Cara Loverock
Northern News Services
Published Friday, November 30, 2007

YELLOWKNIFE - The largest philanthropic organization in the territory has received $25,000 to boost its profile in the community.

On Nov. 20, the NWT Power Corporation announced its donation to the Yellowknife Community Foundation.

Tom Hall, left, Yellowknife Community Foundation president, accepts a cheque for $25,000 from Peter Allen, vice chair of the NWT Power Corporation, at a press conference on Nov. 20. - Cara Loverock/ NNSL Photo

Peter Allen, vice chair of the NWT Power Corporation, said the donation was "a small token of appreciation of what's being done (by the foundation)." It is the largest philanthropic contribution the company has made to date.

Tom Hall, president of the Yellowknife Community Foundation, said the foundation has close to $2 million in its capital fund, but that many in the city aren't aware of the funds available.

"People don't understand how difficult it can be sometimes to give money away," said Hall.

Hall said that the foundation will be developing a newsletter, titled Power of Community, as part of its strategy for building a bigger profile in Yellowknife.

"That will be our primary vehicle for getting the word out. It'll be an electronic newsletter," said Hall. "There are other P.R. strategies that are going to be developed as well."

Founded in 1993, the Yellowknife Community Foundation issues grants to registered charities through applications or to programs identified by the board of directors as being in need. Grants are available primarily to organizations within the Yellowknife region.

Some of the funding from the foundation this year has gone towards the Northern Excursions Club, the Coast Guard Auxiliary, the Arctic Winter Games 2008 Youth Ambassador Program, as well as academic and arts scholarships.

The foundation also announced a grant of $3,000 to the Yellowknife branch of the Hard of Hearing Association.

"We are very pleased to be able to assist the Hard of Hearing Association," said Hall.

The money was donated to help the association bring speaker Gael Hannan to Yellowknife for a public show on hearing loss.