$100k set aside for new Hagersville Habitat for Humanity build
HAGERSVILLE—The Hagersville Lions have been very busy in the months since their whirlwind, history-making Catch the Ace run came to an end after raising an incredible $2.98 million for local not-for-profit-organizations.
They recently announced that they will hold $100,000 in reserve to donate toward a future Habitat for Humanity five-unit townhouse project to be built in the Hagersville area, if the not-for-profit can secure a partner to build the project.
They have also established a new Hagersville Lions scholarship for Hagersville Secondary Schools students, awarding one graduating high school student per year pursuing post-secondary education a $1,000 award for the next five school years.
The Catch the Ace fundraiser that raised all these funds was a joint effort between the Hagersville Lions and Hagersville Rocks Committee, the latter of which donated the entirety of their 50% stake of the winnings ($1,448,767.95) to the West Haldimand General Hospital.
The Lions previously donated 30% of their stake ($869,260.77) to the Hagersville Food Bank, who have in turn shared the love and made a series of donations to other local food banks. At the time, the Lions also announced that the remaining 20% of funds, totalling $579,507.09, would be distributed throughout the community.
We spoke with Lion Dent McIntyre for an update on how that distribution process is going.
“The club appointed a committee of five Lions to solicit and receive and review requests for CTA funds. The committee then makes recommendations to the whole club for approval,” said McIntyre.
He added, “Some requests are turned down for various reasons and others are added or have funding increased as the club sees fit. The club wants to share as broadly as possible given the restrictions we have.”
He noted some of the restrictions, including a County regulation stating they are not allowed to accept lottery funds for park improvement: “We cannot pave the paths in the park, or expand the splash pad, or donate to the new Active Living Center.”
Additionally, the Lions were unable to donate funds to religious or political organizations, with not-for-profits being the preferred benefactor for funds. Funds must be given to organizations only, not individuals.
McIntyre elaborated on how the Lions committee makes their decisions, explaining, “The committee investigates and discusses each one and the need that they have and the good that they do for the community. We try to treat like organizations the same, but there are extenuating circumstances. We bring the recommendation to the club for discussion and vote. All money spent by Lions Clubs must be approved by the club and duly recorded in meeting minutes.”
He said it’s been an extremely gratifying experience to present cheques to worthwile community recipients, adding, “Many are so elated to get unsolicited donations. In one case the Lions that delivered the initial cheque came back to the club with a recommendation to give more after seeing the good that the organization was doing. The club listened and made a further very significant top up to the initial donation.”
While McIntyre said it’s difficult to measure the overall impact the fundraiser has had and will continue to have on the community, he noted, “Catch The Ace has certainly brought the community together and made everyone aware of what the Lions are doing for the community.”
With new Catch the Ace fundraisers being run by the Fisherville Lions and Community Support Centre of Haldimand Norfolk out of Caledonia, the Hagersville crew have been hard at work, lending their hand and support to the groups following in their footsteps, hoping for another huge windfall to benefit the community.
Full donations distribution list to date
- Habitat for humanity: $100,000
- Hagersville Legion: $50,000
- Hagersville Lions solar Electronic Sign: $40,000
- Haldimand County Paramedics: $25,000
- Hagersville Lions Summers End Festival: $20,000
- Campfire Circle (Camp Trillium Rainbow Lake): $15,000
- Haldimand County Firefighters Association: $15,000
- Hagersville Chamber of Commerce: $10,000
- Hagersville Senior Support Services: $10,000
- Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum: $5,000
- Brant Heritage Railway Museum: $5,000
- Haldimand – Norfolk Hospice: $5,000
- Haldimand Abilities Center: $5,000
- Six Nations Health Foundation Hospice: $5,000
- Lynnwood Arts Simcoe: $5,000
- Hagersville Secondary School Scholarship Fund: $5,000
- Wilson Macdonald Memorial School Museum: $2,500
- Haldimand 4-H Club: $2,000
- Simcoe Women’s Shelter: $2,000
- TEADE: $2,000
- Walpole Antique Farm Machinery Association: $2,000
- ALS Society of Canada: $2,000
- Haldimand Norfolk Crimestoppers: $2,000
- Haldimand – Norfolk New Credit Victim Services: $2,000
- Simcoe and District Humane Society: $2,000
- Alzheimer Society: $2,000
- Haldimand Norfolk Women’s Services: $2,000
- Addictions Workshop: $1,000
- Springvale Park Playground Equip: $1,000
- Hagersville Minor Softball: $1,000
- District A2 International Lions Youth Exchange Camp: $1,000
- Equal Ground Community Gardens: $1,000
- Hagersville Hawks Jr. C Hockey: $1,000
- Lions Home for Deaf/Blind McInnes House: $1,000
- Special Olympics Simcoe: $1,000
- Hagersville Library Reading program: $500
- Hagersville Minor Soccer: $500
- Haldimand Heat U12 Fastball: $500
- Good Wil Good Karma: $500
- Haldimand Norfolk Concert Band: $500
- Fishersville Lions Club: $500
- Port Dover Lions Club: $500
- Townsend Lions Club: $500
- Haldimand Heat U20 Fastball: $500
- Haldimand Norfolk REACH: $500
Cheques awarded but not yet presented
- Hagersville Elementary School Maker Spaces program: $2,000
- Habitat Haldimand Inc. Forest and Wildlife: $2,000
- Welland and District SPCA: $2,000
- Haldimand Threads of Life: $2,000
- Hagersville Skating Club: $1,000
- Hagersville Minor Hockey: $1,000
- Addiction Workshop: $1,000
- Hobitstee Wildlife rescue: $1,000
- OPP Association Cops & Kids: $1,000
