WINNIPEG, MANITOBA--(Marketwired - Oct. 30, 2014) - Communities aren't made. They're grown. And who better to help grow a community than a farmer? That's the idea behind the Canada's Farmers Grow Communities (CFGC) program, which is providing grants to 66 deserving charities in small towns across the country. Each non-profit was nominated by a local farmer who chose their favourite cause, and each will receive $2,500 from the Monsanto Fund.
Canada's Farmers Grow Communities received 433 entries in the 2014 program, up from 378 last year. Winners were drawn by board members of the independent administrator, Agriculture in the Classroom - Manitoba, on October 17, 2014 in Winnipeg.
"The Canada's Farmers Grow Communities program is one way for Monsanto to help people in rural communities accomplish common goals," said Trish Jordan, public and industry affairs director at Monsanto Canada. "Farmers have a history of coming together to help their neighbours, and we hope this program highlights that tradition of generosity while also growing stronger rural communities."
Now in its third full year, the Canada's Farmers Grow Communities program generated a wide variety of ideas from farmers on how local groups in their communities could benefit from the grants. In many cases, the rural-based charitable groups also contributed ideas online at www.CanadasFarmers.ca, which allowed them to suggest a cause and find local farmers to support it by submitting an entry.
Farmers living and working in the Maritimes, Quebec, Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta and Northeastern B.C. had from mid-January to the end of September to submit their entries by visiting the Canada's Farmers website and completing an online application form.
The 2014 recipients service a wide variety of community needs from schools, libraries and local theatres to community halls, sport facilities, health/service clubs and daycares.
For the first time, a dog rescue organization, Valley Mastiff Rescue of La Pêche, QC, is being awarded a grant by Canada's Farmers, thanks to a nomination by Martin Renaud of Green Valley, ON.
"We are very happy that a company like Monsanto has implemented such a beneficial program for charities," said France Turcotte, owner of Valley Mastiff Rescue. "I visit farms often as some of our dogs have been adopted by farmers. We are very grateful that this will help us carry on with our mission."
The Monsanto Fund plans to continue the Canada's Farmers Grow Communities program in 2015. Farmers and rural residents can watch for details at winter trade shows and also visit www.CanadasFarmers.ca in January 2015 for more information.
About The Monsanto Fund
The Monsanto Fund, the philanthropic arm of the Monsanto Company, is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to strengthening the communities where farmers and Monsanto Company employees live and work. Learn more at www.monsantofund.org.
About Monsanto Canada
Headquartered in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Monsanto Canada Inc. is part of the larger global Monsanto Company. Monsanto is an agricultural company committed to bringing a broad range of solutions to help nourish our growing world. We produce a variety of seeds ranging from fruits and vegetables to key crops - such as corn, soybeans, canola and cotton - that help farmers produce abundant and nutritious food. We work to find sustainable agriculture solutions that help farmers conserve natural resources, use data to improve farming practices, use water and other important resources more efficiently, and protect their crops from pests and disease. Through programs and partnerships, we collaborate with farmers, researchers, nonprofit organizations, universities and others to help tackle some of the world's biggest challenges.
To learn more about Monsanto, please visit: www.monsanto.ca or follow us on Twitter @MonsantoCda.
Note: A complete listing of all 66 winning entrants, their farmer nominator and their community, is detailed below.
| Canada's Farmers Grow Communities - 2014 Winners |
| ALBERTA/BRITISH COLUMBIA WINNERS |
| Hanna Girls Pond Hockey |
| Kevin Bossert, Hanna, AB |
| Rosalind Volunteer Fire Department Association |
| Charlie Gould, Rosalind, AB |
| Carmangay Curling Club |
| Daniel Greene, Carmangay, AB |
| Dewberry Hall Society |
| Gordon Hegedus, Dewberry, AB |
| Bawlf Educational Support Team |
| Julie Huseby, Ryley, AB |
