The gift of support
Once again, the Whistler community has opened its heart with generosity.
Families Fighting Cancer in the Sea to Sky (FFCSS) would like to thank the Restaurant Association of Whistler (RAW) for the generous donation of $5,000 that was raised through membership, sponsors and its annual golf event.
A special shoutout goes to the RAW board for choosing FFCSS as one of the recipients for funds raised in 2017: Amy Huddle (president); Kevin Wallace; Jay Pare; Pepe Barajas; Eric Griffith; Kirsten Reddaway; Wayne Katz; Bob Dawson; John Grills; and administrator Brenda Holben.
Families Fighting Cancer in the Sea to Sky relies on the generosity of Whistler and the entire Sea to Sky community to be able to continue giving monetary and other support to the many Sea to Sky families that have a member living through cancer.
The need for assistance sadly seems to be great, but we at FFCSS, with community support, are happy to know that we can assist in some small way.
With Gratitude.
Lisa Geddes and Michelle Williamson
Co-founders FFCSS
MMFC bids farewell
It is with mixed emotions that I write on behalf of an organization that has touched so many Whistler families over the last decade.
Moving Mountains for Children (MMFC) has as its mandate to support families with young children and has roots in relying on financial support from Sea to Sky Community Services.
Today, although still volunteer-run, it offers a host of childhood development programs and community events with a self-sustaining financial model. However, there are also now more organizations offering childhood development programs, all vying for donations and volunteers — (making operations) inevitably... more challenging, so we have decided time is now ripe to transfer our programs to other existing organizations, and dissolve MMFC as an entity.
I have had the honour as chair for four years, and treasurer for the prior two, to work alongside many talented people, but there were also many before my time who contributed, so to all of those involved over the years, I extend a huge thank you!
The achievements of this group are numerous; here are a few examples:
• Internationally acclaimed Music Together was established in Whistler, connecting over 500 families through its early childhood music and movement program. It was initially subsidized, but as it grew in popularity it became self-funded. Music Together will continue with Ira Pettle now running it as part of his business;
• The annual Community Easter Egg Hunt event was organized for the past seven years, and hosted around 1,000 locals and tourists each year. A key fundraiser to subsidize MMFC's programs, it will now be continued by the Myrtle Philip Community School PAC;
• Other activities, such as the Creekside Garage Sales and Open Gym, will also still be available for the community thanks to AWARE and the Sea to Sky Community Services, respectively.
In addition to the above activities continuing, I am delighted to announce that the legacy of MMFC will continue on forever. Net assets of almost $30,000 cash will be donated to establish the Moving Mountains for Children Fund with the Community Foundation of Whistler.
Annual earnings will be granted to programming for the benefit of Whistler families. Anyone can donate to the fund to support this cause. For more info, see www.whistlerfoundation.com.
Two scholarships for Early Childhood Education were the first grants awarded, enabling more teachers in our daycare centres. Congratulations to Sabrina Pelletier and Macarena Butcher who received $1,000 each for their ECE studies.
In closing, I am very proud of what we have all achieved, and it is with a heavy heart that we close the chapter, but I am heartened that MMFC will live on through the programs and the Moving Mountains for Children Fund.
Toni Metcalf
Chair, Moving Mountains for Children
Church is key partner in faith
The omission of more than a token acknowledgment of Our Lady of the Mountains church in the (cover feature) article about play and prayer (Pique, Dec. 14) is not a per se manifestation of animus, but a breezy ignorance of the contribution this church has made to Whistler.
The Catholic church on Lorimer Road is the only permanent building in Whistler devoted to prayer.
Any religion — or means — helping people find solace is a good thing.
Lack of acknowledgment of what has been and is a core part of our prayerful community in Whistler is unfortunate.
Thad Leininger
Whistler
Editor's note: Pique reached out to the church to participate in the feature but did not receive a response before press time.
