Could have been the change in venue. Might have been because more people are becoming more aware of the Roblin District Community Foundation and its work. Could have been the grilling skills – the man has a way with a steak – of Cassian Daneluk. Whatever the reason, the foundation’s annual Barbeque Fundraiser held July 10 at the Bield Community Centre was one great party. “The barbeque was a great success,” said the foundation’s executive director Alison Safronetz. “We had over 150 people, maybe up to 170 with board members and volunteers. The food was great. And there were many different faces.”
Safronetz says the change of venue may have helped bring out some different people but the community is also becoming more aware of the foundation and what it does. “And our Pop Up Grant campaign seemed to get a lot of attention from the community,” she noted. The foundation decided to offer a Pop Up Grant for the first time this year to fund the best project designed to improve or enrich the community. “We received a total of 15 applications. We picked what we felt were the top five ideas and then presented them to the public for their votes,”
Safronetz explained, adding that votes came in by email, in person at the foundation’s Post Office poll, and by a survey on its Facebook page. There were a total of 407 votes cast for the top five projects with the most votes going to a joint application from LEARN and the Roblin Library taking top spot. “Their project is to upgrade equipment and furniture, supplies and material for the children and families of both programs to meet the skills, abilities and interest of all,” Safronetz noted. Some of the other ideas were a new piano for the 50 & Over Club; water volleyball equipment for the Leisure Aquatic Centre; a community garden with raised beds in the Main Street greenspace; and one of those face cut-out boards for visitors to take photos.
“It was a worthwhile project for the foundation and something we’re definitely considering doing again,” Safronetz said. “It generated a lot of interest.” The Roblin District Community Foundation offers funding in all areas of the community including arts, culture, heritage, community services, education, health, recreation and the environment. It has established an investment pool of $1,456,067.53 in contributions and donations since it was incorporated in 2005. Those funds are deposited with and are managed by the Winnipeg Foundation. Each year the foundation returns the interest generated while leaving the principal untouched.