A wave of community support has carried the Genesis House Radiothon beyond its fundraising goal, and organizers are offering their sincere thanks to everyone who donated and helped spread the word.
By late Friday afternoon, $56,000 had been raised — not including funds from an anonymous donor who matched contributions up to $35,000. The final fundraising total is over $84,000.
‘The community rallies around a need’
Winkler Mayor Henry Siemens said the outpouring of support reflects the region’s long-standing commitment to helping neighbours.
“When there is a need, people rally around that,” he said. “Our community can step up and does step up… it puts a big smile on my face.”
Siemens said seeing construction underway on the new transitional housing project, along with the generosity shown at the Radiothon, reinforces how close the project is to becoming a reality.
Clearwater Place name announced
Supporters also heard a special announcement: Genesis House has officially named its new 25-unit transitional housing program Clearwater Place.
Executive director Ang Braun said the name was chosen through community discussions, with great care and awareness.
“When we put forward the name Clearwater Place, it was the one that resonated the most strongly with everyone,” she said.
The name honours the Clearwater family.
“These were people. They were real people that lost their lives,” Braun said. “I want there to be opportunity to really celebrate them as people.”
A heartfelt thank-you
Organizers say every donation — whether online or in person — has helped move the project closer to providing a safe place for women and children to heal, rest and rebuild their lives.
Over $84,000 was raised towards the transitional housing project for Genesis House.
Read full article at Pembina Valley Online.
