COMMUNITY RALLIES TO SUPPORT CAMP UPGRADES
This February, Danial Sprintz, Executive
Director at Camp Massad, approached the
Foundation in need of help. The camp was in
the midst of applying for a government grant
that required raising matching funds that they
had not yet been able to secure through other
avenues. This grant would provide important
updates to the camp's existing security
measures.
"We went around the community trying to
find help reaching the minimum requirement;
we were looking for help," Sprintz says. "But
we were stuck, and that's when I spoke to
Marla [Aronovitch] and John [Diamond] at the
Foundation, and the next day they called back
saying they were able to help."
With a March 31st deadline to raise
the matching dollars needed to receive
the Government of Canada's Securities
Infrastructure Program Grant, JFM boosted
Massad toward its goal with an initial grant
covering roughly one-third of the required
funds.
To build on that momentum, Sprintz
continued to plan with the JFM on how best to
find the remainder of the funds. Collectively, it
was decided that the camp would embark on
a focused campaign as a final effort.
Explaining the situation's urgency, Camp
Massad put the message out to their
community and alums for donations.
"We put that out on Friday, and we
were done by Wednesday," Sprintz says.
"The response from the community was
extraordinary. We sat here in disbelief at how
fast we reached the goal."
In the end, nearly 80 donations came in to
help raise the remainder of the funds needed
to earn the matching grant.
"We had people donating who hadn't
donated in a decade, some who had never
donated at all," he says. "The response from
the community and the Foundation, jumping
in so quickly, was heartwarming."
Jumpstarted by the grant from the JFM,
community members were inspired to act,
helping Camp Massad reach their goal with
time to spare. The new security enhancements
will cement Camp Massad as a safe haven
for the community, reflecting the spirit of
unity and support that prevailed during this
endeavour.
In addition to the JFM's contribution, our
donors with Donor Advised Funds were
also able to contribute to Camp Massad's
campaign. For more information on Donor
Advised Funds, contact Laurel Hogan,
Donor Development Associate, by email
at [email protected], by
telephone at 204.202.7438 or toll-free from
the US/Canada at 1.855.284.1918.