Posts Tagged ‘Community Foundation’
Sixteen years ago, the Community Foundation of Medicine Hat and Southeastern Alberta proudly made its inaugural grant, one of assistance to the City of Medicine Hat after 1995’s devastating flooding.
Today, the Community Foundation reminds those in our region that the foundation is available to assist charitable organizations through the Immediate Assistance Fund.
“The Immediate Assistance Fund began a year ago to collect donations for those affected by the economic downturn,” said executive director Mike Christie. “And although we made disbursements this spring, we have left the fund open for emergencies such as this.”
In continuing its rich history of supporting charitable organizations in the region, the Community Foundation of Medicine Hat and Southeastern Alberta today announced a grants distribution totaling $65,355.
Over half of the grant funds will go toward 11 community projects. Groups applied for these funds in March and the Foundation’s grants committee undertook the process of choosing the grant recipients. These community groups will receive $40,814 of the funds while the other $24,541 is allocated to pre-determined designated grants for charitable organizations in the region.
The Community Foundation has now awarded 619 grants in its 18-year history, worth over $2.7 million. THE JUMP – Read the rest of this entry »
Community Consultations Set for 2010 Vital Signs: Community Foundation asks for public input.
‘Hatters will have two chances next week to add their input to the 2010 Medicine Hat’s Vital Signs report. The Community Foundation of Medicine Hat and Southeastern Alberta is hosting two separate public consultations in order for citizens to express what they would like to see in this year’s report.
The first consultation, aimed at the business community, will take place in the Chamber of Commerce’s board room on Tuesday, May 25 from 12 – 1 PM. The second consultation is of a general nature and will take place on Thursday, May 27 from 12 – 1 PM in REDI Enterprises’s board room.
Community consultations play an important role in the kick-off to the Vital Signs process.
“These consultations allow us to hear what citizens believe are the strengths and weaknesses of Medicine Hat,” said Mike Christie, executive director of the Community Foundation. “It also helps us create a better report because we hear what issues are important to ‘Hatters.” THE JUMP – Read the rest of this entry »
“Healthy Decisions in a Fast-Paced World”
Lunch Session to Help Steer ‘Hatters to Healthier Lifestyles
In continuing to bring issues from Medicine Hat’s Vital Signs to the forefront, the Community Foundation of Medicine Hat and Southeastern Alberta unveiled today the second session in a series of Vital Munches.
“Healthy Decisions in a Fast Paced World” will be the topic of discussion at the free lunchtime seminar, set to take place February 8, 2010 from 12 – 1:30 PM in the Honor Currie Room in the Medicine Hat Public Library. Attendees are welcome to bring their own lunch, and the foundation will provide beverages.
Panel members will include dietitian, food columnist and best-selling cookbook author (“The Big Cook”) Joanne Smith, and Ed Stiles, Certified Exercise Physiologist and owner/operator of Peak Performance Fitness Services.
“We are thrilled that Ed and Joanne will be joining us for this important discussion,” said Jennifer Thompson, Community Impact Coordinator. “Ed is very well known in the community for his insight into personal fitness and is dedicated to helping people improve their lives through exercise. Joanne’s experience teaching families to eat healthier through her work, column and cookbook will benefit all those in attendance as well. Ed and Joanne are both well respected and we are grateful that they are taking time from their busy schedules to help create a healthier community.” THE JUMP – Read the rest of this entry »
The Community Foundation of Medicine Hat and Southeastern Alberta today announced the opening of the application process for spring 2010 grants.
Applications will be accepted from today until the close of business on March 15, 2009. Qualified donees or organizations must hold a charitable registration number from the Canada Revenue Agency. The Community Foundation awards grants for charitable activities in the arts, education, social services, the environment, health, culture and recreation, or any project that will maintain or improve the quality of life in Southeastern Alberta.
In December the Community Foundation unveiled over $36,000 in community grants, and the organization hopes to provide much of the same benefit to area non-profits this spring.
“We are thrilled to once again give grants to worthy organizations in Southeastern Alberta,” said executive director Mike Christie. “While we have several priorities at the Community Foundation, giving grants to kick-start community projects is one of the most rewarding.” THE JUMP – Read the rest of this entry »
After one year in which no community grants were dispersed, the Community Foundation of Medicine Hat and Southeastern Alberta today rewarded nine local charitable organizations with a total of $36,536 in funds.
