A message from Crime Stoppers about fundraising

You may feel like you've heard about a Crime Stoppers Guelph Wellington (CSGW) Mulch Sale non-stop for the past few weeks, and you wouldn't be wrong

First Mount Forest Mulch Sale, held Saturday April 30 at Youngs Home Hardware. Those on hand include: front row, from left, CSGW Program Coordinator Sarah Bowers-Peter, student volunteer Patrick Karrow, student volunteer Corbin Peter, Scotiabank volunteer Deby Ferguson; back row, from left, Wellington North Township Councillor Lisa Hern, Perth-Wellington MP John Nater, Wellington North Fire Service Chief Dave Guilbault, Perth-Wellington MPP Randy Pettapiece, volunteer Brett Peter, Wellington County OPP Staff Sgt Krista Miller, CSGW Board member Deryck West, CSGW Board member Rob Mattice, CSGW Board Chair Raymond Tout.

by Sarah Bowers-Peter, Program Coordinator
Crime Stoppers Guelph Wellington

You may feel like you've heard about a Crime Stoppers Guelph Wellington (CSGW) Mulch Sale non-stop for the past few weeks, and you wouldn't be wrong.

We now have three Mulch Sales, in Mount Forest, Guelph and Fergus.

These are significant fundraisers for CSGW.

A common misconception is that CSGW receives government funding to pay rewards. This is false.

CSGW is not a government or police organization, but a non-profit charity that requires a great deal of money to adequately reward Tipsters for the information they provide to arrest criminals in our community.

Fundraising has its challenges.

For starters, there are a lot of worthy organizations vying for your hard earned dollars.

It is important to CSGW that we offer quality, interesting, and worthwhile events that will allow our supports to feel good about donating to our program.

Fundraising is the primary objective of the CSGW Board of Directors, who are constantly looking for new ways of earning your support.

It's also easy for donors to be discouraged by how a charity utilizes its funds, which is why we are upfront about how we use our fundraising proceeds:

we either use them for tipster rewards or to develop the program, such as creating marketing tools such as posters, pamphlets and other promotional items.

No wages are paid through donations.

There are new fundraising events that are being developed, and new relationships with local organizations and businesses who want to partner and support CSGW.

We will continue to seek support through grants, and welcome donations which come from community groups, as well as generous individuals.

Since 1988, when CSGW was founded, our Board of Directors have approved more than $160,000 in Tipster rewards.

Every dollar was fundraised and came from the residents, businesses and organizations from the County of Wellington and City of Guelph.

CSGW appreciates the support it receives from the community. Without you, CSGW could not do what we do.

See you at the Mulch Sale!

For more information on CSGW, go to www.csgw.tips.