Skip to content

Melissa's dispenses fruits of fundraiser

While a bunny in Canmore may be a contentious thing, in Banff it’s something to be loved. Bunny Julius, owner of Melissa’s Missteak restaurant, dispensed some of the funds raised through the Melissa’s Road Race to two local charities, Thursday (Oct.

While a bunny in Canmore may be a contentious thing, in Banff it’s something to be loved.

Bunny Julius, owner of Melissa’s Missteak restaurant, dispensed some of the funds raised through the Melissa’s Road Race to two local charities, Thursday (Oct. 6).

The Banff Community Foundation received $4,000 and the Banff Child Care Centre $1,000 at the giant cheque-passing ceremony.

Julius spoke highly of the foundation’s practices when it comes to giving out the funds it raises.

“The way the Community Foundation distributes their funds, we like to stay with them, just because of the wide range they take care of in town here,” he said.

“They do a lot with arts, sports, entertainment, everything, they cover the full gamut of what we want to accomplish in town, so they best fit what we’re trying to do.”

The daycare, which participated in the cleanup at the race, was also a worthy recipient.

“The daycare came to us, and they’ve been put in a hole with cutbacks, so we felt it was a pretty good mix,” said Julius. “We’ve donated to the daycare before and we felt it was pretty decent again this year.”

Julius noted the weather and turnout made this year’s race one of the best they’ve ever had.

“It’s (funds) going toward our new out of school care program for kindergarten children, because there’s no other care for that age group now with the full-day kindergarten,” said Greta Correll, executive director of the Banff Child Care Centre. “We look after them after school, Monday to Thursday, and then on professional development Fridays.”

While the Town of Banff does offer an after school program, it begins with Grade 1, which is why the centre needs to offer this program.

“Our operating budget needs $24,000 this year just to cover our costs, so any of these extra fundraisers will go towards the Caribou Room,” said Correll, noting the room being used for this program is at the elementary school, not the centre, and is a classroom which will be converted to a child care room on a daily basis.

Lorraine Widmer-Carson spoke on behalf of the Banff Community Foundation.

“In the past, 80 per cent has been endowed and 20 per cent has gone to the now fund,” she said. “This year, I think Melissa’s is going to change it to 50-50, so we will follow donor instructions.

“As of right now, Melissa’s has donated over the years about $20,000 to our community legacy fund – the forever fund we call it – and $5,000 has supported community grants.”

Also on hand were Katie Fluet, supervisor of out of school child care program, and Nancy DaDalt of the Banff Community Foundation.

Correll noted the centre’s next major fundraising initiative will be a wine and cheese event on Oct. 28.

“Our major fundraiser that helped us out with almost $17,000 last year was a wine and cheese, presented by the Aurora and Eddie Burger Bar,” she said.

The event will feature wine donated by Jacob’s Creek, gourmet cheeses by the Bison, appetizers from Eddie’s, and a silent auction. Tickets are available at the centre.


Rocky Mountain Outlook

About the Author: Rocky Mountain Outlook

The Rocky Mountain Outlook is Bow Valley's No. 1 source for local news and events.
Read more



Comments

push icon
Be the first to read breaking stories. Enable push notifications on your device. Disable anytime.
No thanks