NAKUSP COMMUNITY CHALLENGE: May 24 - Sept. 12, 2012

Our Nakusp Branch is challenging all local organizations, businesses and schools to take part in their Nakusp Community Challenge, a health and wellness initiative where teams support each other to get moving on a “virtual” walk around the world! 

• The challenge starts May 24 and is a fun 16-week virtual walking journey around the world.
• This challenge is easy, FUN, and do-able for people of any fitness level.
• Teams will support and motivate each other to increase their daily step count and track their progress by wearing pedometers and recording their number of steps each day.
• The more active your team, the healthier you'll become!

To register your team or for more information on the Nakusp Community Challenge, please contact the Kootenay Savings Nakusp Branch at 250.265.3605.

Announcing New Community Foundation Grants & Awards

As a local, community-minded financial co-operative, leaving permanent and lasting legacies in the Kootenays is something the Kootenay Savings Community Foundation has been committed to since awarding its very first grants and bursaries in 2000.

Since inception, the Foundation has distributed over $3.2 million in support of numerous non-profit projects and initiatives, including the recent announcement of $84,900 in new grants, benefitting the twenty-one different groups listed below:

• Air Cadet League of Canada, 531 Sponsoring Committee
• Arrow & Slocan Lakes Community Services Society
• Beaver Valley May Days Society
• Dark Water Dragon Society
• Downtown Art Farm Society
• Freedom Quest Regional Youth Services
• Friends of Friends Clubhouse
• Kimberley Nordic Club
• Kinnaird Elementary School
• Kootenay Columbia Seniors Housing Co-operative
• LaNina Weather Shelter
• Nelson & District Seniors Coordinating Society
• North Star Skating Club
• Scouts Canada
• Silverton Community Club
• Steamboat Mtn. Music Society
• Trail Curling Association
• Trail Horsemen’s Society
• Trail Little League
• Trail Skating Club
• Wilmer Community Club

Click on any of the names listed above to learn more.

In addition to the recent grants, the Foundation is also rewarding Kootenay-area high school and post-secondary students for their commitment to education and community by distributing $31,000 in educational awards.  

More information about the power of membership and co-operation is available on-line at creditunionsarehelpinghere.com, facebook.com/KootenaySavings or canada2012.coop.

Media Contact:

Aron Burke, Community Relations Coordinator

Kootenay Savings

250.368.2683

aron.burke@kscu.com

BC Children's Hospital Jeans Day 2012

For over 20 years the BC Children’s Hospital Foundation has held an annual Jeans Day to help raise money towards providing the essential services, research and advanced technology necessary to make leading pediatric care accessible to the province’s one million children.

By purchasing a $5 button, Kootenay Savings employees could wear their jeans to work yesterday to celebrate Jeans Day and raise awareness for the Children's Hospital. 

This year alone we collected $1420 to help out the kids at the Children’s Hospital, carrying on our tradition of supporting quality healthcare both locally and provincially!

THE YES CAMP!

The YES is a non-profit organization run in conjunction with the BC Co-operative Association and Rainbow Youth Excellence Society. For over 35 years, the YES has been offering week-long leadership retreats, at Lake Cowichan on Vancouver Island, to provide young people ages 14 to 18 the chance to learn new skills, appreciate new values, and grow as individuals.

The YES Camp develops the excellence present in all young people by modeling exceptional behaviour and presenting great self-development programs. Not only is there a chance to learn and grow, it's also tons of fun! From canoeing and hiking, to arts and crafts, there are tons of options for fun each day.

A week at the YES Camp is a summer experience like no other, and this year Kootenay Savings wants to sponsor up to 13 Kootenay-area youth to attend the camp and have the adventure of a lifetime!

The deadline to apply is June 1, 2012, so don't delay! Click on the links below for more information:

• Kootenay Savings YES Camp Application Form
• The YES Camp Official Website
• YES Camp Summer 2012 Dates
• The YES Camp Testimonial Video

Questions? Call 250.368.2683 or email community.foundation@kscu.com.

HEROES WANTED! REWARD $1,000!

Each year the Kootenay Savings Community Foundation awards up to four COMMUNITY CHAMPS bursaries, for $1000 each, to local high school and post-secondary students who show exceptional leadership, caring and commitment to their communities.

In 2011, four hometown heroes – Michelle Magnusson (New Denver), Rowan Greger (Nakusp), Chelan Padmoroff (Castlegar) and Bethany Yorston (Fruitvale) - each received a $1000 bursary just for telling us about themselves and the work they do to make our world a better place.

We know our communities are full of selfless and remarkable students who are dedicated to giving back to their communities.  Tell us your heroic tale and you, too, could take home $1000 for school!

For more info on our Community Champs bursaries, application process and submission deadline, contact our Community Relations Coordinator, Aron Burke, at aron.burke@kscu.com or 250.368.2683 or check out the links below:

• 2012 Community Champs Bursary Information
• 2012 Community Champs Bursary Application