Courtesy of Mike Treadgold, Communications Officer, Fergie Jenkins Foundation
St. Catharines – A museum bearing the name of Hall of Fame baseball player and renowned humanitarian Fergie Jenkins has received a substantial grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF).
The museum, an expansion of the Fergie Jenkins Foundation office in St. Catharines, will recognize the athletic and charitable accomplishments of one of Canada’s most well-rounded individuals, and is scheduled to be open to the public by the end of 2012.
“This Trillium grant will allow the Fergie Jenkins Foundation to share the story of one of Canada’s great athletes,” said Jim Bradley, MPP for St. Catharines. “This is a fitting tribute to Fergie Jenkins’ athletic achievements and charitable accomplishments.”
The OTF grant for $115,000 will fund a 12-month contract for an official curator, as well as the creation of a number of permanent and mobile showcases, touch-screen displays, other multimedia features, and a gift shop, with proceeds going to the Fergie Jenkins Foundation’s family of local charities. The museum will showcase Jenkins’ awards, memorabilia and collectibles, and serve as an educational facility for local schools and other organizations. The second floor of the facility has already received OTF support and will continue to exclusively exhibit artifacts related to Black History.
“I’ve been blessed with a number of awards and honours, both as a baseball player, and now through our charity work,” said Jenkins, who was also presented with a Key to the City of St. Catharines in June. “The development of the museum represents another chapter in our organization’s story of giving back to the community.”
The Fergie Jenkins Foundation was established in 1997 with the purpose of raising funds for charities and community initiatives across North America. The Foundation supports hundreds of charities across Canada and the United States and has raised more than $4-million since its inception.
A leading grantmaker in Canada, the Ontario Trillium Foundation strengthens the capacity of the voluntary sector through investments in community-based initiatives. An agency of the Government of Ontario, OTF builds healthy and vibrant communities.
Sounds like an interesting museum–glad they incorporated artifacts dealing with Black History in Canada as well.
I’m definitely going to make the trek down to see it when it opens. Thanks for the comment.