LDBSS Youth in Philanthropy and the LDB Foundation Grant Presentations
By Rick McGregor
It was cheque presentation day on Jan. 23 at Lac du Bonnet Senior School (LdBSS) as students from the Youth in Philanthropy (YIP) Program, in conjunction with the Lac du Bonnet and District Charitable Foundation Inc., presented grants to two organizations.
Jamie Davidson (left and Dawn La Fortune of ACL_BB with Makenna Tyles, Makenna Nilsson and Ainsley Van Linden of YIP.
YIP had $5,600 in grant money to distribute at the end of 2023. The Association for Community Living – Beausejour Branch (ACL) was presented with a cheque for $3,100 for the purchase of a wheelchair swing.
“This grant means a great deal to the individuals we support with our Back Yard Program,” said ACL’s Dawn La Fortune. “Part of our mandate is providing equal enjoyment of the backyard at our facility to those in wheelchairs.”
A second cheque for $5,000 was presented to the Lac du Bonnet Community Centre to purchase a new floor scrubber. This grant was a joint effort with the YIP Program and the Lac du Bonnet Foundation, each contributing $2,500.
Foundation Grant Chairperson Mitch Walker (left) and Community Centre President Sharalyn Reitlo with Makenna Tyles, Makenna Nilsson, and Ainsley Van Linden of YIP.
Community Centre president Sharalyn Reitlo said the grant helps greatly as the community centre has a lot of expenses, many of them unexpected.
“When something unforeseen occurs, we must dip into emergency funds or run a fundraiser,” Reitlo said. “A grant like this means we don’t have to dig as deep into our reserves.”
The Lac du Bonnet Foundation works to improve the quality of life in Lac du Bonnet and Ward 4 of the RM of Alexander. This is accomplished through investing the charitable donations they receive in funds and distributing the earnings from those funds to qualified recipients for charitable purposes.
The YIP Program is the youth arm of the local foundation. It was started almost six years ago in conjunction with the high school, the foundation and the Thomas Sill Foundation. Students learn about the concepts of philanthropy through fundraising, investments and donating as a way of helping build a better community.
Their latest activities were selling popcorn and drinks at the recent provincial volleyball championships held at LDBSS before the Christmas break. Future plans include decorating for Valentine’s Day and an event with the Lac du Bonnet Ice Fishing Derby.
When asked why she got involved with YIP, Ainsley Van Linden said her sister had previously been involved and was successful, so she was curious about the organization. Van Linden was joined at the presentation by Makenna Nilsson and Makenna Tyles.
(Rick McGregor, The Clipper, Vol. 33 No. 5, February 1, 2024)