Charities in Yorkton and district received $6,500 in grants from the Yorkton and District Community Foundation at its annual meeting March 28, bringing the total distributed by the YDCF over its first three years of operation to $182,000.
Successful applications to the annual grants program came from the Krepakevich Fund for Families to SIGN Family Support for $1,625 and the Melville Arts Council for $888. Grants from the Mental Health Fund were made to Dr. Brass School ($1,399) and Big Brother Big Sisters Yorkton and District ($226). General Community Fund grants were made to Yorkton Arts Council for $781, Godfrey Dean Art Gallery for $800 and Rail City Industries in Melville for $781. See details about the funded projects.
Gene Krepakevich, who passed away in 2022, was remembered as a visionary community leader and an early champion of the YDCF. Gene and his wife Gladys were among the first donors and over three years continued to give. Krepakevich Fund for Families is an endowed fund that generates grants for programs to help families in need.
Mr. and Mrs. Krepakevich did not wish to limit the grants to Yorkton; they were willing to support projects in any community within the district. Gifts in memoriam from friends and family, and contributions by other donors who share their vision have added to the donations made by them, and the principle amount of the fund now sits at more than $75,000.
In its first two years with the YDCF the fund has issued grants on behalf of the Krepakevich family totalling $5,902 and the principle remains intact to generate future grants.
Ray Bailey, President of the Community Foundation noted that although awareness of the Community Foundation was slowed by the pandemic, donations are steadily increasing with 49 donors contributing over $50,000 in 2022 so that the endowment grant pool will continue to grow and generate annual grants. Memorial donations were received in 2022 for Mr. Krepakevich and Elsie Sakal.
Representatives from many of the local charities were on hand for the one-hour AGM and a video with messages from last year's grant recipients was played thanking donors for the grants and explaining the good that came from those contributions to their programs (scroll down to see video).
Attendees learned of some of the needs in the area identified during a November survey sent by YDCF to over 40 local charities and heard how many local concerns are echoed in the Food Banks of Canada 2022 HungerReport.
Among the business of the meeting was a farewell to Sharon Tropin and Abi Adefolarin who are stepping down from the board along with City of Yorkton representative Lisa Washington. Sharon and Lisa had both served more than five years, first on the steering committee that founded the organization and on the board of directors since the 2019 launch. Elected for new two-year terms to the board were David Balysky representing the City of Yorkton, and Darlene Stakiw. Re-elected was Ray Bailey.
Board members are elected for two-year terms, and may serve three consecutive terms. Those continuing to serve are Andrew Rae, Candace Tendler, Trevor Plews, Victor Surjik and Dick DeRyk.
The Annual Report and Financial Statements for 2022 were presented at the meeting, and can be found below. Persons interested in learning more are also welcome to contact any board members.
YDCF uses only the earnings from its endowment funds to make grants only to other registered charities in Yorkton and district. Each year charities are invited to apply for grants, which are announced at the annual general meeting held in March.
Watch a short video in which the charities which received grants in 2022 explain what the funding meant to their organizations, and to those who benefitted from their projects and events.
Donations to our endowment funds
generate funds each and every year...forever,
to support local causes that matter to you. Donations of any size are welcomed.
In May 2022, Kia Communities in Motion announced nine charities and non-profits across the country selected to receive funding in the program’s inaugural year, including projects in Yorkton and Kamsack submitted by the Yorkton and District Community Foundation.
In December Kia Canada, in partnership with Community Foundations Canada (CFC), launched Kia Communities in Motion, a grassroots endeavour to invest $1.4 million over four years to support local projects that are building inclusive communities through innovative programming that encourages movement.
Nine projects were selected from coast-to-coast-to-coast, including two in Yorkton and area, in one of which the Society for the Involvement of Good Neighbours (SIGN) is a partner and beneficiary.
Bridging Service Collaborative, a program of SaskAbilities and SIGN assists those in crisis situations through supports such as overnight accommodation, access to emergency food or emergency transportation.
In its inaugural year, Kia Communities in Motion worked with five foundations across the country, using their knowledge of grassroots organizations and the needs of their local communities to select charities and non-profits that drive innovation and movement in their communities. The Yorkton District Community Foundation was one of those five. Others were located in Windsor-Essex ON, Nova Scotia, Penticton and Montreal.
The Bridging Service Collaborative has been assisting individuals who face challenges leading to exclusion, lack of safety and lack of basic needs being met.
Several years ago a group of caring people from the Yorkton area noted that there were many wonderful charities doing good work, but with no coordinated way to tell people of the needs in the community and how to direct donations to the charities that can address those needs.
Yorkton and area was missing a community foundation.
On March 21, 2019, Yorkton & District Community Foundation, Inc. (YDCF) became a registered charitable public foundation operating under the laws and regulations governing charities in Canada, and recognized by the Canada Revenue Agency.
YDCF is not meant to replace any existing fundraising bodies in the district, but seeks to augment the resources available to local charities and secure funds for the current and future needs of the community.
We are part of a worldwide movement of community foundations whose objective is to help build stronger and more vibrant communities. In Canada we are a part of Community Foundations of Canada, a network of almost 200 community foundations from coast to coast to coast who work with donors to identify the causes and community they wish to support.
We work with charities in our communities to identify local needs and to advocate for social change;
We work with donors who wish to make meaningful and lasting contributions to the well-being of their community;
We support charitable organizations that provide programs and services to our communities.
Yorkton and District Community Foundation Inc.
Box 304 Yorkton SK Canada S3N 2W1 | E info@ydcf.ca
Registered Charitable Number 771575495RR0001
The Yorkton and District Community Foundation serves donors and charities in the ancestral lands of the Cree, Saulteaux, Dakota, Lakota, and Nakota, and the Métis Nation. We respect the treaties that are integral to the foundation of Canada and we are committed to honouring their spirit and intent. We respect the histories, languages, and cultures of those who have lived on this land and commit to working and living in partnership with Indigenous peoples and nations in a spirit of respect, reconciliation, co‐operation and collaboration.
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