The North Bay and Area Community Foundation celebrated the money raised locally for the Smart and Caring Communities Campaign today ahead of Canada 150. Back in the fall, the Governor General of Canada called on communities across Canada to find 150 donors to give $1,000 each to benefit area charities. The campaign doesn’t end on Canada Day, it will continue to run all through this 150th year.
Community Foundation Executive Director Kate Merritt-Dupelle says so far they have 63 donors signed up, with more than $100,000 raised to this point. She says they started with a base amount of funding, and some donors gave more than $1,000. Merritt-Dupelle says while they aren’t at $150,000 yet, they’re thrilled to have so many people step up to help out the charities in town.
The Smart and Caring Communities Fund did exist before Canada 150, and the foundation’s goal was just to grow it during this year. To this point, they’ve given to 50 local groups and this will allow them to expand their range. Merritt-Dupelle says they have a variety of funds, but this specific fund is the general granting fund which means any charity in North Bay is able to receive money from it. For more information, you can go to: www.nbacf.ca
