Kinsmen Foundation of Saskatchewan
The aim of the Kinsmen Foundation is to support, promote, and foster programs that will benefit people with special needs throughout Saskatchewan. The Foundation provides financial assistance to hundreds of Saskatchewan individuals every year to help facilitate their improved quality of life and independence. Equipment provided includes Communications aids, technical aids, specialized computers, ultra light wheelchairs, electric scooters, and wheelchair lifts for vans. The Foundation also assists with provincial and inter-provincial travel expenses for individuals receiving medical treatment, assessments, and organ transplants. Over the years, the needs continue to increase.
The Kinsmen Foundation of Saskatchewan was established in 1971 with the sole purpose of assisting Saskatchewan residents with physical, mental, or other challenges, as well as regional and provincial organizations serving the people with disabilities where there is no other source of funding. The Foundation operated on dollars raised by local Kinsmen and Kinette clubs as well as individual, group, and memorial contributions. Eventually, the requests for assistance far exceeded the available funds.
To meet the demonstrated needs across the province, planning started in 1976 for a province-wide telethon as a major fund raiser. Telemiracle 1 was staged in Saskatoon in February 1977 and carried on a network of six Saskatchewan television stations featuring provincial and national performers. We have just celebrated our 32nd year! Volunteers from Kinsmen and Kinette clubs in Saskatchewan play a lead organizational role in staging Telemiracle, alternating between Regina and Saskatoon as host cities. The technical aspect of the production is handled by knowledgeable, personnel from the CTV network and local radio stations who volunteer their time. All aspects of Kin membership involved at show time to answer phones, provide transportation, assist with staging, etc. It requires 1200 volunteers to enable Telemiracle to be on-air for 20 hours.
The strength of the Foundation lies in its grass roots philosophy of being a people organization. Through Telemiracle, the Foundation can show the people of Saskatchewan where funds have been allocated, profile some of the people funded, and show the public that it is the ability of individuals that is important and not the disability.
The monies that are raised on our telethon are turned over to the Kinsmen Foundation Board which disperses the funds. Kinsmen and Kinette volunteers from across Saskatchewan make up the majority of the 22 Board members, along with advisors from the Departments of Social Services and Health. When applications are submitted, they must be endorsed by the Kinsmen or Kinette club in the vicinity of the applicant. The Kinsmen Foundation Board then meets nine times per year when all applications are reviewed and funding decisions made. All monies raised at Telemiracle are spent on Saskatchewan residents.
