The Didsbury skatepark project has had a really good run of fundraising success over the summer. We are pushing hard to have $125,000 raised by Sept. 12 so that we can take full advantage of the maximum government of Alberta Community Facility Enhancement Program (CFEP) matching grant. This application deadline is just two weeks away and we need your help – the people and businesses of Didsbury, and we currently sit at $76,000 raised.
Our bold “new” idea is actually the revival of a wonderful old idea: kids playing outside, not in basements with their phones, tablets and gaming consoles. Unstructured, outdoor play – with no schedules, referees, coaches or scorekeepers.
Over the summer, $25,000 came in one contribution from the Calgary Flames Foundation, an elderly couple Roy and Erma Wilson made a second donation of $10,000, ISL Engineering provided $5,000, TransCanada Energy made a $3,000 contribution, ATB Financial $2,500 etc. Brad Blatz of Value Drug Mart and Tim Wozney stepped up to the plate with $1,000 contributions in the past few months. In doing so, he joined other local donors like Erin and Jason Enns at $1,000, the Lodermeier/Campbell Family at $1,250 and CDC Electric which just increased its contribution to $2,000. It’s fair to say the Didsbury skatepark fundraising initiative is on a roll.
We are working really hard to achieve a great facility for sport and recreation infrastructure for the kids and families of Didsbury and region and to do that, many more of our local business, individuals and families are needed. Donations are eligible for a charitable tax receipt which reduces the final cost of the contribution by about 35 per cent. Or, structured as sponsorship, businesses get some great advertising and “good corporate citizen” exposure.
We really need the families and business of Didsbury and region to make this project happen for kids and families that will benefit from this sport and recreation attraction that will add to the features that make Didsbury a great place to live and raise a family.
You can donate on the Didsbury Skatepark Society Facebook page, the Town of Didsbury’s Facebook and Twitter pages, or on the town website at Didsbury.ca. You can also donate by cash or cheque at the Town of Didsbury administration office during business hours. We need your support, and we need it by Sept. 12. It will feel really good to make a contribution of generosity and community building and it will feel even better when you see kids using this skatepark in 2020.
Jordan Cleland
Contracted project fundraiser
