Celebration of Philanthropy at Community Foundation Gala

Submitted by: The Community Foundation of Swan Valley |

The Community Foundation of Swan Valley (CFSV) held their 4th Annual Cultural Gala on Friday, November 9, 2018 at the War Veterans Community Hall in Swan River.

“Here in the Swan Valley, volunteerism and philanthropy is at the core of who we are.” said Lorne Henkelman, Chair of the CFSV Board, during his opening remarks. “The sense of community and interdependence, how we work together to thrive and grow is entrenched in our spirit. Nowhere is this spirit more evident than in you here tonight who make up our foundation, and tonight we celebrate our success.”

Since its inception in 2005, the CFSV has allocated over $570,000 to local projects, bursaries and scholarships throughout the Swan Valley. It is hard to find a community organization that has not been touched by the generosity of those who have made donations to the Community Foundation.

The gala venue was decorated elegantly in black and gold, providing the perfect atmosphere for a formal evening of socializing, entertainment and fine dining, all in support of a worthy cause.

During the evening, guests were entertained by a first class lineup of musical entertainment featuring a Jazz Ensemble (Nick Baskier on drums, Autumn Klekta on upright bass, Jessica Kovachik on trumpet and Mark Matejka on keyboard), Dueling Pianos (Mark Matejka and Martin Snell), the rich vocals of Terri Boyd (accompanied by Martin Snell), and Pure Country (Ken Thompson and Brittney Moore).



Caterer Julie Nahnybida once again put on a superb four course meal with the delicious appetizers, salad, main course and dessert graciously served by the Swan River Ladies Curling Club.



The sold out event welcomed many honoured guests including Hon. Ralph Eichler, Minister of Agriculture for the Province of Manitoba who presented a cheque in the amount of $450,000 for the creation of the Cherban Endowment Fund. This new endowment brings the total value of the Foundation to almost $2.9 million.

All donations, no matter what size, make a big difference to our community. The original donations remain untouched and the interest earned is used to support local charities, providing a never-ending source of income for the community.

The Endow Manitoba 24 Hour Giving Challenge on November 17, 2018 is the perfect opportunity to give, allowing you to stretch your donation to the CFSV’s Undesignated Fund. For every $5 given, The Winnipeg Foundation will donate an additional $1 (maximum $2,000 per foundation) and the Province of Manitoba will donate an additional $1 (maximum $2,000 per foundation).

For more information, or to make a donation, please contact:
Donna Martin
Phone: 204-734-9129, or
Email: cfswanvalley@gmail.com