A great time was had by all. That appears to be the consensus of the 200-plus people who attended the Creston-Kootenay Foundation’s Grand Soiree on June 11.
Held in the Creston and District Community Complex’s Creston room, the affair was MCed by Brian Lawrence and Dan Caverly. It began with a bang-up buffet supper catered by Carole Huscroft and ended with dancing to old and new music played by the Creston Community Band under Monte Anderson’s baton.
In between, those present watched a movie produced by the Creston Film Group in which representatives of the area’s non-profit community groups thanked the CKF for its financial support over the past five years. It was a revelation to many in the audience who were unaware of the foundation’s active role in the community.
CKF president Larry Brierley made a presentation to one of this year’s grant recipients, the Creston and District Community Resource Centre, acting as sponsor for the Therapeutic Activation Program for Seniors (TAPS). He invited donations to the foundation, noting that as its investment kitty grows the foundation will be able to do correspondingly more to help such groups for the foreseeable future.
The theme of the foundation is, “People Who Care — Dreams that Matter”. Laurel Salviulo of Riondel spoke of her and husband Vincenso’s desire to establish an annual scholarship in memory of their son, Brandon, who had died following a tragic accident. The Brandon Salviulo Memorial Scholarship will go to a student of the East or West Kootenay in the fire certificate program at the College of the Rockies. The foundation worked with the Salviulos, linking their “care” with their “dream that mattered”. The first scholarship will be granted in 2012.
Brierley also presented a bouquet of flowers to Julie Ewashen, a former member of the CKF board, in appreciation of her dedicated and sterling work as supervisor of the foundation’s youth committee. He praised Nicole Nilsson and Rita Scott, the two foundation board members who were responsible for organizing the soiree.
A silent auction offered items generously donated by area businesses, and a “money tree” of envelopes contained gift certificates also provided by local merchants. The magnificent door prize — a week’s accommodation in Phoenix, Ariz., donated by Nick and Kelly Nilsson, plus return airfare from Spokane to Phoenix, donated by Bahamas Travel — was won by Gerry Gardiner.
Information about donating and about the fund’s activities can be found on the foundation’s website, www.ckfoundation.com.