Red Deer and District Community Foundation

(Published in our 2007 Annual Report)

“If you need it and we have it, you can borrow it.”

This is the Lending Cupboard Society’s mandate and very essence of existence. the society loans medical equipment to people who are recovering from an injury or a medical procedure; have a debilitating condition; suffer from loss of mobility from any cause; and people who require palliative care to stay in their own homes. There are no fees and no requirements to qualify for the loan.

With just over a year since the organization has opened its doors to the public, more than 2,000 people have been served and have loaned out equipment almost 4,000 times. Approximately 45% of equipment loaned goes out to rural Albertans in the Central Alberta area.

The organization serves as a venue for the community to donate their used medical equipment that they no longer need for others to use. They receive donations from previous clients that would pay it forward. As one of the anonymous testimonials on the website goes, “Please accept this small donation in appreciation for this wonderful service which you are providing. It has enabled me to return have come up with the idea of the organization.

In 2007, the Red Deer & District Community Foundation granted the Lending Cupboard Society of Alberta $3,600.00 from its General Endowment Fund. The grant is for the organization’s Repair and Maintainance Program for Medical Equipment.

The program is integral in the operations of the society, as equipment go through normal wear and tear. It is important that equipment be safe for clients to use as well. At times, they receive donations from the public of medical equipment with a part missing or broken, but otherwise would have been in good condition. The pool of skilled and talented volunteers who would man the Repair Shop are responsible for testing, servicing and repair of equipment donated, as well as those included in their inventory.

The grant by the Red Deer & District Community Foundation will be allocated to purchase parts needed to make the equipment available to clients. The volunteers are in the process of ordering the necessary parts from medical catalogues and stores so they can add more to the current list of equipment.

(Published in our 2008 Annual Report)

Imagine running away to join the circus! Imagine spending four fun-filled and motivational days pushing your physical skills to include riding a unicycle, wire walking, juggling, stilt-walking, rola bola, swinging trapeze, balance and performance; all the while, honing your intellectual skills to master magic and illusion! Since 2006, youth and youth at-risk aged 9-14 from Red Deer and surrounding areas have had the opportunity to attend a four day camp learning rare circus skills ( less than 1% of the population have them), having fun, making new friends, and developing self confidence and self-esteem. The program provides professional circus artists from across Canada to act as mentors to the participants- half of whom are paid registrants with other half being identified by community agencies working with families and youth at risk.

Piloted in Red Deer in 2004, promoting the philosophy that exposure to the arts could be an effective intervention tool in preventing criminal, anti-social and destructive behavior patterns, the Community Foundation extended a $5,000.00 grant each year, for three consecutive years, from 2006-2008 to the Community Circus Camp after the Red Deer Youth Community Action Plan identified the need for opportunities to: provide our youth with adult role models and mentors; develop people skills and opportunities for positive interaction with each other; and encourage youth to be involved with their community.

The campers are expected to fully participate in activities, be creative and more importantly, to have fun in the process. Instructors are focused on praise and encouragement while keeping the campers safe as they learn and practice daring skills. A grand show is presented at the end of the four day workshop with all the participants showcasing the skills they learned.

Attendance in this annual event has grown every year with a goal of balanced participation of paid and sponsored participants. Not only was this goal achieved , but participation extended to the Central Alberta region with youth traveling to the city from Alix, Bluffton, Stettler, Ponoka, Elnora and Penhold. In October 2007, the Community Circus Camp received the Excellence in Youth Development Award from the Alberta Recreation & Parks Association.

Campers are also taught the value of giving back to the community by being invited to volunteer in future camps. One of the participants wrote a letter that validates the objectives of the camp. Nicholas said that at first he thought he would not like this camp at all, and that he would never use the skills he learned in this camp. He found, however he had a lot of fun and learned a lot, and now, in his words, has been “promoted” from being a student to an Instructors Aide at Circus Camp and Circus Club. he said he has experienced what a positive experience this has been for other kids, and because of this he wanted to help. Since attending Circus camp, he has performed in Winter Fest, Children’s Festival and Centre Fest in 2008.

The participants are also taught entrepreneurial skills and labor readiness, being given an opportunity to earn a little money by performing at different community events. Nicholas, our volunteer, was able to earn some money from his performances with the skills he learned, at the same time giving back to the community.

Imagine running away to join the circus, learning skills unlike any other. This experience is once in a lifetime- the opportunity created for these youth is beyond compare.

(Published in our 2008 Annual Report)

“Red Deer’s incredible growth will put intense pressure on the environment. In order to effectively address these pressures, Red Deer needs to be proactive and take leadership on environmental issues.” Anonymous, Red Deer’s Vital Signs 2007

At their 2007 Strategic Planning Session, and in striving to meet their mission of acting as catalysts for change, the Community Foundation Board of Directors agreed to dedicate a specific amount from the General Endowment Fund to a Strategic Grants Program focused on the broadly defined area of “Environmental Wellness”. This direction was derived from the needs of our community as a result of our inaugural Vital Signs issue in 2007, which ranked the environment as one of the top four concerns that the community wishes to be addressed. As a community catalyst, we are taking the lead by providing a focus in our granting practice.

Defined as “creating healthy and safe environment where members of the community live, work and play”, the Community Foundation believes that environmental awareness and protection is highly strategic, as the way we think and act today, will affect future generations to come. Creating a healthy environment today is a gift that will continue on giving– a true legacy.

The objectives of this program were to fund community projects that included- but were not limited to- the natural environment such as rivers, waterways, parks, air quality to the physical spaces we inhabit such as our office or work space and public spaces that contribute to our physical well-being. Designed to ensure that our 360° funding mandate was fulfilled, this program cut across all sectors as it recognizes that environmental wellness impacts all citizens, businesses and agencies across the region.

The three main goals of the program were: to change the way our community thinks about our environment consequently evoking action towards environmental protection; to develop awareness and practices that are geared towards environmental and physical wellness among community organizations; to create opportunity for community organizations to pursue environmental projects. A total of $36,500.00 was granted to community programs across Central Alberta.

Downtown Red Deer Rotary and Capital Environment Inc. partnered with the Community Foundation on August 25th 2000, to sponsor a golf tournament in support of the Rotary Career Opportunity Award Fund with the result of an additional$15,000 for the Fund.