying for a share of the $1 million being offered when the semi-final round of online voting begins Dec. 2.
Gushulak urged everyone, including those who voted for Knox and now are familiar with the voting process, to support for the retreat.
“Hopefully we can get some cash into the district off this national project,” he said.
