Morden Area Foundation Grants Over $26,000 to Community Projects in 2022
The Morden Area Foundation supported seven community organizations in 2022, enabling many community organizations to complete their projects. $23,545.00 was granted from the MAF annual interest earned on the MAF community fund and $5,325 was granted from the Sports & Recreation Fund.
MAF 2022 Community Grants:
South Central Regional Library Morden Branch: Book shed $1,500
Many Hands Resource Centre: Refrigerator $7,775
Genesis House: Commercial kitchen space $9,000
Morden Multicultural Winterfest: Enclosed shelter $170.60
Pembina Hills Art Council: Portable printing presses $1,603.10
Douglas Kuhl School of Music: Digital piano $1,200
Morden Area Foundation opens the Midge and Lorne Kyle Memorial Fund
Established in loving memory of Midge and Lorne Kyle by their family and friends, their memorial fund supports general applications for a wide variety of projects that support the charitable purposes and activities of the Morden Area Foundation.
Lorne & Midge arrived in Morden in 1957 and over 60 years they watched Morden grow from a small town of 3,000 to a city. The Kyles contributed to Morden’s growth through their volunteer efforts, coaching baseball and softball, delivering food hampers and their dedication to the Elks, Royal Purple and St. Thomas Anglican Church. Lorne & Midge firmly believed that what you give to others makes life more valuable. The family felt that establishing a fund with the Morden Area Foundation provides them with flexibility and guidance to continue giving in their honour. According to Colleen Kyle, her parents would be delighted to continue building a community that they loved.
Morden Area Foundation Establishes the Isaac and Dorothy Kroeker Memorial Scholarship Fund
The family of Isaac and Dorothy Kroeker established a scholarship fund with the Morden Area Foundation in loving memory of their parents and grandparents to highlight the values they lived by during their lifetime in Morden.
Isaac Kroeker grew up on a farm south of Morden and went to school at Mountain City. Dorothy Doerksen was raised on a farm south of Niverville. They met through mutual friends in Winnipeg and were married in 1951, taking up residence on Alvey Street in Morden. They lived there in a number of houses renovated/built by Isaac until Dorothy passed away in 2016. Initially employed as a heavy equipment operator at Pembina Mountain Clays strip mining bentonite near Miami, he moved over to Morden Lumber and Fuel in the mid 60’s and eventually became the Plant Manager at Valley Concrete until he retired in.199? Dorothy was an efficient home-maker raising six children, but became very involved in the operations of the Morden Thrift Shop, volunteering there, in various capacities, for over 30 years. They were long time volunteers and recognized for their efforts at the Morden Tabor Home. Both were extensively involved in many aspects of the life of their church, Christian Life Centre. In just one of their many contributions, they completed three volunteer work assignments in Kenya.
Like many of their generation, they were raised during the depression and their education was limited to grade school. Self-sufficiency, thrift, and hard work were the order of the day for much of their working lives but all suffused with love for God and a desire to serve their community; values they lived by and ultimately passed on to their family.
This scholarship fund is created to assist a deserving student in the community pursuing higher education (in any discipline) with a $750 award who has demonstrated tenaciousness in overcoming adversity as well as demonstrated evidence of volunteerism and a willingness to assist others.
The MAF Citizen of Distinction Award is designed to recognize and honour citizens who have a strong commitment to making the City of Morden and area a better place to live, visit, and play through their long-term commitment by service and excellence in leadership. Congratulations to the 2021 Citizen of Distinction, Marilyn Skubovius!
Marilyn’s portfolio of community service is substantial – most notably working with the Boundary Trails Health Centre Expansion Committee, serving on Morden Town Council for 13 years, member of the Western School Board for nine years, worked with the Morden Chamber of Commerce, and member of the St. John the Evangelist Parish Council. Marilyn was instrumental in the inauguration of not only the Morden Area Foundation but also the Boundary Trails Hospital Foundation and served on both boards as one of the founding members. How fitting is it, as Dianne Lambert noted “for Marilyn to receive the Citizen of Distinction as an original founding [MAF] board member.” So many Morden organizations have credited their success and even existence to Marilyn’s tireless efforts such as the Morden Farmer’s Market and the local library. Marilyn started the very first beach blast at Lake Minnewasta which has grown to be a signature summer event in the community. Another of Marilyn’s many significant accomplishments in the eyes of her nominators was her work with St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church and the construction of a new church. Jerry Dykman comments that Marilyn “had to work with two architects, a distant archdiocese. It was struggle and she persevered.”
Marilyn was celebrated with a reception on Sunday ,August 7th in Morden’s Confederation Park. After greetings and remarks from local dignitaries, kind words were shared by Marilyn’s long-time friend, Pat Gibson. As part of the Citizen of Distinction award, the Morden Area Foundation grants $1,000 to an organization of the recipient’s choosing. Marilyn chose to donate the money back to the Morden Area Foundation.
Congratulations Marilyn! In the words of nominator Anna Marinelli, “Thank you Marilyn for holding Morden so dear to your heart. You are so deserving of the Citizen of Distinction Award.”
Marilyn Skubovius – 2021 Citizen of Distinction
Marilyn Skubovius accepting award from MAF Board Chair Allison Braun
Pay it Forward May returned in 2022 with a theme of Gratitude and once again, Morden Area Foundation encouraged the community to pay kindness forward. The month kicked off with MAF Board members and volunteers delivering donuts to community businesses courtesy of Tim Horton’s.
MAF also treated the Morden tee-ball division to ice cream sandwiches donated by Winkler-Morden Co-op. Board members were also happy to deliver ice cream cakes donated by Charley B’s deserving individuals and non-profit organizations nominated through social media.
