Media Release - October 30, 2018

Parksville Beach Festival Society donates to local Not-for-Profit Organizations

While the Parksville Beach Festival Society members work year round to create the ever popular summer events alongside beautiful Parksville beach, this time of year is when they host their most favorite event: Cheque Presentations to the Volunteer Gate Ambassadors.

In a public presentation, October 18, 2018, at City Hall with Parksville City Mayor Marc Lebfebvre and representatives from Quality Foods, Beach Festival Society board members presented twenty-three (23) philanthropic groups with donation cheques that together totaled $62,563. This marks the most funds they have given away to date. These volunteers greeted, counted, informed and gathered feedback from visitors who attended the 2018 Quality Foods Sand Sculpting Competition and Exhibition. This hallmark event captured an outstanding attendance of 125,908 visitors through the sand sculpting gates in 2018.

Parksville Beach Festival president, Cheryl Dill, remarked on the importance of volunteer involvement at Beach Festival. "We are eager to support these not-for-profit groups who help provide essential services for so many local residents," commented Dill. "Volunteer engagement is key to our event sustainability and helps foster community connections and development."

The following groups donated over 2700 person hours towards the 2018 event:

  1. Arrowsmith Search & Rescue
  2. Bowser Seniors Housing Society
  3. Deep Bay Fire and Rescue
  4. Errington Therapeutic Riding Assn
  5. Forward House Community Society
  6. Fraternal Order of Eagles
  7. Knights of Columbus
  8. Mid Vancouver Island Habitat Enhancement
  9. Nanoose Community Services
  10. Oceanside Community Arts Council
  11. Oceanside Community Safety Volunteers
  12. Oceanside Hospice
  13. Parksville Curling Club
  14. Parksville Lawn Bowling
  15. Parksville Lions & Lioness Club
  16. Parksville Qualicum Elks #589
  17. Preceptor Delta Zeta
  18. Rotary Club of Parksville AM
  19. Rotary Club of Parksville Noon Hour
  20. Rotary Club of Qualicum Beach Sunrise
  21. Royal Canadian Legion Ladies Auxiliary Bowser
  22. Royal Canadian Legion Ladies Auxiliary Parksville
  23. Xi Delta Pi Chapter of Beta Sigma Phi
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% of their gate proceeds to community projects and philanthropic groups. Contributing to the maintenance and development of the Community Park is also a high priority. Since 1999, the Society has donated $620,000 to non-profit organizations and community projects, which included construction of the park gazebo and community signs. The Society reserves funds annually to help sustain its future events, which can be threatened by such things as inclement weather. In addition to this, the Society is contributing to a fund to support accessibility as well as the creation of an Outdoor Performance Theatre in Parksville Community Park.
Cheryl Dill
President, Parksville Beach Festival Society
250.954.8262
dillc1967@gmail.com
info@parksvillebeachfest.ca
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