Our Ramara FunFest Scores Funds-Fest

MPP Garfield Dunlop announces $76,300 OTF funding to Ramara Festival.

Ramara - The festivities began today as MPP Garfield Dunlop announced Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF) funding to the Ramara Chamber of Commerce to launch an annual, one-day Our Ramara FunFest.

John Pugsley, OTF Program Manager, joined Dunlop in announcing a grant of $76,300 over two years to support the production of a fun-filled and informative festival. FunFest aims to build the profile of Ramara Township and strengthen community relationships and participation.

"I'm thrilled that OTF is investing funding to support a community initiative that will be enjoyed by numerous residents and visitors alike," said Dunlop, MPP for Simcoe-North. "Our Ramara FunFest will generate great tourism and economic spin-offs. And I'm sure that this first annual event will start a wonderful community tradition."

Plaque commemorating the grant is held by Janet Banfield, Chairperson of Our Ramara, and Leila Sherriff of the Ontario Trillium Foundation, while Alex Caffary, President of the Ramara Chamber of Commerce and John Pugsley of the Ontario Trillium Foundation look on approvingly.

Themed Celebrating Our Community, the day-long event will feature both indoor and outdoor fun for every member of the family. Displays by service groups, community organizations and school children will be hosted indoors, while outdoor events will feature games and activities for all ages, ongoing music and a talent stage. Refreshments will be available at a barbecue tent, food vendors and a beer tent.

A self-guided township tour will be a highlighted feature of the day. It will offer a fun and interesting way for residents and visitors alike to become more familiar with the township. The tour will lead participants to locations in the township where even more activities will be hosted.

"We really want this to be a fun-filled event that brings families out to share time together while informing themembers of our community about all the wonderful groups and organizations that exist here to serve them," said Janet Banfield, Chairperson. "As well, community groups can take advantage of this festival as a fundraising opportunity, to promote their events and activities, and to recruit new volunteers."

The Our Ramara coalition of community partners was fored in 2003 when the Chamber of Commerce, Ramara Township Public Library and the Township of Ramara identified an information gap in the community. An idea was born to help solve this challenge.

The original goal of creating an online resource will come to fruition in the form of the searchable Our Ramara website, at www.ourramara.com. It will feature information about organizations and businesses in the area, including hard copies strategically placed throughout the township. The coalition currently includes approximately 40 community partners working together to share resources and ideas.

The idea for a community-wide festival came as a spin-off as hard-working volunteers explored new ways to unite and inform residents of Ramara, as well as visitors, about the exciting events, activities and organizations that oeprate within the township. Long hours of research and proposal-writing fine-tuned the idea into a comprehensive plan which was submitted as a grant application to the Ontario Trillium Foundation. The funding has come in spades.

"We are thrilled about this funding," said Banfield. "This will allow our rural township to come together in one location and celebrate our community a a whole. We couldn't have taken on this initiative without the financial support of the Ontario Trillium Foundation. Thanks a lot!"

The Ontario Trillium Foundation, an agency of the Ministry of Culture, receives annually $100 million of government funding generated through Ontario's charity casino initiative. The Foundation allocates grants to eligible charitable and not-for-profit organizations in the arts and culture, environment, human and social services, and sports and recreation sectors. For more information, visit www.trilliumfoundation.org.