Western Financial Group to Distribute $70,000 in Grants to Communities it Serves

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The Western Communities Foundation announces 2013 grants to support 14 community projects in western Canada

HIGH RIVER, AB, Feb. 28, 2013 /CNW/ - Western Financial Group (Western) is proud to announce it is distributing 14 infrastructure grants totalling $70,000 to the communities it serves across western Canada. Made through its charitable arm—the Western Communities Foundation—the $5,000 grants will support community projects identified by Western staff.

"The Western Communities Foundation has made a deep impact in dozens of the communities we serve," said Scott Tannas, president and CEO of Western Financial Group. "The projects supported by our infrastructure grants are selected by Western employees who see worthwhile endeavours in their communities. This year we're making grants to help with everything from building a swimming pool in Williams Lake, BC to improving a theatre in Gull Lake, SK."

2013 Grants include:

Alberta

Drumheller - Construction of Badlands Community Facility
Grande Cache - Interior Construction of Grande Cache Recreation Centre
Langdon - New Child Play Area
Morrin - Addition to Morrin Library
Taber - Improvements to the Centre Court for the Performing Arts
Trochu - Improvements to the Trochu & District Museum
Vulcan - New Playground for Vulcan Daycare
Vermilion - Renovation to Vermilion Stadium

British Columbia

100 Mile House - Improvements to 100 Mile House Agriplex
Williams Lake - New Swimming Pool for Williams Lake
Kelowna - Okanagan College Foundation

Saskatchewan

Gull Lake - Improvements to Gull Lake Lyceum Theatre
Nipawin - Upgrade to the Nipawin Community Pool

Manitoba

Gilbert Plains - Improvements to Gilbert Plains Community Centre

In its 12-year history, the Western Communities Foundation has distributed approximately 60 infrastructure grants to communities across western Canada and 357 bursaries to deserving students. The Foundation has also distributed more than $35,000 in matching money, helping to double the impact of fundraisers put on by Western employees in their communities. To date, the Western Communities Foundation has supported seven Habitat for Humanity builds at $15,000 per home and has donated $23,000 to Canadian Vision Care to help them provide eye care to those less fortunate overseas. Including the 2013 infrastructure grants, the Western Communities Foundation has distributed more than $900,000 since 2002.

"One of the goals of the Western Communities Foundation over the last few years has been to put at least one Automated External Defibrillator in a major public facility in each community that Western Financial Group serves," said John Jenner, Executive Director of the Western Communities Foundation. "We've already installed them in 46 communities and we know of at least two instances where our defibrillators saved lives. We're proud of the impact we've made over the last 10 years and look forward to doing even more in the decade to come."

The Western Communities Foundation was founded by Western Financial Group in 2001 as a non-profit organization under the Income Tax Act of Canada (Registration #87030 2619 RR0001).

Western Financial Group is a western Canada based, diversified, financial services company serving more than 600,000 customers. Founded in 1996 and headquartered in High River, Alberta, Western provides insurance, banking and investment products and services through more than 120 office locations, the Internet (www.westernfinancialgroup.ca and its contact centre 1-866-THE-WEST (1-866-843-9378). With a skilled team of approximately 1,500 employees, and backed by the strong resources of its owners, Western is committed to building the strongest financial services company in western Canada.

Western Financial Group is a subsidiary of Desjardins Group, the leading cooperative financial group in Canada.

SOURCE: Western Financial Group

Eric Michalko
Manager - Sponsorships, Digital Marketing & Public Relations
Western Financial Group Phone: [phone], ext. 524
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