Skip to content

Ripple Connection receives $10,000 through online contest

Although the Ripple Connection Support Centre in Barrhead did not win the grand prize of $125,000, the Barrhead area non-profit organization has received a cheque for $10,000 for participating in a Canadian insurance company’s online contest.

Although the Ripple Connection Support Centre in Barrhead did not win the grand prize of $125,000, the Barrhead area non-profit organization has received a cheque for $10,000 for participating in a Canadian insurance company’s online contest.

“In order for us to keep the doors open, any donation is great. I’m thankful for it all,” said Tracy Whitten, executive director of the Ripple Connection Support Centre.

Over the month of November, Canadians could cast votes for one of 10 non-profit organizations across the country as part of an online competition hosted by iA Financial.

The organization receiving the most votes would get $125,000, while the second and third place winners would receive $50,000 each. The remaining seven organizations would get $10,000.

The Quebec-based company had hosted a similar giveaway in 2017, donating $1.25 million to non-profit organizations to celebrate its 125th anniversary. This year’s giveaway, however, was focused on mental health organizations.

As noted, the Ripple Connection Support Centre was one of 10 organizations in the running and the only Alberta contender.

The winners were announced on Dec. 11. The Canadian Mental Health Association branch in Swift Current took the top prize, while the Centre prévention suicide du KRTB in Quebec and the Pathstone Foundation in Ontario were second and third respectively.

If the Ripple Connection had won the top prize, Whitten said that would have gone a long way toward renovations as they take over the space previously occupied by Flower Lane.

However, “this isn’t going to stop us from moving into the other part (of the building),” Whitten said.

“Our renovations won’t be as extensive, and it might take a little bit longer to get it done. But we’re still going ahead; we’ll just have to work harder.”

Whitten said they will look for funding in other places as they expand their services to accommodate more low-income individuals.

One of the services Whitten would like to offer is a “warming room,” which is essentially a temporary overnight accommodation for homeless people in the Barrhead area.

They also continue to offer a hot lunch program and supports for individuals with mental illness and their caregivers.

It’s not clear how many votes were cast for the Barrhead organization in iA Financial’s contest, though the letter accompanying the $10,000 cheque did mention that “thousands of Canadians took the time to vote for the project they found the most inspiring and yours was in the running until the very end.”

The letter sent to the Ripple Connection also thanked the centre for participating in the contest and noted it was not easy to choose 10 organizations to vie for the $295,000 in prizes.

“We are very pleased to send you a cheque for $10,000, which we hope will help to continue with your activities,” it stated.

push icon
Be the first to read breaking stories. Enable push notifications on your device. Disable anytime.
No thanks