Community Foundation of Southeastern Alberta executive director Niki Gray speaks Tuesday afternoon at the 2025 Founder's Day Picnic where more than $250,000 was granted to 36 regional organizations.--News Photo Anna Smith
asmith@medicinehatnews.com
The Community Foundation of Southeastern Alberta celebrated its annual Founder’s Day Picnic, honouring its origins and moving into the future with Spring Community Grants.
Held at the Paradise Valley Golf Clubhouse, members of various organizations gathered for lunch and to hear impact statements from previous grant recipients such as the Neighbourhood Associations of Medicine Hat and District, Wellspring Alberta and the Sanare Centre.
“We gather here today to celebrate that vision and to honour our founder, John P. Ignatius, a man whose legacy continues to shape our communities,” said Niki Gray, executive director. “John made the foundation’s very first gift of $25,000 in 1992, and upon his passing … he left a transformational gift of more than $2.4 million. I think he would be pretty proud of us today to recognize that our endowment is now at just over $30 million.”
The event was sponsored by Pritchard & Co. Law Firm, for which partner Les Scholly was present to speak on their behalf. He expressed gratitude to be able to support the event, and toward those who made charitable donations to the Community Foundation as part of their legacy, making their belief in the community of the region clear in an impactful way.
CFSEA gave out $250,687 to 36 organizations, including the Medicine Hat Public Library, the Root Cellar, the What Matters to Hatters Coalition, the Medicine Hat Health Foundation, Unison at Veiner Centre, Saamis Immigration, the Medicine Hat Women’s Shelter Society and many others.
“Community grants are made possible thanks to the generosity of our donors. So these donors choose to direct their gifts to the greatest needs across southeastern Alberta,” said Gray. “Whether they establish a fund, give regularly, or make a one-time donation, their trust empowers us to make a meaningful difference where it’s needed most.”
