The Community Foundation of Portage and District's AGM was last night at the Portage and District Arts Centre.

Board Chair Paul Davidson was thrilled with the turn out, and says it was a little bit of a different year for the foundation.

"It was pretty much a year of change for the foundation, but a very great year for the foundation too. We received over $508,000 in donations throughout the year, we have a new executive director at the helm which is Mary Lynn Moffat. She's doing a fantastic job early on, and there's a learning curve she has to go through but she's been handling it fairly well."

Board Member Gail Patterson announced the CFPD's grant recipients, and says they're happy to help.

(BBBS) Dawn Froese, (PRRA) David Sattler, (Herman Prior Senior Centre) Hope Fashoway, (Glesby Centre) Mickey Cuthbert, (Ft. La Reine) Terry Simpson, (Youth for Christ) Art Schroeder

"It feels really good. This spring we had grant requests for over $200,000 and we got to give out $60,000 this spring. So it was really nice, it feels good. They need the funds and we're privileged to give it to them."

Board member Dawn Froese handed out 6 bursaries to well deserving students, she says it's really a thrill helping out.

"I love giving away bursaries! I love this committee, and I hope they don't realize I've been on it for a while now, I just keep low. Each of the students were well deserving. We had a few applicants for the different bursaries, and it was hard to choose because they're all such great students. And they all have such big dreams, I only wish we had more money to give."

Bursary recipients Morgan Van Deynze, Kaeley Simpson, Tyson Dyck and Sheyla Duncan

Get the CFPD's 2015 Financial Report here.

Grant Recipients

Big Brothers Big Sisters Portage la Prairie - $,1200
The Glesby Centre - $9,000
Youth For Christ - $15,000
Herman Prior Senior Centre - $1,150
Ad Hock Ball Diamond Development Committee/City of Portage la Prairie/PRRA - $16,800
Fort la Reine Museum - $16,000

Bursary Winners

Dr. Donald William Rae Bursary - Medical - Kaylee Simpson - $1,000
Lorainee Rae Bursary - Education - Sheyla Duncan $1,000
Ross Denton Memorial Bursary - Secondary Education - Tyson Dyck $725
Portage Community Development Corporation Bursary - Business - Morgan Van Deynze $1,000
Bjarnson Fund For Music - Westpark School - 600$
Jody Lee Fulton Memorial Bursary - Commercial Pilot Training - Jacqueline Hoyes $1,200

The Oakville Community Club was also given $5,908