Affinity Credit Union’s District Council 12, which covers the southeast region, handed over more than $58,000 in cheques on Tuesday afternoon to various organizations in the Estevan area.
Pauline Ziehl Grimsrud, who is a member of the District Council 12 board, said they decided to do all the presentations at once so they could show everyone the different groups that will receive funding.
“We wanted the media to come and we want other groups in the community to know that we exist, and to take the opportunity to vie for this money,” said Ziehl Grimsrud.
Each organization applied online, and then the seven members of the district council convened in May to evaluate the applications.
The organizations that received funding cover various aspects of life in the community, including sport and recreation, arts and culture, education and healthcare.
“Within that mandate, we look at these organizations, and what is their role in the community, what are they supplying to the community, and are these viable organizations,” said Ziehl Grimsrud.
“We also want to support organizations that show fiscal responsibility, and have a good plan in place,” said Ziehl Grimsrud. “We try to work with those groups, and we’ve had good success in the community.”
Duane Chipley, who is also a district council board member, said they also look at how much the organizations are utilized.
The money is for capital projects only, he said.
Organizations that received money were: the Pure Energy Early Learning Centre and Estevan Day Care Co-operative ($5,000); Habitat for Humanity’s Estevan chapter ($7,000); Estevan senior football ($10,000); Estevan Youth and Mini Soccer ($1,500); the Hillcrest Early Learning Centre ($2,500); Estevan Child Care Centre ($5,000); the St. Joseph’s Hospital Foundation ($5,000); the Estevan Curling Club ($3,000); the Estevan Art Gallery and Museum ($14,000); and Fresh Air Fitness ($5,411).
The money allocated to the district council is three per cent of Affinity’s budgeted pre-tax income.
“A few years ago, the decision was made that rather than paying patronage as a credit union, we would create a community development fund, and put the money into reasonable projects within communities,” said Chipley.
Each district council uses their discretion to support projects they see fit in the communities.
“This is completely up to the council for who and how they distribute this money,” said Ziehl Grimsrud.
District Council 12 will allocate a total of $117,822 to various organizations this round of funding. In addition to the money for organizations in Estevan, it will present $35,346.60 to those in its eastern area, which includes Carnduff, Carlyle, Redvers, Oxbow, Manor and Storthoaks; and $23,564.40 to organizations in the western part of the region, including Bienfait, Lampman, Gladmar and Minton.
“Every area had applications, and we go over all of those applications as a group, and we decide who we’re going to support,” said Ziehl Grimsrud.
A total of 47 applications were received this year. The council had to turn some organizations away, and others didn’t receive as much money as they wanted, but Ziehl Grimsrud said there is only so much money to distribute. She hopes the district council has helped all of the successful organizations.
