Six months into the Amherstburg Community Foundation’s ambitious plan to raise money for four distinct local initiatives, the goal’s been reached on one and the other three are at least 70 per cent funded.
“I’m really an impatient guy so I’m surprised that we’re not further along,” ACF president Richard Peddie said recently. “We’re doing well but there’s still people not aware of the Amherstburg Community Foundation or they think we’re tied in with the town.
“This has nothing to do with taxes. This is voluntary. It’s philanthropy, not taxes.”
Upgrades to Beaudoin Park in the River Canard district actually exceeded its fundraising target of $55,000.
“The accessibility community really stepped up with a major contribution,” Peddie said.
The town had already committed $170,000 to redeveloping the park but ACF’s additional funding will allow for upgraded playground equipment and the development of three different play zones.
“I was worried about that one but it’s done and they’ve already started construction,” Peddie said.
The Amherstburg Freedom Museum has 79 per cent of its fundraising goal of $39,000 achieved. The museum plans to use the funds for youth programming, to promote diversity and engage the community in a dialogue about racism.
The effort to raise $40,000 for the Carnegie Library Refresh sits at 73 per cent. The refreshment campaign will aim to make the library more engaging and usable with colourful murals, comfortable seating, new books and an expanded computer area.
The fourth initiative — a four-kilometre trail for hikers and cyclists at Holiday Beach Conservation Area — had the highest target of $75,000.
To date, that effort has raised 80 per cent of the funds necessary for Phase 1, which involves creating the wetlands associated with the project.
When they relaunched and revamped the ACF last July and announced the four initiatives, Peddie said the board didn’t really place a time limit on fundraising efforts.
“We talked more about what if a project goes stale, what would we do, but we’re not there yet,” he said. “I’m optimistic that by our next Thought Leaders talk on March 5 (the ACF’s regular event featuring thought-provoking speakers) we might have the Freedom Museum initiative across the finish line.”
Having already brought three guest speakers to town — urbanists Gil Penalosa and Cherise Burda, and climate change advocate Gerald Kutney — the ACF has invited Hamilton city planner Jason Thorne for a March 5 Thought Leaders talk on how to implement the strategies and ideas of the previous three speakers.
MARY CATON Updated: December 10, 2019 Windsor Star