INNISFAIL – Youth in the community are getting a boost from the Rotary Club of Innisfail.
That boost came in the form of a $20,000 donation to the newly formed Youth Positive Assets Coalition.
“We raised about $19,000 from the annual golf tournament and we committed $20,000 to the Youth Positive Assets Coalition,” said Andrew Ritson-Bennett, president of the Rotary Club.
He noted the important role youth have within the club and the community.
“We engage students to send them to leadership development camps and (provide) opportunities to learn and grow,” said Ritson-Bennett, noting the Rotary Youth Exchange Program and the many ways the organization gives back to youth in the community.
“We’ve always tried to donate back to minor hockey and minor ball, and this year we donated $2,000 to the Dean Turnquist Spring Fever Road Hockey Tournament as well,” he added.
Karen Bradbury, community and social development coordinator with the Town of Innisfail, said the $20,000 donation will greatly benefit the coalition and youth and young adults in Innisfail.
“We've received a small grant of $5,000 from Alberta Health Services but this is the first (donation) we’ve received from the community,” said Bradbury. “The donation from the Rotary Club will go a long way to support events and activities to engage Innisfail youth and young adults to be actively and positively engaged in our community.
"While the focus is on youth and young adults between the ages of 14 to 24 years of age, the benefits will be to the greater community, so a huge thank you to the Rotary Club of Innisfail for their support,” she added. “This will really help to move the Innisfail Youth Positive Assets Coalition (YPAC) forward on the goals they are hoping to achieve over the next year.”
YPAC will work collaboratively with several partners, noted Bradbury, including Chinook’s Edge School Division, Red Deer Catholic Regional Schools, Alberta Health Services, employment services, as well as youth and young adults in Innisfail.
“We (want to) help youth feel connected to their community and know that they’re valued in their community,” said Bradbury.
Ritson-Bennett said the Rotary Club’s donation and commitment to the YPAC is a community effort.
“It’s really great to be able to do this,” said Ritson-Bennett. “Our successes rely on the commitment of the community to sponsor our endeavours and help us make a difference in the community.”
