Local Western Financial Group hosts fundraiser for FAIM

By John Watson Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Strathmore’s Western Financial Group Branch hosted a pancake breakfast and fundraiser, May 14, participating in the Western Communities Foundation’s National Walk for Safe Places.

The beneficiary of the fundraiser was selected to be Foothills Advocacy in Motion (FAIM), with donations being raised monetarily, or through refundable items such as pop cans.

“Every year, us as a branch, we get together and discuss different charities in the area. We know that some other branches will pick one and stick with that, but we know there are so many deserving charities and nonprofits in the area,” said Melissa Buckley, branch manager for Strathmore’s Western Financial Group. “We want to be able to share the love. It was actually somebody from the organization who came in and asked us if we would select them this year. We met with FAIM and saw the wonderful things they do and thought they would be a great fit.”

The walk for the Western Communities Foundation has been taking place in Strathmore for the last 25 years. For the branch, this was the first year they decided to also host a pancake breakfast to pair.

Buckley explained the team will also be once again holding their annual barbeque fundraiser in July in addition to the new effort this year.

“Holding a fundraising event with our walk is new for us, but the barbeque we have been doing for several years. We usually get the Funrunners coming with their cars for a bit of a car show, we get a food truck, we have games, we usually have our charity do a demonstration or a talk as well,” she said. “As this is the first year we have held the (pancake breakfast) and it (was) super windy, we were not sure how it was going to go but we were hoping to have a good turnout from the community.”

This year also marks the launch of a $100,000 Emergency Support Fund to provide flexible funding for charities facing urgent and unexpected challenges.

According to Grant Ostir, CEO of Western Financial Group, via a release, the fund will provide grants of up to $10,000 to select registered Canadian charities.

“With this new Emergency Support Fund, alongside the continued impact of our National Walk, we’re focused on showing up in those critical moments and helping organizations access support when timing truly matters,” he said. “The fund launches alongside the return of the National Walk for Safe Places, a long standing movement that has mobilized Western employees, customers, and communities across the country for decades.”

For those who are interested in making contributions outside of scheduled events or who wish to learn more, a donations page is available online through the Western Financial Group website.