Western Financial Group’s annual Support the Cause Day Walk this spring raised a record $137,845, compared to just under $90,000 in 2012.
The recently announced results included money raised by all seven local employees, who joined the 100 Mile House team for the five-kilometre walk, bringing in a total of $405.
Local Western Financial manager Jennifer Appleby says the Western Community Fund assists local community projects, bursaries and programs.
“The foundation has been around for 10 or 12 years, and the walk is one of our bigger fundraisers. It’s a way for the entire company to get involved.”
Locally, Exceptional Achievement Bursaries have been awarded in 2012 and 2013 to Peter Skene Ogden Secondary School graduates, she explains.
Appleby adds this year, PSO grad Lauren Runge received the $500 bursary.
In addition, Western Financial branches may enter a draw for awarding local infrastructure grants of up to $5,000, although she notes not all of them do apply.
“It’s a grant to help with building, or renovating, or what have you. So, this year in January, our office was actually drawn to give that away.”
The local branch chose the 100 Mile Agriplex Society (Stan Halcro Arena group), Appleby says.
The Support the Cause Day Walk now has an online donation program at www.supportthecause.ca, which will help branches initiate fundraising a little earlier in future, she adds, and potentially raise more money for the foundation.
“For every employee who participates, Western Financial Group gives $50 [from] head office.”
This is then topped up by pledges employees personally gathered from members of their community.
More than 1,500 Western Financial Group employees from more than 100 locations across Western Canada participated in the 2013 walk.
