Baldy Hughes gets sustainable funding
One of the largest single corporate charitable donations ever made in B.C. has gone to the B.C. New Hope Recovery Society for the Baldy Hughes Therapeutic Community and Farm for men in recovery located just outside of Prince George.
The donation of $3.6 million came from the TEG Master Partnership in Vancouver, created and managed by The England Group, whose managing partner Kevin England is president of the B.C. New Hope Recovery Society.
After they sold a property portfolio for $288 million, the 3,200 B.C. members of the TEG Master Partnership agreed to England’s suggestion to donate one per cent, which tallied $2.8 million. When the funds were transferred from U.S. to Canadian dollars it totaled $3.6 million, allowing the New Hope Recovery Society to put $3 million into a legacy endowment fund, where the principal stays intact while the interest is utilized. Conservatively invested, the fund will generate about $120,000 per year, providing more than enough for the $100,000 obligation the society has to pay toward operating costs for Baldy Hughes each year.
Now any extra fundraising efforts can go to much-needed overall improvement of the facility.
“It’s a 160-acre property and there’s 60 people living on site, and we’re a fully operating farm so there’s no shortage of places to spend money,” said Darcy Ulmer for The England Group.
The annual operating budget is about $2 million in total. About $677,000 of the operating budget comes from B.C. Housing, another significant contribution comes from the ministry of social development with $394,000, and others like B.C. Mental Health and B.C. Gaming, said Ulmer.
“Thanks to the generosity of these donors, B.C. New Hope Recovery Society will be in a better position to provide year- long residential treatment for people with serious substance use disorders,” said Rich Coleman, deputy premier and minister responsible for housing in a recent news release. “The province appreciates the role these businesses are playing to improve people’s physical and mental health and rebuild their lives.”
The balance of the $3.6 million donation went into the donations account and will be used where necessary with approval by the board of directors.
There was $250,000 spent in 2015 to buy a new tractor, a grain hopper, new furniture, new dining room chairs and fitness equipment.
Baldy Hughes, about 30 km south west of Prince George, offers work, education, clinical therapy and healthcare as a way to empower men recovering from addiction towards leading successful lives.
“This donation is an amazing example of how the citizens of B.C. open up their hearts and help each other,” said Rodger Travale, executive director of Baldy Hughes.
“Recovery from addiction is not a miracle, but yet we rely on miracles to give us what we need for the work we do each and every day. Our thanks to the men and women who have the vision and compassion to make Baldy Hughes the exceptional and unique place it is today.”