"You are what it takes to make community," Winkler Community Foundation Board Member and Winkler Mayor Martin Harder said as the foundation presented over $90,000 in grants to local projects and organizations.

"Because you invest your time and energy... into the benefit of our community," he says. "Thank you for all you do."

Harder also thanked WCF Executive Director Myra Peters for leading the organization for the past eight years, "you've done an awesome job."

Peters explains she's seen the foundation double it's granting power, twice.

In the past 20 years more than $1 million has been granted back into the community. The first grants approved in 1986 totalled $5,500. On Thursday WCF granted $90,644.

"It's exciting to see the amount we're giving back continually growing," Peters says. "And we know it's helping the charities in our community do the work they do."

The foundation saw an increase in donations last year during the 24 hour giving challenge. The event returns November 19 when Endow Manitoba adds one dollar to every $5 raised.

Every donation helps grow the community foundation's endowment funds. The gifts are invested and the interested earned annually is granted back into the community.  

The 2016 grants include:

Smart & Caring Community Fund Grants

ORGANIZATIONS                                                                   PROJECT                                                            AMOUNT

Border Valley School PAC                                               Play Structure                                                          $  4,750

Hochfeld School PAC                                                       Play Structure                                                          $  4,750

Pembina Valley Humane Society                                    Kennel upgrade                                                       $  5,000

SERC                                                                               Collapsible cots                                                       $  3,000

South Central Cancer Resource                                      Wigs                                                                        $  1,000

Southwood School PAC                                                   Play Structure                                                          $  4,750

The Bunker                                                                      Sound system                                                         $  7,000            

Winkler Bible Camp                                                        Dining hall sound system                                       $  2,760

Winkler Family Resource Centre                                   New Coffee & Chat program                                     $  2,000

Winkler Festival of the Arts                                           Music Scholarships                                                  $     500

Winkler Heritage Museum                                            Storage supplies                                                       $  1,000

Winkler Minor Ball                                                        Softball batting machine                                           $  5,130

Winkler Senior Centre                                                  Accessibility lift for stage                                          $10,000            

TOTAL SMART & CARING COMMUNITY GRANTS                                                                                  $51,640

Designated and Donor Advised Grants

FUNDS                                                                                RECIPIENT/PROJECT                                           AMOUNT

2016 Manitoba Winter Games                                  Winkler Junior Curling Club                                         $  4,268

         Sports Legacy Fund

Dr. CW Wiebe Medical Fund                                      Dr CW Wiebe Medical Centre                                     $  5,000

                                                                                               Prenatal instruments & medical devices    

Gateway Resources Fund                                           Gateway - programming space                                  $15,869

                                                                                               Renovations

Katie Cares Fund                                                             Katie Cares Foundation                                         $  2,148            

Kalansky Family Fund                                                    Winkler Fire Department                                        $     240

                                                                                               Training and equipment

TOTAL DESIGNATED & DONOR ADVISED GRANTS                                                                                 $27,525


OTHER GRANTS – distributed separately

Canada 150 Fund – partnership with Community Foundations of Canada                                                    $  7,500

Citizen of the Year Choice Grant                                                                                                                   $  1,000

Youth in Philanthropy                                                                                                                                    $  2,979

TOTAL OTHER GRANTS                                                                                                                                 $11,479