By Pepper Parr
November 14th, 2014
BURLINGTON, ON.
The end of the 100 day stretch comes to a close today. Ron Foxcroft took on the challenge of getting Burlingtonians to raise $2 million to support those people who were severely damaged by the August 4th flood.
Anyone with the ability to listen got the Foxcroft pitch.
That figure turned out to be more than the city would need – and more than we were able to raise as well. But that shouldn’t be seen as a failure on anyone’s part. A great job was done and by the end of the day the Burlington Community Foundation will release a new number.
While the “official” fund raising period comes to a close there are still major donations coming in. One of the major banks will be doing a presentation next week and there are a number of people who can and will write significant cheques now that they know every dollar they give is going to produce two more dollars from the provincial government.
The fund raising will continue, albeit on a smaller scale until December 15th. On that date – everything stops – and the BCF moves to the disbursing of the funds to those people who have submitted applications.
Foxcroft was relentless in his drive to pull in the funds needed. There was quite a bit of his own money on the table as well.
Cheques like this just didn’t happen. It took many phone calls and a lot of persuasive language to get them written. We will tell you when this is all over which banks were at the table and which weren’t.
The people of this city have done a fine job. Foxcroft has burned his candle at both ends and the people he works with at selling unique whistles want him back at his desk. The National Basket Ball Association wants to see more of him as well – and wife Marie hopes to actually have Ron at home for dinner in their house and not at some banquet. The two have not sat across from each other in their own dining room since August 18th. Light the candles Marie and set out the silver.
Thought the province gaves us 3 million in total – if the match is 2 dollars to 1 – the cap is 3 million and we raise over 1 million dollars and the match is 2-1
Editor’s note:
The province will match on a two for 1 basis – that is for every dollar the community raises the province will add 2 – BUT the amount the province puts up is capped at $3 million. So Burlington has to raise $1.5 million to get the full $3 million