The Fernie Fox Hotel is continuing its philanthropic tradition with $5,000 donated to non-profit organizations in the city.
As part of its newly-named Community Appreciation Initiative, the hotel has donated $4,000 to the Fernie Senior Citizens Drop-In Centre, $500 to the Fernie Heritage Library, and $500 to the Fernie Women’s Resource Centre.
This year’s donation recipients were decided by Fernie locals who were asked to post selfies online with the Fernie Fox Hotel sign, along with the name of the non-profit they would like to see supported. The selfie posting was part of the hotel’s “Fernie Fox Community Appreciation Month” in September.
“We had a great response from the community with this latest community appreciation campaign, and the overwhelming number of pictures were taken by senior members of our community in support of the Seniors Centre,” said Marina Pauw, co-owner of the hotel alongside Jeremiah Pauw.
READ MORE: Fernie Fox Hotel donates $5,000 to Elk Valley Hospital ultrasound campaign
The hotel “has a history of supporting community programs and employees.” Earlier this year, it donated $5,000 to employee Dindin Dimayacyac to help support her son’s educational endeavour at the University of Lethbridge this fall. The total amount donated to the community in 2021 is $10,000.
The hotel sets a $25,000 budget annually to support local individuals, organizations, and events, which include youth sports, trail building, cultural events and student scholarships.
Since taking ownership of the hotel in 2008, the Pauw’s have been donating around $10,000 per year to local groups, with the total amount donated in the last 13 years equalling roughly $130,000.
Past donation recipients include the Fernie Dog Park, the Elk Valley Hospital, and various youth sports groups. They also sponsor the Fernie Snowmobile Association, Fernie Ghostriders Hockey and the Fernie Chamber of Commerce.
The Community Appreciation Initiative falls under its Corporate Social Responsibility Program, which also includes its Sustainability Initiative, the release says.
READ MORE: Giant fox under the microscope
@fishynewswatch
josh.fischlin@thefreepress.ca
Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.