A handful of local staff from Western Financial Group (WFG) and primary students at 100 Mile House Elementary School walked around town for awareness and did local fundraising on May 27.
Bedecked in bright red tunics and shirts and carrying placards stating Hey team, let’s talk Support the Cause, the group of about three dozen young students and several WFG staff made quite a spectacle – and quite a trek.
They traversed Birch Avenue from First to Fifth streets, over to the Creekside Seniors Activity Centre and Centennial Park water falls, and back to the school via Fourth Street and Birch.
WFG branch champion Lori Cleave says the company’s Western Community Foundation is all about fundraising, healthy living and giving back to the community.
This program boosts funds raised at local branches that apply successfully, she explains.
“Any money we raise goes back into the community of 100 Mile House – whatever we raise, they match.
“We have given out four $500 bursaries now … this year, I am giving one out to Tristi Allwood.”
Cleave notes the local WFG has also donated to the 100 Mile House & District Soccer Association, the Agriplex Society and the SPCA through this program.
The various grants available depend on the level of local fundraising that year, she adds.
“We would apply for the infrastructure grant of $5,000, and if approved, we are going to have the 100 Mile House Waterpark Society as the recipient this year.”
For the walk, staff collected pledges and sold $2 paper sneakers that put donor names up on the wall at the local office, and also held a bake sale, Cleave explains.
