More than a quarter of a million dollars went back into the community through 36 grants and 26 scholarships this year through the Winkler Community Foundation (WCF).

Community foundation Executive Director Myra Peters explains they identified three key priorities for successful applications: the breadth of the project, including how many people will be impacted, as well as the diversity of those impacted; and longevity, which refers to long-term impact of a proposed project.

Some of the larger recipients included Gateway Resources which received $42,177 for vehicle maintenance and replacement. Winkler Elementary School received $23,000 for a playstructure. And the Pembina Threshermen's Museum saw $10,000 for their Heritage Home Foundation. 

Peters says their mission is to help people give back to our shared community by connecting generous donors with causes they care about.

"We are an endowment-based public foundation, so gifts are pooled and invested, and the annual earnings are distributed back to the community forever," Peters explains. "A gift to the Winkler Community Foundation truly is a gift that keeps on giving back to the community year after year."

The foundation issued more then 36 grants to local charities and 26 scholarships totaling $250,144 with additional Emergency Community Support Funds still to be released. The grants are available thanks to the community and designated funds, agency funds, donor advised funds held at the Winkler Community Foundation as well as flow through funds from the City of Winkler, Manitoba 150, and in partnership with Community Foundation of Canada and the Federal government.

To learn more about the Winkler Community Foundation go to www.winklercommunityfoundation.com