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Creston-Kootenay Foundation receives $140,000 bequest

The Creston Kootenay Founda-tion’s Quality of Life for Seniors Fund is $140,000 richer...
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(From left) Creston-Kootenay Foundation chair Larry Brierley accepts a $140

The Creston Kootenay Founda-tion’s Quality of Life for Seniors Fund is $140,000 richer, thanks to a bequest by Dorothy McEachern.

Combined with that donation, McEachern, who died June 6 at 97, has contributed nearly $300,000 to Creston Valley organizations, helping with the Irvine House women’s shelter, Creston Valley Hospice Society, the Therapeutic Activation Program for Seniors and the Creston and District Society for Community Living’s Therapeutic Riding Program.

Her decision to leave the money to the Creston-Kootenay Foundation (CKF) grew out of a dilemma that faces many seniors.

“Often, they don’t know where to put it,” said Alex Nilsson, executor of McEachern’s will.

She was born in Saskatchewan, became a schoolteacher, and then married a minister and lived all over Canada. After contacting the CKF in 2005, she began contributing with a $75,000 donation to the Palliative Care Fund (now the Quality of Life for Seniors Fund).

“Her interest and concern for people was impressive and refreshing,” said CKF chair Larry Brierley.

The foundation invests funds and donates interest generated to Creston Valley non-profits and charities.

“Our goal is to have assets under our management of over $1 million,” said Brierley. “This moves us closer to that goal.”

The donation to the CKF was encouraged by her niece, Mary-Lou, and Mary-Lou’s husband, Colin, both active volunteers in the community, who realized that having her funds overseen by the CKF would provide more help to the community than a onetime donation of $140,000 to specific groups.

“This still accomplishes what she wanted to do to provide for the needs of people,” said Colin.