Odd Fellows makes landmark donation to family services agency
VICTORIA, B.C.—The Odd Fellows of Victoria Lodge 1 has made its largest-ever single donation—$10,000—to Family Services of Greater Victoria to help with the agency’s move to a new building at the end of August.
“The Odd Fellows represent what is best about our culture,” said FSGV Executive Director Bruce McGuigan in accepting the donation. “They are a group whose sole mission is to take care of the vulnerable in our community. We are very grateful that they exist, and especially grateful for their help in ensuring the future of Family Services of Greater Victoria.”
The Odd Fellows are believed to be British Columbia’s first benefit society. Victoria Lodge 1 was instituted in 1864 and Odd Fellowship has endured in Victoria for more than 150 years through belief in the binding power of “friendship, love, and truth.” Family Services of Greater Victoria is the city’s leading agency for family members facing the changes and challenges of relationships; approximately 75% of its clients are children and teens.
For the past five years, three under its previous name B.C. Families in Transition, FSGV has had offices at 899 Fort Street. However, this building is being redeveloped and FSGV is moving to 1004 North Park Street, the former Multiple Sclerosis Society Centre.
The Victoria Social Innovation Centre Society bought the North Park building in hopes of attracting local non-profit organizations to offer “one-stop” shopping for many social services in Victoria. FSGV is looking forward to sharing some physical resources with other organizations, including the Victoria Immigrant and Refugee Centre Society (VIRCS).
To reach their goal, FSGV must raise $100,000 to cover its share of necessary leasehold improvements at the new location and has been asking the community for help in raising these funds. The $10,000 donation by Odd Fellows of Victoria Lodge 1 was a response to this plea for assistance.
The Lodge will also support a silent auction fundraiser after the group reconvenes in September in the hopes of raising an additional $5,000.
For more information about Family Services of Greater Victoria’s upcoming move and how to support it, please visit its website at www.fsgv.org. To learn more about Odd Fellows and the charitable work it does, go to the Grand Lodge of British Columbia’s website at www.ioofbc.org.
“The Odd Fellows represent what is best about our culture,” said FSGV Executive Director Bruce McGuigan in accepting the donation. “They are a group whose sole mission is to take care of the vulnerable in our community. We are very grateful that they exist, and especially grateful for their help in ensuring the future of Family Services of Greater Victoria.”
The Odd Fellows are believed to be British Columbia’s first benefit society. Victoria Lodge 1 was instituted in 1864 and Odd Fellowship has endured in Victoria for more than 150 years through belief in the binding power of “friendship, love, and truth.” Family Services of Greater Victoria is the city’s leading agency for family members facing the changes and challenges of relationships; approximately 75% of its clients are children and teens.
For the past five years, three under its previous name B.C. Families in Transition, FSGV has had offices at 899 Fort Street. However, this building is being redeveloped and FSGV is moving to 1004 North Park Street, the former Multiple Sclerosis Society Centre.
The Victoria Social Innovation Centre Society bought the North Park building in hopes of attracting local non-profit organizations to offer “one-stop” shopping for many social services in Victoria. FSGV is looking forward to sharing some physical resources with other organizations, including the Victoria Immigrant and Refugee Centre Society (VIRCS).
To reach their goal, FSGV must raise $100,000 to cover its share of necessary leasehold improvements at the new location and has been asking the community for help in raising these funds. The $10,000 donation by Odd Fellows of Victoria Lodge 1 was a response to this plea for assistance.
The Lodge will also support a silent auction fundraiser after the group reconvenes in September in the hopes of raising an additional $5,000.
For more information about Family Services of Greater Victoria’s upcoming move and how to support it, please visit its website at www.fsgv.org. To learn more about Odd Fellows and the charitable work it does, go to the Grand Lodge of British Columbia’s website at www.ioofbc.org.
