Representatives of the Association of Saskatchewan REALTORS® (ASR) were delighted to tour the Saskatoon Crisis Nursery earlier this month. The session was arranged so that ASR could see first-hand the results of a $5,000 grant provided through the ASR Quality of Life Legacy Fund. Saskatoon REALTORS® Joanne Kerr, Co-Chair of the ASR’s Quality of Life in Saskatchewan committee and Rich Jeanneau, as well as ASR CEO Bill Madder, and COO Chris Guérette, were on hand for the tour.
So, where did the money go? Executive Director, Collette Wiebe, explained that the grant was spent on extracurricular activities for the children both on-site (crafts, reading stories, baking, backyard play park) and outside the nursery (outings). “The funding provides something for these children that they just don’t get every day – the opportunity to be children and participate in social outings,” detailed Wiebe. “Seeing a child get excited about the thought of an activity outside the nursery is very touching and you know it has a positive impact in their lives.”
Obviously moved, Bill Madder agreed, “This is so much more than money. The positive impact this grant has for so many children is heartwarming. If children are here, it means they are safe, even though their families are in crisis. And while $5,000 isn’t a huge amount, it can buy a really nice piece of “normal” in the middle of chaos and confusion.”
The Quality of Life Legacy initiative awards grants to six community organizations from different regions of the province on an annual basis. The initiative promotes the five principles of supporting shelter-related services; enhancing environmental sustainability; supporting public education on the importance of private property rights; promoting safer neighbourhoods; and enhancing community development and better opportunities for “at risk” populations and/or disadvantaged citizens.
“The funds are raised by REALTORS® working together and the selection of recipients is also a process involving local REALTORS®,” explains Kerr. “It’s important to involve local REALTORS® in this process as they are involved in their communities and know its realities and its people.” Managed with the local expertise of the Saskatoon Community Foundation, 2014 was the second year for the delivery of the grants. “We are so very proud to contribute to the Saskatoon Crisis Nursery,” ends Kerr. “It is an important not for profit association in our community and based on today’s visit, it’s obvious the team here has our community and its families in need, at heart… It’s no wonder they were nominated in Saskatoon’s Best with Planet S.”
The Saskatoon Crisis Nursery was nominated in the best not for profit group in Planet S’s Best of Saskatoon 2014 edition. For more information or to vote, visit http://planetmag.secondstreetapp.com/l/Best-of-Saskatoon-2014/Welcome
The Legacy Grant Program will be receiving applications for 2015, starting in October 2014. More information can be found at www.saskatchewanrealestate.com/quality-of-life/legacy. Any charitable organization in Saskatchewan supporting the Quality of Life in Saskatchewan’s principles listed above will be encouraged to apply.
