Parksville Beach Festival has donated a record-breaking $80,941.50 to 21 philanthropic groups in the PQB area.
Board members presented donation cheques during a luncheon at Happy Jacks in Parksville on Oct. 7, according to a news release by the society.
This year was a record giveaway for Parksville Beach Festival Society as the most funds donated to the gate ambassadors to date.
"While the Parksville Beach Festival Society members work year round to create fun summer events alongside beautiful Parksville beach, their most favourite time of year is when they share gate donations with organizations that served as Volunteer Gate Ambassadors," the release said.
These volunteers greeted, counted, informed and gathered feedback from visitors who attended the 2024 Quality Foods Sand Sculpting Competition and Exhibition. The well-known, international event captured a strong attendance of more than 115,000 visitors through the sand sculpting gates.
“These not-for-profit groups help our communities thrive and include so many local residents,” said Parksville Beach Festival president Cheryl Dill. “Volunteer engagement is key to our event sustainability and helps foster community connections and community development.”
The following groups donated close to 3,000 person hours towards the 2024 event:
- Bowser Seniors Housing Society
- CatSpan Ferals Registered Charity
- Deep Bay Fire/Rescue Society
- Flowerstone Health Society
- Forward House Community Association
- Fraternal Order Of Eagles
- Knox United Church
- Lions Club of Parksville (1969)
- Mid Vancouver Island Habitat Enhancement Society
- Oceanside Community Safety Volunteers
- Oceanside Hospice Society
- Oceanside Stroke Recovery Society
- Parksville & District Chamber of Commerce & Visitor Centre
- Parksville Branch of Victoria's Quilts
- Parksville Curling Club
- Parksville Qualicum Adult Literacy Society
- Parksville Quilt House Quilters' Guild
- Qualicum and District Curling Club
- Rotary Club of Qualicum Beach
- Royal Canadian Legion BR49 Ladies Auxiliary Parksville
- Sources Community Resources
The mandate of the Parksville Beach Festival Society is to not only create fun, family-friendly events close to Parksville’s main beach, but also to help the community grow.
According to their policies, the society assigns 25 per cent of gate donations to related projects and philanthropic groups.
Contributing to the maintenance and development of Parksville Community Park is also a high priority.
Since 1999, the society has donated close to $1.2 million to non-profit organizations and community projects, which included construction of the Parksville Outdoor Theatre, park gazebo and community signage.
The society reserves funds annually to help sustain its future events. For more information see www.parksvillebeachfest.ca
