Page 30 - Southport - Reaching New Heights - Summer 2017

The Southport
THE Endowment Fund

was established
CIRCLE OF in 2015

GIVING

Giving is often seen as a one-way process, from sender to donated their share of the profits, totaling $13,500, back
receiver. But Southport’s relationship with the Community to CFPD for the Southport Endowment Fund. Another
Foundation of Portage and District (CFPD), can be better fundraising golf tournament is planned for 2017. The
represented as a circle of giving, instead of a linear process. Southport Endowment Fund is one of the undesignated

To understand this unique relationship, it is important to funds with CFPD, and will offer grants for a wide variety of
have some background information about CFPD and how projects in the community.
they operate. CFPD is a community foundation established In addition to raising funds, Southport also sponsors regular
in 1994 that facilitates the funding of local charitable non- vignette advertisements, each with a story about CFPD’s
profit organizations, projects and scholarships through activities. These vignettes allow CFPD to become more
the granting process. As a foundation, CFPD places visible in the community and increase awareness of the
contributions into a permanent fund rather than distributing grants they offer, as well as enhance Southport’s brand.
them. Only the interest on the fund is awarded as a grant, Southport recently applied for a grant from the Canada 150
ensuring that there will always be more funding available in Fund through CFPD and was awarded a grant in partnership
the future from the foundation. with the RM of Portage la Prairie. The grant will be used to

Grant applicants are reviewed by CFPD and awarded help fund a community barbecue in August that celebrates
money to fund their projects based on a careful qualification both Canada’s 150th and Southport’s 25th Anniversary.
process. To qualify, the applicant must promote or provide Through this partnership, CFPD and Southport’s are able
social services, arts and culture, education, fitness and to augment each other’s resources for the benefit of the
health, environmental care, or community activities, as well communities of Portage la Prairie and Southport. As both
as meet other criteria. organizations are community-minded, this partnership is a
The building blocks of Southport’s partnership with CFPD good fit that will continue to evolve as both organizations
were laid in 2014, when Lou Antonissen, then Board grow.
Chair of CFPD, approached Southport with the idea of
establishing the Southport Endowment Fund. This idea was www.cfpdi.ca info@cfpdi.ca 204-856-1971
realized in 2015, when Southport
hosted a golf tournament with
all proceeds going to CFPD. The
Southport Endowment Fund was
formed with a $5,000 donation. In
2016, Southport partnered with
CFPD, along with other community
partners, to bring the RCMP
Musical Ride to Portage la Prairie.
The event was very successful and
drew in over $39,000. Southport

30 | Southport: Reaching New Heights