The Sunshine Coast Festival of the Written Arts has announced the donation of $100,000 to its Legacy of Literacy Endowment by long-time patron Len Pakulak.
“Mr. Pakulak has been an ardent Festival supporter for over 26 years,” the Festival said in a release. “He has done it all, from swinging hammers while building the Festival Pavilion to slinging drinks at the Festival bar; from serving on the Fund Development Committee to establishing the Lynn Pakulak Endowment Fund in memory of his wife, a former Board member.”
“I got involved because it was important to her and it’s opened up a whole new world to me,” Pakulak said.
Pakulak’s latest contribution will go toward an endowment established by the Festival in 2017 with the goal of raising $1 million. Held by the Sunshine Coast Community Foundation, the endowment is intended to provide the Festival with an annual predictable source of funds.
“Income from the endowment will provide stable funding and allow the Festival not only to continue producing the popular annual literary festival, but expand its program offerings that include outreach through the Celebration of Authors, Books and Community (CABC). Since 2007 the CABC program has brought over 70 Canadian authors to Sunshine Coast classrooms to mentor local K-12 students, providing them with the tools and inspiration to write and tell their own stories,” the Festival said.
As well, donations made to the Endowment are eligible for matching funds through a program offered by the Department of Canadian Heritage.
“Mr. Pakulak’s generous eligible donation will help the Festival to reach its goal sooner, increasing the value of his investment in the Festival’s important work,” the Festival said.
“They’re doing really good things,” he said. “They need to be supported.”
Anyone interested in making a tax-deductible donation to the Legacy of Literacy Endow-ment can call the Festival office at 604-885-9631. Donations of any size are appreciated.
