I am involved with the Columbia Valley Community Foundation – a little known organization, still in its infancy money-wise but has been around for the past decade. We have a website www.valleyfoundation.ca.

Our current investments total around $800,000 with the aim of $1 million by the end of the year. Our funds come from endowments from wills or through tax saving donations. The interest is reinvested in the community from Spillimacheen to Canal Flats in the form or grants to registered or ‘umbrella’ charities. To date approximately $260,000 has been distributed. A list of these grants can be viewed on our website.

We have just completed a biannual granting cycle and the following organizations will benefit: Early Childhood Education, Wings over the Rockies, the Lakeview Ambassadors with their annual regatta and Water Stewardship program, the Steamboat Music Festival – part of the upcoming 100 year celebration in Edgewater, the Columbia Valley Arts, and a fabulous opportunity for some local athletes with disabilities who fly to Victoria with chaperones to compete in the ‘Dare to Dream’ sporting event.

Also in the works are assistance for a new elevator at the Manor – the two storied housing for some of Invermere’s older residents, some equipment or supplies for both Groundswell, our amazing local commercial greenhouse and Invermere’s women’s safe house.

The Foundation is actively seeking interested persons to sit on our board. Our annual general meeting is May 29, to be held at Pyenlogs where we hold office space.

A recent strategic planning session has enthused our small group.

Call 250-342-9813 to find out more about us!

–  “CVCF, The gift that keeps on giving”.

Above image, fom left: Roger Smith, Community Foundation board member; Kristin Olsen, Radium branch manager, Helga Boker, director of the Kootenay Savings Credit Union board; Janice McGregor, Invermere branch manager; Dee Conklin, Mayor of Invermere; Forrest Drinnan, Kootenay Savings Foundation chair; Marion Hoover, Community Foundation board member; Brent Tremblay, chief executive officer of Kootenay Savings Credit Union; Seona Helmer, Community Foundation board chair; Jenny Richardson, Community Foundation board member; and Don Miller, Community Foundation board member. (November 28,2009) Image from CVCF website

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