For Immediate Release
Community Foundation of the Kootenay Rockies and
the Cranbrook Community Forest Society Launch New Fund
Cranbrook, BC (May 9, 2022) – The Community Foundation of the Kootenay Rockies (CFKR) is thrilled to launch the new Cranbrook Community Forest Society Legacy Fund, to support the Cranbrook Community Forest Society (CCFS) with an annual grant, in perpetuity.
CFKR and CCFS aim to raise $20,000 to establish this new endowment fund. The fundraising is already underway, with an initial donation of $500 from Jean-Ann Debreceni, who is a long-time user of the Community Forest, along with her husband, Joe, and a further donation of $2,500, from another dedicated community forest supporter.
“The CCFS Board is excited about this opportunity to establish a new and lasting revenue stream for our organization,” said Joseph Cross, CCFS Board Chair.
Cross added, “The annual grant from this fund will support our on-going work to maintain and enhance the Cranbrook Community Forest, which is such an important recreational, educational, and environmental resource in our community.”
According to Lynnette Wray, CFKR Executive Director, “We sincerely appreciate Jean-Ann’s initiative in kick-starting this new fund, and we are so pleased to be working with the Cranbrook Community Forest Society to raise the remaining $17,000.”
“We know that so many people love to walk, bike, hike, and run in the Cranbrook Community Forest, and we are confident that people will step forward to support this new fund,” Wray stated.
CFKR welcomes tax-receiptable charitable donations to this fund via cheque (made out to “CFKR”, noting “Community Forest” in the memo) or e-transfer to Lynnette.Wray@CFKRockies.ca (including “Community Forest” in the notes, as well as the donor’s contact information). Cheques can be mailed to CFKR at Box 242, Cranbrook, BC, V1C 4H8 or delivered to the CFKR office in the Ground Floor Coworking Space at 131 7th Ave. S., Cranbrook. Cash donations can be dropped off at the same location. Credit card donations, which include an additional processing fee, can be made via the following link: https://www.canadahelps.org/en/dn/72233
The Cranbrook Community Forest Society was established in 2000 as a BC-registered non-profit society and received their registered charity status from the CRA in the spring of 2021. This opened the door to creating this permanently invested endowment fund, which will support CCFS with an operating grant, every year, forever.
Jean-Ann Debreceni truly believes in the long-term benefits of endowment funds for local charities, having played a key role in establishing several CFKR endowment funds, including the East Kootenay Community Credit Union Fund which benefits the Cranbrook Salvation Army’s local food programs, the Cranbrook Community Theatre Legacy Fund, the Cranbrook Past and Present Teachers’ Legacy Fund, and now the Cranbrook Community Forest Society Legacy Fund.