October 15, 2023
Dear Donors, Friends, and Colleagues,
At the Michael Benny Foundation we remain extremely thankful for your donations and are grateful and proud to remember the generosity and support received from each of you. We understand the hardship some might be having with inflation still running rampant and rising interest rates.
Unfortunately, our lower income earners, students and families continue to struggle with finding accommodations with rents skyrocketing and mortgages almost unattainable. Many are facing the hardships of making ends meet these days with the price of food up over 20%, and with homelessness constantly increasing in some of our major cities.
Please take a few minutes to reflect on what it was like when you were a kid or a student, or just married and thinking about starting a family. The times when our parents struggled to make ends meet to give us an education, and the times when we needed to find a second job to make our life better. Perhaps you debated about sending your kids to day camps or going on a short field trip knowing you really couldn’t afford it – but did it anyway. Together, we can remove barriers to access, promote social inclusion and provide magical moments for those who need them most.
Another thing we can do together is continue to show our support by providing learning opportunities for our young adults at SAIT by supporting our Civil Engineering Technology Awards Program. As a footnote, we at the MBF are extremely proud of our Award recipients and particularly two of our recent Award recipients. One has recently graduated from Lakehead University in Thunder Bay, Ontario and received his Degree in Engineering and another has enrolled at Lakehead University this semester to pursue his dream of achieving his Degree in Engineering. In the middle of all these challenges, we hope that we have helped these young adults embark on their education adventure positively.
Our Board of Directors is proud to advise that we have committed another $10,000 gift to SAIT by offering 2 – $5,000 Student Awards to be given out in May 2024. This is our FIFTH consecutive year of providing this gift. We couldn’t have done this without your continued support and generous donations.
We are also continuing to build our Legacy Fund portfolios for the Calgary Humane Society and the Wilder Institute/Calgary Zoo. With the reopening of additional facilities this summer, new and exciting opportunities for our children and young adults are being offered by the Calgary Humane Society and the Wilder Institute/Calgary Zoo. We are grateful to be a part of making dreams come true for these families.
Perhaps 2023 marked your first donation to the MBF; as a monthly supporter or loyal donor; or if you were unable to make a gift to the MBF last year but have been a past supporter, we will forever remember your generosity. If you are like me, you probably have been inundated with donation requests from various organizations. When considering making your donation to whatever charitable organization you may choose, please remember that 100% of your investment to the MBF goes towards our Student Awards gift to SAIT. Alternately, it can be put in one of our Legacy Funds for future endeavours. Please remember that all Administration costs associated with the MBF are funded entirely by our Directors.
The following link to our website provides more information on the MBF, including Student Award recipients’ testimonials, as well as CRA approved online links to make your donation by credit card. Should you choose this option, Charitable Donations Tax Receipts will be issued directly by the service provider. If you are sending your donation by mail, your Charitable Donations Tax Receipt will be sent to you from the MBF in early February 2024.
https://michaelbennyfoundation.com/
I wish you all a VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS and a PROSPEROUS, HEALTHY and HAPPY NEW YEAR. Thank you so much for your support. STAY SAFE and remember to SMILE.
Michael Benny
President
Michael Benny Foundation