Because of a harsh financial climate and decreased investment portfolio performance, the Community Foundation was unable to continue its normal grant cycles after the spring of 2008. With a slowly improving portfolio, however, the foundation was able to recommence its grant program again this September.
“It was very exciting to once again start the application process this fall,” said Community Foundation executive director Mike Christie. “Although we had been working as hard as ever in the office, we missed our twice-yearly community grants cycles. Giving out community grants is one of the best parts of our job, and the board and staff didn’t feel as fulfilled without it.”
Dozens of applications were received by the foundation in mid-September; a volunteer-based grants committee then met several times to decide which groups would receive the funds.
“It was hard this year in particular because we all knew what a tough time these charities are facing,” said Christie. “There were many worthwhile applications. Our volunteers worked diligently to find the right groups to award with funds, and we hope that Southeast Alberta will be an even better place with the funds going to these groups.” THE JUMP – Read the rest of this entry »
The Community Foundation of Medicine Hat and Southeastern Alberta is proud to announce the first in a series of 2009-2010 Vital Activities, a spin-off of its Medicine Hat’s Vital Signs publication.
“Waste Not, Want Not: Recycling in Medicine Hat — the who, how, when and what’s next!” will take place on Thursday, November 19 from 12 – 1:30 PM in the Honor Currie Room in the Medicine Hat Public Library. Attendees are welcome to bring their own lunch.
Panel members include Ed Jollymore, manager of solid waste utilities for the City of Medicine Hat, Randy Bray, operations supervisor at REDI Enterprises, and Raeann Torrance, owner of local curbside recycling company Down To Earth Recycling.
“Our moderator will ask our panel members questions related to the present and future of recycling in Medicine Hat,” said Jennifer Thompson, community impact coordinator for the Community Foundation. “We hope to give the public a better idea of how we can improve recycling in our area and perhaps glean an idea of what local recycling might look like in the future.”
This “Vital Munch” will also include a new component: interactive questions from the online community. Using the library’s new wireless internet service, Thompson will be online to write live “tweets” from the event on the foundation’s Twitter account (@cfmh). Followers can be part of the discussion by responding to tweets or even tweeting their own questions to ask the panel. Questions can also be directed to jennifer@mhcf.ca. THE JUMP – Read the rest of this entry »
The Community Foundation of Medicine Hat and Southeastern Alberta today launched Vital Kids, an extension of its Vital Signs program.
Vital Kids is aimed at teaching children more about the community they live in. This is done by discussing some of the more kid-friendly facts featured in Medicine Hat’s Vital Signs. Issues covered will include voting, neighbourhood populations, Canada Day activities, volunteering, youth employment rates and much more.
The first Vital Kids presentation was held in the grade three/four classroom at St. Mary’s School today, led by Jennifer Thompson, community impact coordinator at the Community Foundation.
“Our Vital Kids presentations will be a conversation with the students,” said Thompson. “We will cover fun facts about Medicine Hat and talk about what they can do to make their community an even better place to live.”
The Community Foundation has produced Vital Signs for three years, joining more than a dozen Community Foundations across the country. Medicine Hat’s Vital Signs has inspired programs such as Vital Activities and Vital Munch; Thompson hopes that Vital Kids will touch a new generation. THE JUMP – Read the rest of this entry »
The Medicine Hat Vital Signs 2009 project has been completed and packaged up for the public to see.
As Vaughn explained in the previous Vital Signs article, Medicine Hat Vital Signs is a community “check up” that measures and assigns ratings in the community. The information was taken in by completing a survey on the Vital Signs website.
The final 28 page booklet, which was designed by Hide Away Studios Inc., includes statistical information population, education, police and security services, environment, plus much more, including an honourable mention to Medicine Hat Media on Page 23.
Check out the PDF here (7.2 MB)
Medicine Hat residents will have an opportunity to gather and discuss the findings of Medicine Hat’s Vital Signs 2009 on Thursday, October 8th.
The Community Foundation of Medicine Hat and Southeastern Alberta presents “A Community Conversation” at Chinook Village’s Terrace Room from 7:00 – 8:30 AM on October 8th. The event will give area residents a chance to review and evaluate the findings of the report.
“Each year, Medicine Hat’s Vital Signs has spurred many conversations amongst residents about life in our city,” said Community Foundation executive director Mike Christie. “Our breakfast conversation is important because it leads to discussions that help shape the way the Community Foundation approaches the findings in the report.” THE JUMP – Read the rest of this entry »