AND THE WINNER IS ...

Our Co-op

Those were the first words we heard back in the spring.  The prize was a new play park for the kids in our co-op.  The "win" wasn't free and clear - it had strings attached.  The co-op had to fundraise to the tune of $50,000. - $80,000, which sums would then be matched by a playground equipment company.  As stated in my previous blog, the playground committee raised approximately $4,000. from various co-op events.  Large corporate sponsors were to foot the balance of the funds needed to replace our original park.

A notice from the office was delivered today to co-op members re sundry matters and in very small italic font was the build day for our play park.  No mention was made as to who our corporate sponsors are, nor how much was raised.  This is most peculiar, because one would expect in big, bold letters:

A Great Big Thank You to ____, whose generous contribution of $20,000. is very much appreciated by our co-op and all of our children.  We'd also like to thank ____  for their $10,000. cheque, without which this play park could never have been built.  And last but not least our appreciation to  _____ for their $30,000. cheque, which will allow children to enjoy this park for years to come.

Photos would have been taken of the corporate donors holding one side of an over-blown prop cheque, with an ever grateful co-op member holding the other side.  These photos would be replicated over and over again in our local and federal co-op newsletters.

As no such information, nor photo ops have been forthcoming, I ask this very pertinent question:  

Where did this money come from?  Did it come from one of our contractors?  If so, that is a blatant conflict of interest.  Distribute to the members the corporate donors letters.  Would this money by chance be coming from our co-op's capital reserves, or buried in our operating budget?  

This information must be provided to co-op members immediately.