The Okanagan Fest-of-Ale board of directors, co-ordinator and volunteers handed $40,000 out to local charities and organizations on Sept. 16.
As a result of the successful 2014 Okanagan Fest-of-Ale event the directors were thrilled to distribute funds to 16 local charitable organizations. Highlighting the disbursement of funds was a $10,000 grant gifted to the South Okanagan Similkameen Medical Foundation and the announcement that, as of this year, the Okanagan Fest-of-Ale Society has surpassed the half-million dollar mark in charitable donations with $502,660 in cash having been given back since its inception in 1996.
"Our heartfelt thanks goes out to the 250-plus volunteers who contributed to the success of the event in 2014 and previous years," said society president Randy Kirkoski. "Through their support, we are able to put on a quality event and give back $40,000 this year and over a half million dollars to date to the community.
Recipients include — Agur Lake Camp Society, Birthright of Penticton Society, Community Foundation of the South Okanagan Similkameen, Desert Valley Hospice Society, Dragonfly Pond Family Society, two educational bursaries to School District 67, an educational grant to Okanagan University College, Okanagan Boys & Girls Club/JCI camp, Okanagan Boys & Girls Club, Okanagan School of the Arts/Shatford Centre, OSNS, Pathways Addiction Resource Centre, Penticton Fire Department, SS Sicamous Restoration Society, South Okanagan Victims Assistance and the South Okanagan Similkameen Medical Foundation.
The 20th Okanagan Fest-of-Ale is scheduled to take place on April 10 to 11, 2015. They are currently looking to fill a number of supervisory roles for the event. If you are interested in becoming involved contact info@fest-of-ale.bc.ca for more details.