The North Bay and area Community Foundation is looking to raise $150,000 to honour Canada’s 150th birthday.
At a press conference at city hall today the organization, which has helped finance organizations such as PADDLE, the Military Family Resource Centre and the North Bay North Stars Special Needs hockey team, is looking for $1000 donations from 150 different people or organizations.
The initiative is spearheaded nationally by Governor General David Johnston, who is the patron of community foundations of Canada. Organizers played a video message from the Governor General who challenged foundations across the country - including North Bay - to build a more smart and caring nation.
"I think the North Bay & Area Foundation has established itself now as the leading foundation of supporting community projects across North Bay for the last 10 years,” stated Foundation board member Chris Mayne.
Mayne adds that the donors will see their names put on a large plaque honouring them and the founder of the foundation, the late Jack Burrows.
Board member Ted Thomson says every year they hand out close to $40,000 in grants to various charity groups. He says this donation will allow them to give even more in the future.
“North Bay is a very giving community, no matter what the project is, it always seems to go over the top,” said Thomson.
“We have a dinner every year and at that dinner we make presentations to different charities. The charities apply for a grant and they tell us what they are going to use it for and we have a community that goes through all those letters and pick the ones we think we should support.”
Organizers hope the funds raised will help benefit the community for the next 150 years.
