PARKSVILLE — Thousands of dollars generated through the Oceanside area’s signature annual event is going back into the community.
Parksville Beach Festival Society president Cheryl Dill said nearly $81,000 was donated to 21 local organizations who served as gate ambassadors in the sand sculpting event zone, which welcomed more than 115,000 visitors.
“We have 150 volunteers throughout the summer who do such great work in our community, and this is our chance to give away the funds,” Dill told NanaimoNewsNOW shortly after the funds were allocated during a Monday, Oct. 7 luncheon.
The Society assigns a quarter of gate to local philanthropic groups, who helped welcome visitors to view 29 world class sand sculptures on Parksville’s waterfront.
Dill said in addition to helping to welcome large crowds to Parksville, their volunteers play a significant role in unleashing an important local economic impact.
“We estimate that in that 5-and-a-half-weeks there’s at least $25 million dollars going back into the community,” she said.
Dill noted the society has donated nearly $1.2 million to local non-profit organizations since 1999.
Partial proceeds from the 2024 Parksville Beach Festival were distributed to the following organizations:
1. Bowser Seniors Housing Society
2. CatSpan Ferals Registered Charity
3. Deep Bay Fire/Rescue Society
4. Flowerstone Health Society
5. Forward House Community Association
6. Fraternal Order Of Eagles
7. Knox United Church
8. Lions Club of Parksville (1969)
9. Mid Vancouver Island Habitat Enhancement Society
10. Oceanside Community Safety Volunteers
11. Oceanside Hospice Society
12. Oceanside Stroke Recovery Society
13. Parksville & District Chamber of Commerce & Visitor Centre
14. Parksville Branch of Victoria’s Quilts
15. Parksville Curling Club
16. Parksville/Qualicum Adult Literacy Society
17. Parksville Quilt House Quilters’ Guild
18. Qualicum and District Curling Club
19. Rotary Club of Qualicum Beach
20. Royal Canadian Legion BR49 Ladies Auxiliary Parksville
21. Sources Community Resources
Nearly $80,000 was donated back to 25 local non-profit organizations last year by the Parksville Beach Festival at last year’s event.
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