Saskatchewan REALTORS® gathered April 14 at Hotel Saskatchewan in Regina for their third annual Legacy Gala. Part of the Quality of Life in Saskatchewan initiative, the funds raised at the Gala are collected by REALTORS® to provide grants to six worthy charities from across the province every year.
The following 2015 recipients were presented with a $5,000 grant by a REALTOR® from their local community.
- Esterhazy Community Daycare Cooperative – for expansion of the current facility with the addition of a 1,600 square foot modular building to be attached to their existing three modular buildings.
- Swift Current Community Youth Initiative – to provide coffee house employment opportunities for youth. Funding will be used to employ an adult mentor and the youth required to operate a self-sustaining coffee house within the space of the Centre.
- Lloydminster Community Youth Centre – for the Hot Meal Program, which will allow the purchase of necessary food and supplies to offer the program three evenings per week for an entire year.
- North East Outreach and Support Services – for their capital campaign to build a shelter in Melfort to provide a safe place for women and children making the transition to life without violence.
- READ Saskatoon – for use with the Adult Literacy One-on-One Tutoring Program to ensure adequate staffing, volunteer support, and increased learning opportunities to tutors and adult learners.
- Mackenzie Infant Care Centre – for good quality reading material for young student mothers in Regina to read to their babies at the centre and to encourage reading/bonding at home.
“Once again, we received far more grant requests than we could accommodate,” commented Shelby Wilk, Chair of the Quality of Life committee. “It’s so difficult to limit our decision to six worthy charities, but we are grateful to be able to assist those who enhance the quality of life in our communities every day.”
The Quality of Life in Saskatchewan initiative promotes the following principles:
- Support shelter-related services in our communities
- Enhance environmental sustainability, protection and/or conservation of our natural areas
- Support public education on the importance of private property rights
- Promote safer neighbourhoods and/or improved community services
- Enhance and promote community development and better opportunities for “at risk” populations and/or disadvantaged citizens
The Saskatchewan REALTOR® community also achieved their 2015 fundraising goal of $30,000 for next year’s granting process.
“We didn’t quite beat last year’s fundraising record, but we came very close!” exclaimed Bill Madder, CEO of the Association of Saskatchewan REALTORS® (ASR). “We were thrilled to welcome 16 Legacy Builders to the fold this year; Builders are major donors who contribute $1,000 or more to our Legacy Endowment Fund. It’s our way to enhance the quality of life in our province and give back to our local communities.”
For more information on how to become a Builder, please contact the ASR.
The Legacy Grant Program will be receiving applications again in early 2016. More information can be found at www.saskatchewanrealestate.com/quality-of-life/legacy. Updates will also be distributed through the ASR’s social media channels.
