A proclaimation recognizing National Philanthropy Day was signed by Portage la Prairie Mayor Irvine Ferris at City Hall earlier today.

Mayor Ferris specifically recognized the work of the Community Foundation of Portage and District (CFPD), who had board chair Paul Davidson and executive director Mary Lynn Moffatt on hand to receive a signed copy of the document.

"It's getting larger and larger every year," Ferris says of CFPD. "It has a huge impact throughout the year, and you see it in the grants they make to various community organizations."

"And they help us get things done here in Portage that we might not normally get done without their help."

Davidson says CFPD grants out about $250,000 annually to various community organizations and projects, and notes they've recently helped fund infrastructure work at Canadian Pacific Rail Heritage Museum, Fort la Reine Museum and the Herman Prior Centre.

"Contributions to the CFPD stay right here inside our own community, allowing every person in our own community to benefit from donations," Davidson explains. "We often see many charitable donations (with other organizations) leave our community."

"This is something that stays right here at home."