The Moffat Family Fund has been helping non-profit organizations for over 15 years now, and Monday they were able to help out again.

9 organizations that specifically help youth and families received donations from the fund, but that wasn't the end of it.

Christina Attard, Executive Director of the South Saskatchewan Community Foundation said they wanted to find a way to give more.

"We were able to select a number of programs in the Moffat Family pool and nominate them for Federal matching funding, and were fairly successful, actually, in that. Those grants were for projects that created opportunities for people, and in this case, mostly children, who might otherwise be left out. We wanted to make sure, in celebration of confederation, that they would have a chance to participate in sports, art, culture, and a number of programming opportunities."

That federal funding came in the form of Canada 150 grants, and because of that extra funding, an additional amount of almost $30,000 was given out. Joe's Place Youth Centre in Moose Jaw was one of those groups that received money from both the Moffat Fund and the Canada 150 grant. With the two combined the youth centre received $19,200.

Joe Dueck of Joe's Place talked about where the money would go.

"It will help with the work skills component of it,” Dueck said. “We like to build props and costumes with the kids to help run our New Years Eve chem-free party Voltage. That's a focus of the work skills. Then we have day trips, outings, retreats and summer camps. We take the kids paint-balling, hiking, biking, kayaking, canoeing, and horseback riding. A lot of it is things that kids haven't had a chance to do and wouldn't have a chance to do if it wasn't for funding from generous people like the Moffat Family Fund, so we are very grateful."

Hunger in Moose Jaw received $10,000 and will be able to put it to good use, according to Executive Director Carol Acton.

Carol Acton (l) with Hunger In Moose Jaw and Christina Attard (r) with South Saskatchewan Community Foundation

"We will buy milk for the lunch program. So at least once a week the kids will get lunches with milk included in them. And we'll also expand our Jr. Chef program. We have it one night a week right now and we'll go to two because of this money. So it's pretty fabulous to be able to do that."

Christie McCulloch was also excited to receive a gift from the Moffat Family Fund for Creative Kids Saskatchewan of nearly $2000.

"We have kids in Moose Jaw who wish to take dance lessons, or music classes, art classes, activities that so many local kids just get to sign up and participate in. Low income families can't afford it. They are expensive lessons. We provide grants for these kids to take existing arts and culture activities that are offered in the their local community in the same way that their friends get to take them. It's really giving kids inclusion and the opportunity to express themselves creatively."

All together, between the Moffat Family Fund and the Canada 150 grants, almost $82,000 was given out to local non-profits. Here is a full list of the recipients and the amounts granted:

 

Joe’s Place Youth Centre: $13,000.00 & C150 grant of $6,200.00 = $19,200.00
Creative Kids Canada Inc.: $1,850.00
Hunger in Moose Jaw Inc.: $10,000.00
Moose Jaw Association for Community Living: $4,000.00 & C150 Grant $3,000.00 = $7,000.00
Moose Jaw Multicultural Council Inc.: $8,450.00 & C150 Grant $7,500.00 = $15,950.00
Moose Jaw Museum and Art Gallery: $5,000.00 & C150 Grant $4,080.00 = $9,080.00
Roots of Empathy Moose Jaw (Partners Against Violence): $3,600.00.
Saskatchewan Festival of Words - $1,000.00
YMCA of Moose Jaw - $7,000.00 & C150 Grant $7,000.00 = $14,000.00

Total: $81,680.00