PETAWAWA — The Pembroke Petawawa District Community Foundation considers Project Runway of the community’s greatest needs and has made a $1,000 donation to the Pembroke & Area Airport. The Foundation’s donation kicks off what is expected to be a busy year for the runway campaign which is looking to raise $1.25 million to repave the mile of runway.
“The Pembroke & Area Airport is the lifeline of emergency services in the Ottawa Valley,” said Foundation board member Fred Blackstein. “It is used by air ambulance, search and rescue, forest firefighting – all of which we have benefited from in this area.”
Presenting the cheque were Mr. Blackstein and Wendy Hewitt, the new administrator for the Foundation. Ms. Hewitt is also the chair of the Renfrew County District School Board, which has a connection to the runway.
“There is an educational charter that runs out of the airport on a weekly basis, taking visually-impaired children to a school for the blind in Brantford,” Ms. Hewitt said. “The opportunity to provide that enhanced education experience is great asset for our region.”
The Foundation also funded the airport’s Canada 150 Fly-In event which took place last September. Seventy-seven aircraft and 1,500 people attended the event from as far away as Maine, USA.
“The Foundation’s tagline is “giving that grows” and this is definitely an investment that will grow opportunities in our region,” said Allan Wren, Chair of the Pembroke & Area Airport Commission. “We appreciate that an agency that is focused on growth has identified Project Runway as a campaign that is in line with their mission.”
The Pembroke Petawawa District Community Foundation is also celebrating its 10th year in growing funds through investment. Launched in 2008, the Foundation focuses on bequests and invested gifts and then disperses the finances to other charitable agencies in the local region. More information on the Foundation is available at: www.givingthatgrows.com
