The Manitoba government and The Winnipeg Foundation announced today that 14 of Manitoba's eligible community foundations are participating in the first year of the Manitoba Community Foundation Scholarship and Bursary Building Incentive Program.

"Last year, the Manitoba government committed $500,000 in matching grants over five years for a new bursary program for rural and northern students wanting to attend college or university," said Advanced Education and Training Minister Diane McGifford. "The response from community foundations has been exceptional and many young Manitobans will have increased access to post-secondary education with this additional financial support to offset the costs of travelling or moving to larger centres."

Provincial funding will be used to lever at least an additional $500,000 in donor support to create $1 million in endowment funds. To date, community foundations have created 17 new bursary or scholarship funds and added to four existing funds. The total amount raised by the 14 foundations is $163,304.

"After 85 successful years of helping Winnipeggers from all backgrounds to further their dreams in the community and for the future, we are pleased to be involved with other Manitoba community foundations in establishing community bursary and scholarship funds across the province," said Richard Frost, chief executive officer of The Winnipeg Foundation. "Communities and young Manitobans will benefit over the long term from these endowment funds."

Eligibility criteria have been established at the local level as Manitoba community foundations work with their donors to create new bursaries and scholarships or add to existing ones. These new annual awards recognize the extra financial burden faced by students who live in rural Manitoba.

Manitoba community foundations participating in the incentive program include Boissevain and Morton, Brokenhead River, Dauphin and district, Elkhorn and area, Glenboro area, Grandview and district, Interlake, North Norfolk-MacGregor, Portage and District, Roblin District, Reston and area, Swan Valley, Thompson and Westshore.

"Our government recognizes the importance of community efforts at building bursary and scholarship funds through Manitoba's network of community foundations and we are encouraged by the commitment to post-secondary education demonstrated to date," McGifford said.

The Winnipeg Foundation is Canada's first community foundation. In Canada, community foundations pool charitable gifts from donors into permanent income-earning endowment funds that generate annual grants to benefit local communities.

More information about the Manitoba Community Foundation Scholarship and Bursary Building Incentive Program is available here.

Release courtesy News Media Services, Government of Manitoba