Community Foundation hosting Founder’s Day picnic and spring grant presentations next month

By Medicine Hat News on April 27, 2023.

Members of the public are invited to join in celebrating organizations which make a difference in the region during the Community Foundation of Southeastern Alberta’s annual Founder’s Day Picnic and Spring Grant Presentation.

Taking place from 4-6:30 p.m. May 29 at the Medicine Hat Exhibition & Stampede Carriage House, the public event serves as an opportunity to reflect on priority needs across the region, as well as support organizations working to address those needs through CFSEA Spring Grant funding.

At the upcoming event, 21 organizations will be recognized and presented grant funding – a total of $125,000.

CFSEA grants committee chair Glenda Hawthorne said the 21 recipient organizations were selected as they each play a role in addressing current priority needs in the region, which CFSEA has determined to be those relating to mental health, work/economy and vulnerable populations.

CFSEA executive director Niki Gray highlighted the organizations’ commitment to collaboration and fostering connection within the southeast region.

“Our recent Vital Conversation highlighted the current grant priorities and the importance of working together to create change; the 21 Spring Community Grant recipients demonstrate just that,” said Gray. “Each one of these initiatives shows promising impact for their communities.”

A total of 33 organizations, requesting excess of $417,000, applied for this year’s spring grants.

With the spring grant now closed, CFSEA will soon be shifting focus to its fall grant, which has an application deadline of Sept. 15.

As well as Spring Grants, an additional $187,900 in funding will be presented at the picnic, provided through CFSEA’s Endowment Fund. The funding will be directed toward regional organizations, charities or school divisions for scholarships.