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BV Foundation celebrates 20 years

For 20 years, they’ve been here, living in and supporting the organizations in town when they need help.

The Bulkley Valley Community Foundation began in 1991 as a means for Smithers town council and their Economic Development Committee to enhance the quality of life for residents of our community. But its borders are much wider than that of Smithers, stretching from Kitwanga to Granisle.

Founding directors were Betty Davies, Carole Young, Ted Bobb, John Milne, Charlie Northrup, Fred Shortreid and Gordon Williams Sr.

The way it works is they raise funds from those communities and invest them into an endowment fund, Executive Director Ron Young said. Those investments are long-term and low risk, and the interest monies they make each year is what they use to turn around to invest into other non-profit groups in each of the communities they serve.

“That way, it helps improve the quality of life for individuals who belong to those organizations,” Young said.

Community donations have left them around $700,000 to invest with, meaning that each year at least $35,000 is available from the revenues to go towards the community grants.

In 2011, donations from the foundation totalled $29,910 that was distributed to 26 different groups, including $3,000 worth of scholarships. Groups who benefitted from the grants include B.V. Search and Rescue, the Telkwa Museum, Houston Link to Learning, the Back Country Horsemen, Smithers Junior Softball and the Smithers Curling Club.

In the 20 years they’ve been operating, they’ve awarded a total of around $350,000 to 400 recipients, Young said.

“That money grows, and it continues to grow, so we say it’s a gift that keeps on growing,” Young said. “It’s a gift to us and it grows in donations.”

Young has been involved in the foundation for 15 years now, and yet it’s amazing how many people who have never heard of the foundation, Young said.

“They’re not large amounts of money … but every little bit helps,” Young said.

From what he’s seen in his 15 years with the foundation is more demand, more organizations out there searching for money to keep their programs afloat, Young said.

Community donations are always welcome, Young said, who invited people to give the foundation a call at 250-846-9270 to see if there’s a way you could help out. A donation could be an up-front cash donation, or leave some funds to them in a will.

You can also check out their website for more information at www.bvcf.ca.