Holger Bauer remembered

One year following his death, Holger Bauer’s friends and family have established an endowment fund within the Quesnel Community Foundation to boost forest safety education.

Bauer died in a logging accident in July, 2007, leaving many friends wishing to carry on his legacy.

The Holger Bauer Forest Safety Memorial Fund Committee raised $10,000 from local residents and businesses who want to remember Bauer and who believe in the committee’s vision, which is to enrich lives by making just some of Bauer’s qualities their own and in turn make the lives of those around them better.

Bauer is remembered as an initiator with infectious energy who encouraged others to set personal challenges and in the process discover their own abilities.

“There is every reason to believe this fund can be an effective vehicle for change and improvement in how we work in our forests,” Bauer Fund Committee member Gord Peters said.

Quesnel Community Foundation matched the Holger Bauer Fund Committee’s initial investment of $10,000. As a result, the fund is now more than $20,000.

Jeff Dinsdale, a Bauer Fund Committee member, said the group is continuing to seek donations and looks forward to making the first award next spring, which will help realize some of the committee’s goals.

He added the Committee is seeking new members. If you are interested in becoming a member or making a donation, contact Dinsdale, 250-992-9143, other committee members or Quesnel Community Foundation.

The Holger Bauer Forest Safety Memorial Fund is the third Donor Advised Fund established within the Foundation. This is one type of fund the Foundation manages for other organizations, allowing donors to stay personally involved with the distribution of gift dollars while the Foundation deals with administrative duties and offers grant-making expertise.

Quesnel Community Foundation is a charity created to meet the community’s needs by growing and managing permanent investments. The endowment totals over $640,000. The interest from these investments is provided as grants to community groups each year. Since 2002, it’s given away more than $100,000.

In April, the Foundation assisted local organizations with grants totaling $25,000. Organizations who received grants include Auxiliary to G.R. Baker Memorial Hospital, Cariboo Ski Touring Club, Quesnel Aquatic Club, Quesnel Community Living Association, Quesnel & District Palliative Care Association, Quesnel Residential Care Society, and Yellow Ribbon Suicide Prevention Program.

For information about Quesnel Community Foundation, contact Chris McIver, Public Relations and Marketing Chair, 250-992-0839 or the website, www.quesnelfoundation.ca.

Fund established to promote forest safety