CKF
The June 10 Creston-Kootenay Community Foundation (CKF) Gala raised more than $20,000 in support of annual grants to purchase equipment for the Creston Valley Hospital. “We were thrilled that those in attendance showed how much they believed in this cause and that they were incredibly generous,” said organizer and board member Signe Miller.
The Foundation organizes biennial gala events to raise funds for a local cause and increase awareness of CKF’s work. This year’s gala honored Nicole Nilsson, who worked in the healthcare field in Creston for decades and lost her battle with cancer last fall. After her death, Nilsson’s family approached the foundation to establish the Nicole Nilsson Memorial Hospital Fund to ensure that her legacy makes a lasting, targeted contribution to the Creston Valley Hospital.
“While the government provides the funds to make universal health care possible, there are shortfalls when it comes to providing new equipment and keeping the existing inventory current,” explained Hospital Site Manager Carolyn Hawton, sharing her purchase wish list with diners at the gala. “That’s where private donors can play an important role in keeping our hospital viable.”
“Please give generously tonight, for you are really making an investment in your own well being,” Alexis Virginillo, Nicole Nilsson’s daughter, summed up for the audience.
At the gala, a boisterous crowd mingled over appetizers and bid on a variety of locally donated items in silent and live auction format. Foundation President Ted Hutchinson also took the opportunity to explain the CKF’s mission.
“We collect donations from those in our community, large and small, and pool that money into our endowment fund. That is invested and the income earned each year is granted back to the community in the form of grants to non-profit groups who are working to improve the quality of life for us all,” said Hutchinson. “The larger we can grow our endowment fund, the more we will be able to grant each and every year.”
For the Foundation, growth is serious business. In 2005, its first year of operations, the Foundation granted $5,000. This year, Hutchinson announced that up to $85,000 would be available in grants to non-profit groups in the Creston area.
Future growth will come in many forms beyond fundraising events like the gala. “Most of the money being donated to community foundations in Canada is a result of planned giving,” Hutchinson explained. “People consider how they want their donation to make a difference in their community, and how giving back can make a difference to their personal financial plans. This includes plans that take effect during their lives and after. We can help provide information to people to help them make those decisions.” More information is available at ckfoundation.com.