Contributed by the Revelstoke Community Foundation
The Revelstoke Community Foundation celebrated its 15th anniversary this year. Originally created as a legacy project for the City of Revelstoke’s 100th anniversary in 1999, the foundation’s endowment is drawing closer to a significant milestone of $2 million. This has been made possible by the generosity and trust that individuals, families and the corporate community have provided to the Community Foundation. The directors of the foundation are truly appreciative of all the donors.
The Community Foundation continues to support many different areas. It is this flexibility that differentiates the foundation from many other non-profits and charitable organizations. In the spring of 2014 grants totaling $33,550 were provided to:
— Community Connections Food Bank
— Community Connections family programs
— Columbia Basin Alliance for Literacy
— Revelstoke Multicultural Society
— Revelstoke Hospice
— Revelstoke Childcare Society
— Revelstoke City Museum
— Revelstoke Railway Museum
— Revelstoke Bear Aware
— Revelstoke Arts Council
— North Columbia Environmental Society
— United Church
— Revelstoke Women’s Shelter Society
— Royal Canadian Legion
— Revelstoke Homecoming 2014
— Revelstoke Theater Company
— City of Revelstoke Youth Action Committee
— Revelstoke & District Humane Society
The foundation’s scholarship endowment fund provided $20,375 in scholarships and bursaries to graduating students from Revelstoke Secondary School in 2014. Of particular interest is the W Earl Campbell challenge. Campbell is a former resident of Revelstoke. In 2002, Campbell started with a $2,500 challenge that netted an additional $5,783. He has repeated with many challenges since 2002 such that the now named Hillcrest Campbell Award Fund has increased to over $50,000. The Campbell Family will match the donations of others up to $12,500 during 2014. Asked why he is doing this:
“It is very simple. I would never have been able to complete a university degree over five years without financial support,” he said. “I established a bursary to assist students going to UBC from outside Vancouver. In over 15 years, no Revelstokian ever received the award. We decided that we needed to assist not only RSS academic winners, but those who needed financial assistance as well.”
Tuesday, Dec 2, has been designated “Giving Tuesday” across Canada. We encourage individuals, businesses and charities to get together to give back and support the causes that they believe in. Join all Canadians to celebrate the second Giving Tuesday by donating to your favorite charity. If you cannot afford to donate financially then perhaps think about volunteering. There are so many programs that desperately need volunteers or your expertise. Your donation will make a huge impact and you will feel wonderful doing it. So think about giving back on Tuesday Dec. 2.