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SHARE Whistler raises $4,000 cash, 2,565 volunteer hours

Local non-profits in Whistler have a little more money in their coffers to start the New Year after another successful SHARE Whistler funding and volunteer drive — a joint effort by Pique Newsmagazine and the Community Foundation of Whistler to
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Local non-profits in Whistler have a little more money in their coffers to start the New Year after another successful SHARE Whistler funding and volunteer drive — a joint effort by

Pique Newsmagazine and the Community Foundation of Whistler to raise the profile of non-profits in the community, and to encourage people to get involved.

Starting Nov. 29, people were encouraged to make donations to the non-profits of their choice through the Community Foundation of Whistler (CFOW), or to donate volunteer hours to those organizations. People who donated $50 or volunteered at least five hours per week of the campaign with those non-profits were entered into five weekly draws for Prior Snowboards.

Pique would match cash donations to those non-profits up to $5,000, with donations to the CFOW's community fund. Pique also promised to contribute up to an additional $5,000 for volunteer hours.

The campaign did not max out this year, with total cash donations of $4,065. This amount will be matched by the Pique with a donation of $4,065 to the Community Fund.

However, volunteer hours were through the roof at 2,565 hours, maxing out the contribution at $5,000. The $5,000 for volunteer hours was divided according to percentages of the 2,565 hours that each charity earned.

The Whistler Adaptive Sport Program, which provides opportunities to get involved in sports such as alpine and Nordic skiing to people with a wide range of disabilities, earned the lion's share of donations — $600 in cash donations, plus $2,932.75 in recognition of 1,504.5 hours of volunteer work for a total of $3,532.75.

Second in line was Whistler Animals Galore, the local animal shelter. They received the largest share of cash donations at $1,285. They added another $314.81 from volunteer work to raise the total to $1,599.81.

The Whistler Community Services Society, which oversees the local food bank and other social services, received $545 in cash plus $795.32 from volunteer service for a total of $1,340,32.

The other non-profits that were included were the Whistler Museum and Archives, the Whistler Public Library, Big Brothers Big Sisters, Zero Ceiling and the Whistler Youth Foundation.

The snowboard winners ran the gammut from second home owners that volunteer with local non-profits to one seasonal worker from the Czech Republic who still found time to volunteer while working three jobs.

This is the second year for the SHARE Whistler program.

The CFOW was created to raise money for community groups and manage several specific funds ranging from youth to the environment. The funds earn interest, and grants are distributed based on the amount of interest earned.

The CFOW will soon be accepting applications for their next round of 2013 grants. The Kathy Barnett Memorial Grants Program, which was created to provide funding for women seeking leadership training and opportunities on behalf of Pique co-founder Kathy Barnett, opened its call for applications on Jan. 3 with a due date of Jan. 25.

For the Environmental Legacy Fund, the grant process opens on Feb. 28; the Community Grants Program opens Feb. 21; the Whistler Youth Foundation Grants Program opens Feb. 21; and the Scholarship Funds closes Apr. 19. The Jill Ackhurst Social Action Fund dates are still to be announced.

For more on the CFOW and the grant application process, visit www.whistlerfoundation.com.