Donors point the way in 2021 “Level the Playing Field” Year End Appeal

MEANS & MEANING

A June Memorial Gift jump starts a deferred pillar of Adventist Education at MANS—an outdoor playing field

I know my job—like your job —i s a gift from God. But some days I feel like I’ve just heard God’s speaking as I sit at my desk, as clearly as I’ve ever heard it in any church sermon. The TueSeventh-day Adventisty before Canada Day was one of those times.

Going through my mail, I found a hand-addressed card with just my name on it. Of course I opened it first! On the cover of the card inside was a beautiful sunset with comforting words — words intended for all the suffering Indigenous families with beloved children in unmarked graves, I thought. But on closer reading, this Adventist couple wanted to reach out to Indigenous families by increasing the healing impact of Mamawi Atosketan Native School (MANS).

“This gift of love is in memory of the precious Indigenous children’s lives,” began the hand-written note inside, “who were taken in such sadness and injustice. These terrible tragedies remind us of the sinful world we live in and why Jesus came to save all mankind. “May this gift help to bring healing as you share Jesus’ love to MANS.”

This gift of love is in memory of the precious Indigenous children’s lives, who were taken in such sadness and injustice. These terrible tragedies remind us of the sinful world we live in and why Jesus came to save all mankind.

The signature line — “With our love” — transported me to and Paul’s famous Love Chapter (I Cor.13) and its preface: “I show you a more excellent way.” Canada Day 2021 was like no other. Many celebrated freedom from COVID masks; others wore orange shirts, sometimes in combination with red and white, to remember the recent discovery of hundreds of unmarked graves at Indian residential schools where children died alone, many without their parents’ knowledge. This Adventist family had found a third, More Excellent Way to respond to tragedy and blessing: a gift of cash that will help provide a basic outdoor activity field at MANS, in accordance with Adventist education philosophy.

Why a Basic Athletic Field?

Most of our schools have an outdoor area where soccer and other games of physical skill can be held, because outdoor exercise is a pillar of Adventist education. Sadly, this is missing at MANS. As the school evolved, other pressing needs took precedence. But now, as I looked at the unexpected Canada Day gift, I began to wonder: Was it just coincidence that recently, a different donor (see Did You Know) had made a major, unsolicited financial investment in getting MANS onto the schedule of Spirit North—an organization that provides instruction and equipment to engage Indigenous youth in outdoor activities? All MANS needs to provide are kids and a level outdoor area for instruction and activity — a small athletic field.

Give to the Level the Playing Field Appeal before December 31 to ensure a charitable donation receipt for the 2021 tax year. Donations through regular offering channels should be clearly marked “MANS Playing Field” or be made online at mans1.ca.

Appeal Goal: $32,000

Burman U’s Women’s Soccer Club got the athletic field ball rolling by establishing the Athletic Field Fund with their fundraising efforts in the 2019 soccer season. Club members Stephanie Ferguson and Elsy Fernandez presented SA president Jade Rabbit with a cheque in Dec. 2019.

A Gentle Nudge

With these two wonderful and unexpected gifts, it seems God is giving us the nudge that it’s time to provide for a pillar of Adventist education that’s been on the back burner since the Burman U Women’s Soccer Club established the Athletic Field Fund in 2019. Along with developing mental, spiritual and social skills, we need to provide on-site instruction and opportunities to develop skills in and a love of healthy outdoor activity. An athletic activity field is a clear necessity.

The 2021 Year End Appeal for MANS will fund a basic athletic field — a level area for games, running, and learning to cross-country ski and snowshoe. It won’t be fancy, but it’s rooted firmly in Adventist education principles and will launch many into a positive lifestyle and direction for their lives.

Let’s enable MANS to more completely share a more excellent way to live.

Along with developing mental, spiritual and social skills, we need to provide on-site instruction and opportunities to develop skills in and a love of healthy outdoor activity.

DID YOU KNOW?

“In Memory” (Memorial) Gifts can be designated for a specific ministry or project, and can be publicly acknowledged (ex.: on a donor wall or published story) or they can be private and anonymous. A gift for a ministry without other restrictions, such as the Canada Day gift, allows the donation to be paired with other gifts that compliment the donor’s general wish (ex.: to advance MANS’ work) for greater impact.

In the instance of the Canada Day gift for MANS, the donors were happy to help facilitate a much-needed outdoor playing field, which will increase the impact of a gift from businessman Richard Bird: Bird arranged for equipment and professional instruction in cross-country skiing at MANS this coming winter with Spirit North, the non-profit established by Albert cross-country skiing athlete and Olympic gold medalist Becky Scott to engage Indigenous youth in outdoor activity.

By Lynn McDowell, JD, CSPG | Director of Planned Giving | Philanthropy Alberta Conference (403) 342-5044, ext. 233