Youth in Philanthropy doles out $20,000 in grants
By Medicine Hat News on August 5, 2021.
The Community Foundation of Southeastern Alberta has distributed nearly $20,000 through the Youth in Philanthropy program to charities across the region. The Youth in Philanthropy program introduces young people to community development and philanthropy through hands-on experiences with local charities, and 11 different participant groups each received grants of $1,800 and split the total of $19,800 between 15 different organizations. The participant group from St. Mary’s School opted to contribute all $1,800 to the Mustard Seed in Medicine Hat. “We were so grateful to have participated in this project as a school group,” St. Mary’s Grade 7 teacher Dani Jazen says in a CFSEA release. “CFSEA could have simply given this money out to charities, but instead they gave students a sense of ownership over their community by researching the greatest needs and letting them choose a tangible cause to give the money to.” That money will go toward the Mustard Seed’s security system for its new community centre. Crescent Heights High School had two participant groups receive grants, with one putting $1,000 to the Canadian Mental Health Association’s local chapter, as well as $500 to APARC and $300 to the Redcliff Youth Centre. The second group from CHHS split the $1,800 between the Medicine Hat and District Food Bank and Ronald McDonald House. The food bank received $1,800 from Medicine Hat High School, while Monsignor McCoy High School sent its $1,800 to the local SPCA. The group from South Central High School in Oyen contributed its $1,800 to the Medicine Hat Women’s Shelter Society, while Cherry Coulee Christian Academy gave $1,800 to Prairie Gleaners, and Bow Island’s St. Michael’s School split the grant evenly between HALO Air Ambulance and the Medicine Hat Women’s Shelter. Also in Bow Island, the Senator Gershaw group put $1,800 toward Kale Memorial Splash Park. In Dunmore, the group from Eagle Butte High School gave its $1,800 to Paws for Strength with Medicine Hat Police Service. St. Luke’s Outreach in Brooks gave $1,200 to the Cantara Safe House, $400 to the Brooks Animal Protection Society and $200 to Brooks and District Victims Assistance. $2.8 million donation The Community Foundation received a donation for $2.8 million last month through a bequeathment from the estate of philanthropist Alex McDougald. The bequest allowed the Community Foundation to establish its first Advisor Managed Endowment Fund, which allows donors to maintain a trusted relationship with financial advisers while creating a platform to accomplish their philanthropic goals, according to a CFSEA release. “Together with their advisor, donors may choose their portfolio makeup within the guidelines stipulated by CFSEA and the Investment Advisor Agreement,” reads the release. “Donors are then able to choose the charities they wish to support and can make changes to those recipients at their own discretion.” The Alex and Jean McDougald Fund was established at CFSEA in 1997, part of a journey that led to two of his legacy projects in support of the Maple Creek Skating Rink and Southwest Saskatchewan Oldtimers’ Museum. Alex passed away 2010, and the Alex McDougald Fund was established shortly thereafter to contribute annually to the Smart and Caring Community Fund. “Alex was an energetic person who had a wide range of interests,” nephew John McDougald says in the release. “There was always something on the go. Including others and making new friends along the way came naturally to him.” 16-15