| Children's Wish Foundation |
| Mike Jackson, Didsbury, AB |
| Legal Titans 4-H Club |
| Fred Kieser, Clyde, AB |
| Acadia Valley & District Rec. Club |
| Jarrod Kuhn, Acadia Valley, AB |
| Carseland Public Benefit Club |
| Teri MacKinnon, Carseland, AB |
|
Stony Plain & Parkland Pioneer Museum |
| Leona Mychajlunow, Carvel, AB |
| Elk Point Regional Allied Arts Society |
| Lynn Osinchuk, Elk Point, AB |
| Goodridge Agricultural Society |
| Joanne Richter, Glendon, AB |
| Donnelly Recreation Society |
| Rita Therriault, Donnelly, AB |
| Falher & Area Beautification & Leisure ActivitiesSociety (FABuLAS) |
| Pauline Therriault, Donnelly, AB |
| Provost and District Health Service Foundation |
| Colette Thurston, Irma, AB |
| Rainbow Literacy Society |
| Kelly Wickstrom, Vulcan, AB |
| Fourth Creek Fitness / Spirit River Active Aging |
| Carrie Yanishewski, Spirit River, AB |
| North Peace 4-H District Council |
| Rick Kantz, Fort St. John, BC |
| SASKATCHEWAN WINNERS |
| Whitewood Action For Families |
| Donna Beutler, Whitewood, SK |
| Osler Volunteer Fire Department |
| Garry Boldt, Osler, SK |
| Glaslyn Community Enhancement Project |
| Jerry Booy, Glaslyn, AB |
| Fiske Recreational Co-operative Association Ltd. |
| Brenda Cross, Fiske, SK |
| Assiniboia Auxiliary for Long Term CareHomes |
| Shirley Derbyshire, Assiniboia, SK |
| Nokomis Child Care Centre |
| Donna Edwards, Nokomis, SK |
| Invermay School Community Council |
| Kimberly Enge, Invermay, SK |
| Melfort Minor Football |
| Lionel Fagnou, Melfort, SK |
| St. Louis Curling Club |
| Gordon Finnestad, St. Louis, SK |
| Lashburn Slo Pitch |
| Kimberley Gareau, Lashburn, SK |
| Yorkton Brick Mill Heritage Society Inc. |
| Blair Harris, Yorkton, SK |
| Paradise Hill Care Home Inc. |
| Tom Hougham, Frenchman Butte, SK |
| Margo Playground Committee |
| Lee Johnson, Margo, SK |
| Macklin Curling Club |
| Kelly Kidd, Macklin, SK |
| Edenwold Memorial Rink |
| Kurtis Kramer, Avonhurst, SK |
| Broadview Historical and Museum Association |
| Les Kuculym, Broadview, SK |
| Dallas Valley Ranch Camp |
| Jim Latrace, Lumsden, SK |
| Dinsmore & District Economic Development Inc. |
| Edith Lytle, Dinsmore, SK |
| Kelvington Swimming Pool Fundraising Committee |
| Kelsey Robinson, Kelvington, SK |
| Beechy Rec Board |
| Jodi Schury, Beechy, SK |
| Porcupine Plain Minor Hockey Association |
| Kirk Smith, Porcupine Plain, SK |
| Imperial & District Ambulance Inc. |
| Neil Stevenson, Imperial, SK |
| MANITOBA WINNERS |
| Thunderhill Ski Club |
| Harvey Baldwin, Swan River, MB |
| Souris Glenwood Foundation Inc. |
| Allison Barclay, Souris, MB |
| Charlie Brown Day Care Centre Inc. |
| Shelly Brunel, Ste. Rose du Lac, MB |
| Portage Plains United Way Inc. |
| Kevin Coubrough, Portage la Prairie, MB |
| Somerset & Area Fitness Centre |
| Elaine Gaudet, Somerset, MB |
| Miami School Playground Project |
| Westin Hill, Miami, MB |
| Plumas Elementary School Parent Advisory Council |
| Keith Koncz, Plumas, MB |
| Lakeside Christian School |
| Art Peters, Killarney, MB |
| Melita Pool Committee Inc. |
| Kyle Serruys, Melita, MB |
| Lac Du Bonnet Regional Library |
| Tom Zarecki, Lac du Bonnet, MB |
| ONTARIO WINNERS |
| Westmeath Recreation Center |
| Anne Bromley, Westmeath, ON |
| Burford Agricultural Society |
| Larry Davis, Burford, ON |
| Comber Agricultural Society |
| William Pearson, Comber, ON |
| Haldimand 4-H Association |
| Johan Peter, Wellandport, ON |
| Stuff the Bus |
| Melody Quenneville, Stoney Point, ON |
| Valley Mastiff Rescue |
| Martin Renaud, Green Valley, ON |
| Royal Canadian Legion Ripley Branch |
| Bruce Scott, Lucknow, ON |
| Watford Optimist |
| Chris Van Loon, Watford, ON |
| Teeswater Agricultural Society |
| Peter VanZeeland, Teeswater, ON |
| Listowel Agricultural Society |
| Marilyn Whaley, Listowel, ON |
| QUEBEC WINNERS |
| Operation enfant soleil |
| Jean Daviault, St-Liboire, QC |
| Corporation l'Espoir |
| Claude Gervais, Sainte-Martine, QC |
| La Fabrique de l'le Dupas |
| Linda Lafontaine, La-Visitation-de-l'Île-Dupas, QC |
| The Friends of Laurentian Elementary School |
| John McOuat, Saint-André-d'Argenteuil, QC |
| MARITIMES WINNERS |
| Medical Fundraising Project for Meghann Palmer |
| Brent Anderson, Richmond Settlement, NB |
| Boys & Girls Club of Summerside |
| Lynden Ellis, Tyne Valley, PEI |
Contact Information:
Trish Jordan
Public and Industry Affairs Director
(204) 985-1005
www.monsanto.ca