Greenwood & Midway, B.C. – The West Boundary Community Forest (WBCF) is pleased to announce their new 2023 grant season recipients, which so far includes 26 local organizations. This year, WBCF has allocated a total of $100,00 in funding – $66,000 was granted during its spring intake, with the remaining $44,000 planned for disbursement this fall. These funds are intended to support community-led projects and events, contributing to WBCF’s mission of giving back to the local community.
Each year, WBCF provides funding to eligible non-profit organizations, schools, community groups, and societies located in, or serving area residents and the public, the West Boundary region. In the past, grant funding has helped numerous local groups purchase sports and recreation equipment, school supplies, as well as support field trips and community events.
Ross Elliott, WBCF Board Secretary and founding member, is enthusiastic about the grants to help local organizations, as fund raising has become increasingly difficult in most rural areas due to ageing small communities and limited businesses to tap into.
“Now that the WBCF is up and running successfully, we have become a major funding source for local groups, relieving some pressure from businesses in the area who have generously reached into their pockets over the years,” expressed Elliott, adding that one of the main benefits of a community forest is having all profits remain in the area for the benefit of local residents.
The spring intake saw community groups, schools, and non-profit societies in the West Boundary region apply for grant money. Those that received funding, with details on their projects, include:
In addition to these applicants, WBCF also donated $5,000 each to the Greenwood Founder’s Day and Rock Creek & Boundary Fair Association, as well as $2,000 to Boundary Central Secondary School to help fund Grade 11-12 students’ trip to Quebec.
Besides this discretionary funding, the WBCF annually allocates $10,000 toward recreation trails, as well as a total of $5,000 in bursaries to selected West Boundary graduating students who plan to study in a post-secondary trades program or academic program at a recognized Canadian post-secondary institution. This year, the WBCF received an extra $500 towards their bursary funding, generously donated by Penny Feist who recently retired as the Chief Administrative Officer for the Village of Midway.
The 2023-2024 school year bursary recipients are Reine Fossen and Taylor Vu, each awarded with $2,750. Congratulations to these exemplary students for their excellent submissions and best wishes on your future endeavours!
“All of our Board members find great satisfaction in the funding process, knowing we can help these students because,” as Elliot noted, “They are our future!”
To learn more about the WBCF grants and bursaries program, click here.
For an interview with West Boundary Community Forest, contact:
Ross Elliott, Board Secretary | West Boundary Community Forest | wbcfsecretary@gmail.com
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