Recent news and events concerning the Red Deer & District Community Foundation.

MNP Pools Donations for Bigger Impact

As an organization committed to giving back to their community, MNP made the forward-thinking decision ​to start a Flow Through Fund with the Red Deer & District Community Foundation in 2018. This agreement allows MNP employees to contribute to the fund through annual donations each year, pooling their donations to grow the fund in order to make a bigger impact in the community.

MNP recently made the decision to distribute some of the funds to local agencies that are working to improve the lives of Central Albertans, in the form of donations to different agencies throughout the region.

MNP chose 9 different charities to receive these donations, including Lacombe Family & Community Support Services (Caring for Children Fund), The Mustard Seed Red Deer, the Ponoka Food Bank, and the Rimbey Food Bank. In total, MNP donated $44,500 to community agencies through this fund.

This is an example of a company who cares deeply about giving back to their community, and employees who think generously about how they can contribute to organizations doing great work within Central Alberta. We commend MNP for their commitment to helping local agencies.

Tax Credit Calculator Available for Donors

The Red Deer & District Community Foundation has launched a simple and interactive new web calculator for donors to learn about the significant financial benefits of their donations.

Our Tax Credit Calculator allows donors to visualize the savings they will have on their taxes as a direct result of their charitable donations.

This tool includes Give Now, Give Later, and Endowment sections.

The Give Now section shows you how your donation can reduce your tax burden with a current donation. Donors can see the tax implications on various assets such as stocks, mutual funds, and RRSPs.

The Give Later section shows the tax savings available to your estate with a donation to charity.

The Endowment section presents a visual example of the growth and long-term impact of your donation when used to create an endowment fund.

Simply enter the amount of your gift, and our Tax Credit Calculator will show you the amount you can save if you make your gift this year (based on current Federal/Alberta rates).

Click here to discover how your gift will have an impact on your community and your personal taxes.

Over $77,000 Granted to Charities Through Fall Grants

The Red Deer & District Community Foundation (RDDCF) is pleased to announce it is committing $77,315 to local charitable programming through their Community Grants program.

“We received an overwhelming number of applications covering wide-ranging areas of focus this fall. This demonstrates immediate need across the board in the charitable sector,” Erin Peden, Executive Director of RDDCF said.

In response to grant applications, RDDCF is distributing $40,000 in grants to programs in the area of health and wellness (including mental health), $26,815 to inclusion initiatives, and $10,500 to support children, youth, and families.

“With the volume of applications, we were forced to pay special attention to reoccurring demands as they pertain to the current needs in Central Alberta,” Peden said. “Our mission as a foundation is to strengthen the quality of life in Red Deer and the surrounding area. In order to align with this mission, we awarded grants this year with an eye to increasing accessibility for all community members, and creating positive impact for the health and well-being of Central Alberta citizens.”

Recipients of the fall grants are as follows:

  • Aspire Special Needs Resource Centre Fee Assistance Program – $4,000.00
  • Cosmos Community Disability Services Foundation Karma Cafe Program Enhancement – $15,000.00
  • Hope 4 MVC Kids Society Family Supports for Children with Medical Needs – $4,000.00
  • Family Services of Central Alberta Rainbows Program – $2,500.00
  • Red Deer Action Group Society Subsidy Ride Program – $2,000
  • Red Deer Food Bank Society Accessibility Modifications – $9,815.00
  • Red Deer Regional Health Foundation Vital Monitor Campaign – $20,000
  • The Mustard Seed Red Deer Wellness Program – $20,000.00

According to Peden, all registered charities are welcome to apply for funding as there are no limitations as to what areas the grant can support.

“We encourage local charitable organizations that require sustainable funding to connect with us at the Foundation to discuss options that may be available to their agency,” Peden said.

The Red Deer & District Community Foundation distributes Community Grants twice annually, in the spring and the fall. In 2021, RDDCF granted over $160,00 to local charities through the Community Grants program.

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William Arthur Bower Memorial Scholarship for Red Deer Students

A $1M gift to the Red Deer & District Community Foundation provides gratuitous scholarship opportunities for local students

Post-secondary scholarships of $5,000 in memory of William Arthur Bower available in Spring of 2022

The Red Deer & District Community Foundation is pleased to announce the launch of a new scholarship opportunity created in honour of William Arthur Bower, an early Red Deer resident who lost his life in World War I. The scholarship, which was made possible through a $1M donation from Arthur’s nieces, Ruth and Dorothy Bower, will not only support local students to further their education, but also perpetuate the memory of one of the many Canadians who died in the name of their country.

 

“Ruth and Dorothy have created this scholarship in memory of their Uncle Arthur,” Rob Porkka, Education Consultant and spokesperson for the Bowers said.   “Arthur Bower, a Red Deer High School graduate, was committed to advancing his own education before he left Canada as a member of the Canadian Expeditionary Forces during World War I. He passed away in combat at 22 years old and it is this ultimate sacrifice that Dorothy and Ruth intend to honour with the scholarship that bears his name.”

 

The William Arthur Bower Memorial Scholarship is supported by a $1M endowment and will ensure a minimum of five scholarships of $5,000 each will be awarded every year, with the opportunity for students to reapply for up to four years. The scholarship is open to students graduating from Red Deer schools within the Red Deer Public School Division and Red Deer Regional Catholic School Division.

 

“The cost of post-secondary education continues to be a significant barrier for many of our residents, but with this scholarship, the door of opportunity has been opened,” Erin Peden, Executive Director of the Red Deer & District Community Foundation said. “We are in awe of the thought and care that has been put into this legacy. This is a perfect example of what investing in our community looks like; through this scholarship our students will have the opportunity to learn, remember and respect the past while they confidently step into the future.”

 

The scholarship was announced at the Remembrance Day Ceremony on November 9, 2021, at Lindsay Thurber High School. Applications will be accepted beginning in January 2022, with the first five scholarships awarded in June 2022. Students are to see their school guidance counsellor for more information.

 

See the announcement here.

Volunteer of the Month: Safia Mohamed

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