STARS Air Ambulance Update

Incubator Mount

In 2021, STARS Air Ambulance received a $5,000 grant from the Lac du Bonnet Foundation as part of a $45,501 project to purchase and install a locking mechanism that secures an incubator onto a stretcher to ensure safe transport of newborns and other infants in the Winnipeg based air ambulance.

STARS is an emergency medical service that provides transportation and critical care to patients who need it most. The organization responds to missions across the Province, reaching remote worksites and secluded rural areas.

In a recent update, the STARS contacted the Foundation to let them know that all aspects of the incubator mount project have now been completed.  In late August 2022, the mount arrived after much delay, it was installed in September and STARS began training teams as well as Shared Health’s Child Transport Team on the proper use of the equipment.  Shared Health purchased the corresponding incubator to fit with the mounting system and is now fully operational. On Saturday, October 15th STARS transported the first infant from Brandon back to Winnipeg.

The attached photos show the mount itself, what it looks like on the stretcher and what the complete unit looks like with the incubator. The STARS team is grateful to the LDB Foundation for their support of this project.

Fall Funding Announcement 2022

The Lac du Bonnet Foundation is pleased to announce the recipients of their 2022 Fall Funding Session, the Pioneer Club and Lac du Bonnet Arena. On December 2, Lac du Bonnet Foundation Board Members, Dick Campbell and Mitch Walker met with representatives of these organizations to present them with their awards.

The Lac du Bonnet Pioneer Club received a $7,500 grant towards the purchase of an industrial floor cleaner. On hand to receive the grant was President of the Pioneer Club, Clara Heibert and Treasurer, Susan Norman.

Jeff Seifried, Manager of the Lac du Bonnet Arena, received a $3,500 grant on behalf of the Arena Board towards the overhaul of the brine pump and system repair project.

Including these projects, the Foundation has distributed a total of $21,265 this year in the way of bursaries, scholarships and grants that support projects that benefit the members of our community.

Endow Manitoba Giving Challenge 2022

Thank you to the Community

The Lac du Bonnet Foundation would like to thank all donors for generously supporting this year’s Endow Manitoba Giving Challenge.

A very special thank you goes out to our local Challenge Group Fund whose commitment to matching donations dollar for dollar up to $11,000 helped the LDB Foundation surpass last year’s fundraising efforts, and to the Province of Manitoba and Endow Manitoba for stretching funds by $1.00 each for every $5.00 donated up to $4000.

We are excited to announce that a total of well over $33,000 was raised for our community during this year’s Giving Challenge. Thanks to all for your most generous support.

Lac du Bonnet Foundation Board Members Dick Campbell, Janice Leroux, Gary Rollins, and Emeritus Board Member John Barnard manning the Foundation booth at the Lac du Bonnet Christmas Craft Sale in support of the Endow Manitoba Giving Challenge.

Endow Manitoba Giving Challenge November 14 – 20, 2022

Endow Manitoba Giving Challenge

 November 14 – 20, 2022

A $5.00 donation made to the Lac du Bonnet Foundation has the potential to stretch to $14.00 thanks to matching funding from the local Challenge Group Fund and top-ups from the Winnipeg Foundation and Province of Manitoba.

There has never been a better time to help our community flourish forever! The Lac du Bonnet & District Charitable Foundation encourages residents from Lac du Bonnet and surrounding area to make a gift to the LDB Foundation as part of the Endow Manitoba’s Giving Challenge, from November 14-20.

The Giving Challenge is a major fund-raiser for the Lac du Bonnet & District Community Foundation. All donations received during this event go directly to the LDB Foundation to help build the Foundation’s Endowment Fund. The interest generated from the fund is used to support local community projects that help make Lac du Bonnet and area a more caring and vibrant community today and well into the future.

The LDB Foundation is pleased to announce that once again, a very generous group of local philanthropists have come forward to finance a Challenge Group Fund.  This fund will be used during the Giving Challenge week to encourage donations by matching them dollar for dollar.

In addition, the Winnipeg Foundation and the Manitoba Government will be stretching donations by 20 percent each up to $4000. Between these top-ups and the Challenge Group Fund, each $5.00 donation made to the LDB Foundation’s General Fund from November 15-21 has the potential to stretch to $14.00.

“This is a great opportunity to support the Lac du Bonnet & District Charitable Foundation,” says Gary Rollins, President of the LDB Foundation. “Of course, we welcome gifts at any time, but giving between Nov. 14 – 20 means extra support. We’re so excited to see what our community can accomplish!”

Ronald McDonald House Grand Opening

On September 14, Dave Johnson, Chairperson of the Lac du Bonnet Foundation attended the ribbon cutting ceremony of the new Ronald McDonald House building in Winnipeg.  The Lac du Bonnet Foundation has committed to granting this project $1000 annually for a five year period.

Ronald McDonald House offers free accommodations to families in rural areas that require extended medical in Winnipeg for their children, a service that some families in our area have accessed in the past. This new facility provides a welcoming home away from home when it is needed most

Included are two photos. One is of the donor recognition glass work piece showing the Foundation as a donor. This plaque is located in the main lobby of the new building. The second is a picture of Dave Johnson with Wendy Galagan, CEO of Ronal McDonald House in front of the new facility.

The new facility truly is magnificent and the Lac du Bonnet Foundation is proud to have been able to support this worthy cause.

