Masquerade fundraiser celebrates BPCF鈥檚 20th anniversary
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- Published on Tuesday, October 13, 2015
Photo by Kira Paterson. Lynda Lowry and Ivan Traill got into the spirit of things during a recent episode of Coffee Chat to promote the masquerade fundraiser.
By Kira Paterson
Neepawa Banner/Neepawa Press
Beautiful Plains Community Foundation (BPCF) is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year.
The foundation raises money to support organizations in Neepawa, Brookdale, Lansdowne, Langford, Rosedale and Glenella. To date, BPCF has distributed over $1.4 million to different community organizations. Last year alone, over $140,000 in funds was doled out.
Right now, the foundation has $3.2 million invested, and they use the interest and returns generated from that pot to give out on a yearly basis. 鈥淲e鈥檙e not a huge foundation,鈥� said Jane Goudie, president of BPCF, 鈥淏ut you can鈥檛 scoff at $3.2 million.鈥� BPCF receives grant applications from different community organizations that need funding.
Recent projects the foundation has funded include the climbing wall at Hazel M. Kellington School, the new park in Kellwood and the barbeque area at the Viscount Cultural Centre. 鈥淚t鈥檚 for the extras,鈥� Goudie said, 鈥淏ecause it鈥檚 not really an extra, it鈥檚 sort of the polish on things.鈥�
The more money that the foundation collects, the more they will be able to give out each year; to raise more money, they host several events throughout the year and participate in different fundraising challenges.
This year, the foundation is hosting a special event for their 20th anniversary on Nov. 7. The event is a masquerade dance; those attending can dress up in costume if they want to and masks will be provided. It will go from 9:00 pm to 1:00 am at the Yellowhead Centre hall. There will be music, champagne and appetizers throughout the night. 鈥淚t鈥檚 not a huge fundraiser; we would like to make some money, but it鈥檚 more of an awareness for the community, to say 鈥楬ere鈥檚 the foundation,鈥欌�� said Goudie. Tickets are available at the BPCF office at 487 Walker Ave., Beyond the Garden Gate and Harris Pharmacy.
Other things going on this year with BPCF include the 24 Hour Giving Challenge in November, an NHL hat auction in March and the Thomas Sill Foundation Challenge that they are accepting donations for until September of 2016.
You can find more information about what BPCF is involved in on their Facebook page, their website, www.beautifulplainscf.ca, or in the 鈥淒id you know?鈥� features that will appear in the Neepawa Press every month throughout the year.
Donations can be made online or at the BPCF office, and receipts will be made out to the giver for tax purposes. 鈥淢oney comes from the people who live in this area, were raised in this area or went to school in this area and they thought 鈥極kay, yes I want to give back to the community,鈥欌�� said Goudie. 鈥淚t鈥檚 all about giving.鈥�
