Humboldt Strong Community Foundation dissolves after revealing financial statements

By Aaron Schulze

The Humboldt Strong Community Foundation is no more.

During its first and only annual general meeting on Tuesday, the Humboldt Strong Community Foundation board of directors voted to dissolve the group on or before its fiscal year end on Dec. 31, with approval from the foundation’s sole member: The Humboldt Broncos Junior A Hockey Club.

As the sole member of the Humboldt Strong Community Foundation, the Broncos’ responsibility was to appoint directors to the board who were tasked with overseeing the foundation’s operations of managing and distributing funds for players, employees, families, volunteers, emergency services, and other related communities and organizations affected by the Broncos bus crash on April 6, 2018.

The foundation’s directors declined to answer questions or comment further after they voted to dissolve, a move that drew vocal criticism from victims’ family members in attendance.

One player’s family member who wished to remain anonymous told northeastNOW they received help through the foundation and didn’t want to sound unappreciative, although they mentioned how most families are upset with being left in the dark with no say.

“Communication has been poor,” the family member said. “No real talk with parents, no say in anything, very little detail in any announcements on where money was spent. People would probably have a better feeling if they were more aware of what’s going on and were kept up to date.”

From April 13, 2018 to the end of its fiscal year on Dec. 31, the foundation received over $4.1 million in donations and interest. Nearly $500,000 was spent on players and families of the 29 individuals on the bus during the crash. The Bronco Family Support includes:

• lost income up to $12,000 per family over three months;
• rent up to six months ($20,000) per family;
• home renovations needed due to injuries sustained in the crash;
• funeral costs;
• travel; and,
• counselling or mental health costs

The board of directors presented the unaudited financial statement as of June 25, with the foundation spending nearly $3.8 million.

More than $1 million was spent on Broncos Family Support, and $300,000 was set toward scholarships for the 16 surviving players from the 2017-18 Broncos team. Nearly $2.5 million was contributed to local municipalities which assisted in emergency response to the bus crash, scholarships for 2017-18 Nipawin Hawks players, Ronald McDonald House, and OSI-CAN.

The remaining funds, which is slightly under $50,000, will be transferred to the Humboldt Strong Charitable Foundation.

The Broncos stated in a joint release with the Humboldt Community Foundation that they also wouldn’t make further comment. The annual general meeting is to take place Wednesday in the Humboldt Uniplex.