Over $84,000 Coming to 15 Different Organizations in Swift Current

The Saskatchewan Liquor and Gaming Authority has handed charitable gaming grants, with money headed the southwest way. 

The Swift Current area received $109,345, which is a part of the $2.7 million that was handed out provincially to about 1,100 provincial groups and organizations. 

Everett Hindley, MLA for Swift Current, said that the grants help many different organizations.

"Some of these grant recipients include volunteer fire departments, humane societies, amateur sports clubs, and some local service clubs," he said. "Groups don't have to apply to receive the grants. SLGA obtains the necessary information from there gaming licenses." 

The grant is equal to 25 per cent of the net revenues raised from these activities, up to a maximum grant of $100,000 annually. Licensed bingos, raffles, break open ticket sales, Texas Hold'em poker events, and Monte Carlo events are among the charitable gaming activities eligible to receive a grant. 

Hindley said that one of the good things about the grants is that there are no restrictions on what the money can be put towards. 

"It's expected that the funds will be used to bolster the delivery of their programs and services, they work towards." 

Swift Current received $84,583.10 from the grants. Fifteen different organizations received money in Swift Current with the Swift Current Broncos Hockey Club leading the way receiving $71,486.83. 

Hindley said that another beneficial part of the program is it helps smaller communities. 

"It helps communities in smaller rural areas of the province," he said. "It helps to bolster and enhance what they do as service clubs and organizations within their home communities because we all know that every one of these communities, small or large relies quite heavily on the dedication of service clubs and this charitable grant program helps them out a little bit to help them enhance what they do in serving the residents."