Richmond Community Foundation event raises $35,000

In just two hours on Saturday, the Richmond Community Foundation (RCF) raised $35,000 to help create scholarships for students.

Several Richmond-based donors presented cheques to RCF at the fundraiser, including Andrea Xi, daughter of Maria Xu, a shareholder of a popular Richmond restaurant and president of the Richmond Lahoo Lions Club;

Linda Li, who sent video greetings, has been a dedicated volunteer with many local social programs for over a decade and is currently president of the Richmond Chinese Community Society;

Leah Ding, head of Richmond-based D&J Education Consulting Inc.;

Henry Luo, owner of Pacific Banner Riding Club on No. 3 Road.

Richmond Community Foundation chair Dave Frank explained that funds set up with the foundation are invested for perpetuity, with annual incremental additions to account for inflation, which is why they are called “Forever Funds.”

City councillor Linda McPhail and former councillor Derek Dang both spoke at the event about giving back to the city where they have raised their children and where their families have prospered. Both have established funds in their family names.

Mayor Malcolm Brodie and MLAs Jas Johal and Teresa Wat also spoke in support of the foundation and its work.

RCF recently announced 41 scholarships worth $22,150 to 2019 Richmond high school graduates.

Further scholarships to post-secondary students will be announced within the next two weeks.

Over $50,000 in project grants was given to community groups earlier this year.