Money raising strategy report costs $25,000

Money raising strategy report costs $25,000

News

By: Sandra Bolan

Bradford West Gwillimbury has yet to launch its money raising campaign for the proposed new recreation centre, but it already has one confirmed donor.

Kanti Chaudhari, manger of Neighbours, has committed to donating one per cent of his personal income during Neighbours’ first year of business to the recreation centre.

“It’s not a big deal, really,” Mr. Chaudhari said.

“I just feel like it’s better the kids play and have fun instead of go the wrong way in life. They are the future.”

Mr. Chaudhari is no stranger to giving back to the community in which he works.

While operating a Country Style in Whitby, he contributed to the Make a Wish Foundation and while he worked in the United States, Mr. Chaudhari gave to the United States Red Cross.

“If (businesses) make money out of the community, it’s a basic obligation (to give back),” he said.

“The more we give, the more we get.”

That’s the attitude the town hopes its other businesses and residents will have when it comes to making financial contributions.

“This is going to be the community’s (money raising) plan, not the town’s. The town has to take responsibility and ownership of it,” Mayor Doug White said.

Council approved a recreation centre money raising feasibility study at its meeting Tuesday.

“Critical to fundraising efforts for projects such as the town’s proposed recreation centre is an up-front understanding of the potential for gift-giving and the likely sources for voluntary contributions to the project,” Bradford West Gwillimbury chief administrative officer Jay Currier wrote in a report to council.

He recommended Bradford West Gwillimbury complete the feasibility study.

The study, which will cost $25,000 and be paid for through the 2007 year-end surplus fund, is supposed to answer some of the following questions:
— How much money can be raised through the campaign?

— What are the potential funding streams (corporate, service groups, individuals)

— What are the strategies needed to inspire donations?
— What will the campaign’s organization look like and who are its volunteers?
— How will other fundraising campaigns affect this one?
— What will hinder its success?

“It could end up we’re not in the position to do this,” Deputy Mayor Dennis Roughley cautioned.

“Bradford, in the past, has been fertile terrain for fundraising,” Mr. White said. “Let’s come up with the best plan to generate the most money to build the best recreation centre.”

In order to move ahead with the feasibility study, council exercised its ability, under the municipality’s procurement bylaw, to bypass the request for proposal phase of hiring professional services and decided to hire Inspire.

“The bylaw...provides that such services may be sole-sourced if there are compelling reasons to forego the competitive proposal process,” according to Mr. Currier’s report.

Among council’s reasons for taking advantage of the procurement bylaw clause is the request for proposal process would take about four months to complete “and a delay of this length would negatively impact fundraising efforts,” Mr. Currier wrote.

“Timing for fundraising programs must be co-ordinated with development of the design and construction of the proposed new facility.”

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