 

2022 Scholarship and Bursary Recipients

The Lac du Bonnet &District Charitable Foundation is pleased to announce the recipients of the Chuck Reynolds Memorial Scholarship and Winnipeg River Bursary for 2022.

The Chuck Reynolds Memorial Scholarship Fund was established in memory of Chuck Reynolds, a well-respected teacher and former Vice Principal of Lac du Bonnet Senior School who, after retirement, went on to serve three terms as an Agassiz and Sunrise School Division School Board Trustee before his untimely passing in 2015. The Chuck Reynolds Memorial Scholarship is awarded to Lac du Bonnet graduates who demonstrate academic excellence or achievements in athletics, the arts, trades, the environment, or social justice.

This year’s recipients are Serenity Poirier and Lily Hodgson of LDBSS, both of whom received $500 scholarships.  Serenity will be pursuing a degree in microbiology at the University of Manitoba.  Lily will be attending the University of Brandon where she will be pursuing her Bachelor of Arts degree.

The Winnipeg River Bursary Fund was established in 2016 by Gus Wruck, emeritus member of the Lac du Bonnet Foundation. Each year, this award is presented to students from the Lac du Bonnet area enrolled in continuing education where the field of study has possible relevance or benefit to the Lac du Bonnet Region. Bursaries of up to $1000 are provided to a deserving student(s) based on relevance, need, and the availability of funds.

The 2022 recipients of Winnipeg River Bursaries are Courtney Yerex, Serenity Poirier, and Abbee Pelland, all of whom graduated from LDBSS this year. Courtney received a $500 bursary and will be pursuing her educational goal in graphic design at the Visual College of Arts and Design in Calgary. Serenity received $1000 to pursue a degree in microbiology at the University of Manitoba. Abbee also received $1000 and will be entering a pre-med program at the University of Winnipeg.

Congratulations to each of these deserving recipients (pictured with LDBSS Principal Chrissy Viznaugh)!

LDB Foundation Grant Announcements for Spring 2022

On May 18, 2022, the Lac du Bonnet & District Charitable Foundation held its Annual Public Meeting and Celebration of Giving.  A large part of the evening was dedicated to the celebration of projects funded by the Foundation in 2021 and the announcement of grant recipients for Spring 2022.

The LDB Foundation is pleased to announce that $3,000 was granted to the Town of Lac du Bonnet on behalf of the Fire and Water Festival for the Spring Funding Session.  These funds will go towards the purchase of new speakers and a sound mixer.  Marie Heibert, president of the Fire and Water Festival, was on hand to accept the award from LDB Foundation President Gary Rollins and Treasurer Dick Campbell.

Fire and Water Festival Grant Presentation: LDB Foundation President Gary Rollins, Fire and Water Festival President Marie Heibert and LDB Foundation Treasurer Dick Campbell

Lac du Bonnet Regional Library representatives Jennifer Hudson Stewart (Head Librarian) and Karen Dave were also present to receive a $1,500 grant to help purchase a tent canopy and fencing for the Library. These items will be used to provide a safe outdoor environment for the children’s outdoor reading program.

LDB Regional Library Grant Presentation: Library Representatives Karen David and Head Librarian Jennifer Hudson Stewart, LDB Foundation Treasurer Dick Campbell and President Garry Rollins

The Lac du Bonnet Foundation congratulates both of these organizations and looks forward to seeing these community projects unfold.

The next LDB Foundation funding deadline is September 30, 2022.  Please visit the Lac du Bonnet Foundation website at www.lacdubonnetfoundation.ca for application forms and more information on how to apply

The Foundation also encourages community members to visit the website’s Grant Recipient page at

https://lacdubonnetfoundation.ca/grants/grant-recipients/ for a full list of grant and scholarship recipients since 2010.

Y.I.P. Committee

Youth in Philanthropy Grant Announcement

After a one and a half year break due to Covid-19, the LDBSS Youth in Philanthropy Committee (YIP) is pleased to announce that it is up and running again as part of the school’s Student Council.

YIP is the youth arm of the Lac du Bonnet & District Charitable Foundation. This leadership program is supported by the LDB Foundation and is designed to introduce young people to philanthropy and community development. The program at LDBSS provides students with hands-on experience working as a team to learn about and help local charitable organizations.  Building an endowment fund, learning about community needs, and engaging in the granting process are all part of the experience.

Y.I.P. Committee

LDBSS Student Council & YIP President Bella Molinski, Principal Chrissy Viznaugh and Student Council/YIP Committee Members for the 2021-22 school year.

The following students are involved in this year’s YIP Committee: Isabella Molinski (president), Serene Alexander, Faith Homeniuk, Sage King, Kalan Sinclair, Braden Fontaine, Hailey Metcalf, Keryn Volmering, Kaleb Kettles, and Sara Diduck. Teacher leaders are Ashley Krocker and principal, Chrissy Viznaugh.

As one of their first acts of this school year, the LDBSS YIP Committee awarded a grant of $4700.00 to Sunrise School Division towards the purchase of laptop computers to assist students in the Lac du Bonnet area that do not have access to this technology for remote educating. Coupled with a $5300 from the Lac du Bonnet Foundation, a total of $10,000 was granted for this purpose.

The YIP Committee is committed to learning about and supporting community needs.  The next grant deadline for YIP applications is Fall 2022. Applications for YIP grants can be found on the Lac du Bonnet Foundation website at https://lacdubonnetfoundation.ca/about-y-i-p/