Raising funds through calendars

Shannon LeClair
Times Reporter

 

The Alberta Institute of Wildlife Conservation (AIWC) is once again selling calendars to raise funds for animal care. AIWC doesn’t receive government funding, with the exception of the occasional grant, and so they rely almost solely on public support.
“We are doing a calendar fundraising project, we do one every year and it’s a calendar that features (animals) that we’ve taken in at our centre and it’s just another way for us to kind of do grassroots fundraising,” said Holly Duvall, executive director for AIWC.
“It’s just another way that people can support AIWC aside from making a general monetary donation, which obviously we always appreciate, it’s something that they can in turn receive as well.”
This past August AIWC suffered from two hailstorms, the buildings sustained a lot of damage, and a few animals in care suffered injuries. Within a 24-hour period, nearly 30 animals were admitted with injuries directly related to the storm.
When a Namaka resident heard about what was happening with AIWC, being an animal lover, she knew she had to help.
“A lot of their animals were injured and they were looking for help, I saw that on TV and I love fundraising. I phoned them and I asked what they needed,” said Carol Sansome.
Duvall said Sansome was fantastic in helping out. She collected donations of items on the wish list to bring to the conservation. She then personally drove everything she had received out to AIWC.
It was also thanks to Sansome’s hard work that each page of the calendars was sponsored this year, so that all of the funds can be used for animal care, where they are always vitally needed.
“We’re hopeful that we’ll sell all of them at this point, we have over 200 of them, with this fundraising project we’re hoping to raise over $4,000 and that will go directly to animal care,” said Duvall.
AIWC was founded in 1993. They take in injured and orphaned wildlife that are native to Alberta and rehabilitate them before sending them back into the wild. Each year nearly 2,000 animals go through AIWC’s doors. Animals can be admitted year round; however, the busiest time is from April to September.
Copies of the small calendar can be purchased for $10 at Sevick Veterinary Services.
There are also large calendars available that can be mailed to you. To order a large one, call Deb at 403-946-2361.
“They would make a great Christmas present or stocking stuffer, and can help save a life,” said Sansome.