Gifting a priority for local business owner

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Stephen Dafoe poses with Morinville Community Library Manager Isabelle Cramp. The giant novelty cheque represents the $5100 personal donation Dafoe recently made to the library this year, the first half of a $10,200 donation to the library.

by Ashley Janes

The Morinville News has gifted more than $40,000 in cash and in-kind services so far in 2014. Donations include recent contributions to the Morinville Library and non-profit coffee shop Higher Grounds, as well as the Morinville Festival Society, Morinville Curling Club, last weekend’s Paint the Town Red Gala, the Chamber of Commerce Gala, the Morinville Public Elementary School Carnival, the Morinville Farmers Market and the Morinville Community Gardens.

“When The Morinville News was started in 2010 it was with the goal of uniting the community by informing the community,” Dafoe said. “I am a strong believer in providing support where we can to those organizations and events that have similar goals in mind.”

On Sept. 11, Morinville News owner Stephen Dafoe presented Morinville Community Library Manager Isabelle Cramp with a cheque for $5,100, the first half of a total $10,200 donation he will make to the library this year.

Part of the initial funding covers a one-third partnership on a dozen laptop computers used for library programing and computer training classes. The remaining donation covers library advertising for the entire year, including their weekly event listing on the comics page and full page ads for colouring contests, silent auctions and other major fundraising events.

“My community library had a profound impact on my life as a child and young adult,” Dafoe said. “It was the place where I came to learn, socialize and entertain. My household is a household of readers. Serving on the library board and this donation is my way of giving back for everything libraries have done for me in my formative years and beyond.”

Cramp pointed out that the library is a non-profit organization and a registered charity. They receive funding from the province and local governments, and earn a small revenue through fees and fines. “The funding and revenue cover the basic library services we offer. But, as we keep saying, the Morinville Community Library is so much more than books!”

She said that in order to offer everything the library does (programs, special events, a welcoming environment, etc.), they require the support of the community. “Stephen Dafoe’s generous donation includes $2,000 for the computer lab that we acquired from Career Employment Counselling Services. The other $3,100 is a first installment of a promotion and advertising sponsorship that will ensure we can spread the word about our wonderful programs and events.”

But the library is not the only local non-profit the newspaper or its owner is helping. Morinville News recently made an in-kind donation of $5,079.38 to Higher Grounds Espresso Bar to cover the cost of the their advertising for the year, allowing them to promote their community events, including crib tournaments, trivia and entertainment nights.

Higher Grounds volunteer manager Crystal Terhorst, was grateful for the contribution. “We are so honoured to receive this sizeable donation from Morinville News,” Terhorst said. “As a not-for-profit business, here to serve our great community, advertising funds are few. The Morinville News has been a huge support to us, providing information to the public as well as first class advertising.”

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Morinville News owner Stephen Dafoe poses with a giant cheque and a cup of coffee with Higher Grounds Volunteer Manager Crystal Terhorst. The cheque represents the $5,079 in-kind advertising donation the Morinville News has given the non-profit to assist them in promoting their community events, including talent shows, music concerts, cribbage tournaments and trivia nights.

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6 Comments

  1. There have been a number of great stories in the past week or two about the generosity of businesses and people here in town. We’re very fortunate to have such good corporate citizens here and it should be noted that they support us with not only their money, but their time. Very well done, Stephen and Morinville News! Look forward to reading the News for many years to come.

  2. Thank you so much Stephen for ALL that you have done and donated to this community. I believe that you are a true leader.

  3. Wow! Stephen. You are a generous man. It is so refreshing to see a business man give so much back to the community. You are one of a kind Sir. Hats off to you!

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