Community involvement has always been a priority at McKercher LLP. Partners, lawyers, students, staff—all share a passion for giving back to the community, each in their own way and according to their own interests. We support that commitment through the donation of time, resources and dollars.
As a firm, historically, we have been committed to supporting local, provincial and national non-profit organizations and charitable events. We look for ways to create opportunities, to build communities, to promote next generation volunteers. Supporting the communities in which we work and live is part of our prairie pride.
Our newly formed McKercher LLP Community Fund was created to invest in projects in our communities in a different way. Our fund supports initiatives that are aligned with our three pillars of investment and provide impact in our communities. Currently our diverse volunteer investment panel makes decisions regarding investments from our community fund. Decisions are made annually and announced and celebrated publicly. Investments from this fund are meant to fund projects or programs, not sponsored events, fundraisers, etc.
For 2023, our community fund will provide three (3) grants of $3,500 each. The intent for the grants is to benefit communities throughout Saskatchewan. The panel will consider regional distribution in awarding the grants.
Grants are open to registered charities and incorporated non-profits in Saskatchewan, or regional and/or national charities and incorporated non-profits with operations in Saskatchewan. Applications are reviewed by a panel of volunteers from McKercher LLP with representation in both Saskatoon and Regina including staff, management and lawyers.
We have experienced resources available to provide legal services to charities and non-profits in Saskatchewan. As part of our formal Pro Bono initiative, qualified recipients of a monetary grant from our Community Fund may also be eligible to receive legal services as part of our program.
Investments from McKercher LLP’s Community Fund align with our values statements. The projects we support fall under one or more of the following pillars:
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion – supporting programs and projects with a mandate of fostering diversity, equity and inclusion in communities including a focus on truth & reconciliation.
Education & Literacy – supporting programs and projects with a mandate of instructing, educating, and/or guiding knowledge with the purpose of providing opportunities for personal growth in communities.
Community Development & Capacity – supporting programs and projects with a mandate of creating or enhancing general quality of life in communities with a focus on building a more sustainable future for the communities.
2023 Recipients
The centre was established in 1977 and works with families to foster the healthy development of children, from prenatal to five years of age. The centre actively involves parents in their children’s early development and education, connects the child’s home and school life, and equips parents with opportunities to better fulfill their role. The grant supports an initiative which provides a book as a gift for the holiday season. Some of the children they serve may not receive a gift at all from their families, so this gift will be huge for many of them. By servicing low-income families, they have a goal of providing children with opportunities to break cycles they may face, such as literacy and education. The objective of the initiative is to teach children to care for books, recognize letter sounds and simple rhymes, and trace the letters in their first names. By gifting the book (and including some additional learning activities in the package), this initiative takes literacy outside the walls of the centre and into their homes.
Saskatoon Makerspace is a Non-Profit 10,000+ square foot facility located downtown Saskatoon. High-quality tools and educational opportunities provided by professionals create an atmosphere where any idea can be made. The grant supports the ‘After-school Artisans’ program, which provides inner-city youth with hands-on learning in technology, art, making, and creating. It seeks to empower these young individuals by fostering personal growth, skill development, and community engagement. During the program, students will learn woodworking, metalworking, screen printing, decal cutting, laser cutting, ceramics, colour theory, 3D printing, and working with epoxy resin.
Foundations Learning & Skills Saskatchewan
Foundations Learning & Skills Saskatchewan (formerly READ Saskatoon) has been supporting children, adults, and families to improve their literacy skills and abilities since 1979. Our flagship volunteer tutor program, Lead (for adults) and newer program Spark (for children), provide one-on-one tutoring to improve literacy skills based on self-identified learning goals. The grant supports ‘Books for All: Promoting Literacy through Tutoring Programs’, with the plan to provide one free new book for every adult in the tutoring program throughout Saskatchewan to build their home library to continue their personal journey of literacy.
‘Alone, we can do so little; together, we can do so much.’ ~ Helen Keller
For more information view our 2023 Community Fund FAQ’s.