OAK TREE PROJECT
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The Oak Tree Project kicked off its fifth year this week by announcing a retooling of the charitable giving program and increasing the grand prize from $5,000 to $25,000.
“After four successful years, we wanted to revisit everything about our project to encourage more participation and make even more impact on the community,” said project lead Will Mactaggart, who founded the project in 2014 alongside family members and local businesses.
The substantially larger prize is just one of the changes this year. In addition to more prize money, the vetting and judging process will put a focus the needs and opportunities identified in the Guelph and Wellington County Vital Signs Report.
This report is a snap shot of how our community is doing in six specific areas: education, environment, health, getting around, community vitality and culture and recreation.
As part of the new process this year, a panel of social planning experts will review submissions from charities that outline how their organization would invest $25,000 to help ‘move the needle’ on topics identified in the Vital Signs Report.
These experts will invite 10 charities to pitch their idea in a ‘Dragons’ Den’ style competition. The experts will narrow that group down to five finalists for the public to vote on and help select the $25,000 grand prize winner. The winner will have six months to activate their idea.
“While the winning charity is hard at work, the Oak Tree Project will be giving away new Acorn Prizes,” shared Project co-lead Mike Hryn. “Starting in January 2019, we will invite public nominations and votes for charities to receive smaller monthly prizes. Our grand finale event in June 2019 will be an opportunity for the Grand Prize winner to share learnings from their project, celebrate our Acorn winners and give away even more prize money!”
“The continued support from the community for this project has been amazing,” reflected an energized Mactaggart. “We’re seeing an increase in participation from local businesses and individuals wanting to donate services and cash to Oak Tree. We are channelling all that support into the program which will allow us to give away over $45,000 in total this year.”
Local charities are invited to visit our website to learn more. Submissions for the Grand Prize are due by June 1, 2018.
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