Recipients named for community fund

Town council agreed Monday to forward eight local clubs and services to the Winnipeg Foundation for approval as co-recipients of this year’s $33,000 from the Moffat Family Fund.
Of the 14 submissions made before the June 12 deadline, the Fort Frances Community Foundation sub-committee chose the following:
•Rainy Lake Air Cadet Squadron ($5,000) to establish a squadron of 50 prospective cadets to learn more about the Canadian Armed Forces;
•local Ontario Students Against Impaired Driving ($2,000) to bring in a play;
•Fort Frances Museum ($720) for children’s programming stressing family and heritage;
•Friends of Little League Baseball ($2,500) to purchase equipment for youth baseball programs;
•Fort Frances Toy Lending Resource Centre ($2,414.94) to purchase toy equipment to develop muscle growth, sensory awareness, and dramatic play for children;
•Planned Out-of-Home Respite Program ($6,000) to create a summer camp for children with multiple special needs;
•The Salvation Army After School Kids’ Club ($8,000) for supplies and transportation costs for interaction programs for disadvantaged children and families; and
•the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks—Fort Frances Lodge No. 313 ($6,365.06) 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.
“This would be an amazing opportunity for the program,” said Tiffany Clifford, co-ordinator of the Planned Out-of-Home Respite. “There’s no camp for special needs children around here. I think the closest is in Toronto.”
The program started in January and tends to children under 18 with physical and/or developmental disabilities.
“We’re very happy about it,” said Capt. Eric Alcock of the local Salvation Army. “It’s going to mean we can carry on with the After School Kids’ Club and expand it.”
The Salvation Army has been providing local youth with a place to go after school for the past year, seeing an average of 25 kids attend the Citadel and participate in activities promoting “strong Christian values,” noted Capt. Alcock.
Not only will the money be used for field trips and activities, but part of it will go towards a salary for a youth worker in the fall.
“It’s definitely going to benefit a lot of children,” said Audrey Tyrvainen, co-ordinator of the Fort Frances Toy Lending Resource Centre.
“There’s really a lot of toys we’re going to get,” she enthused. “We’re really excited about this, as well as grateful.”
The sub-committee which selected the winning benefactors included Fort Frances CAO Bill Naturkach, Shelley Shute of the local District Social Services Administrative Board, Capt. Alcock, Coun. Sharon Tibbs, Linda Hamilton of the “Community Chest,” and Mayor Glenn Witherspoon.
The money earmarked for the town comes from the Winnipeg Foundation, which is responsible for administering the Moffat Family Fund.
Last year, the Randy Moffat family donated $100 million to the Foundation to help families, children, and the less advantaged in 12 communities where the former Moffat Communications did business, including Fort Frances.
The town will receive such funding year after year.