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They keep increasing their scholarship award money.
After adding $5,000 in giveaways last year, the Cloverdale Rodeo Youth Initiative Foundation (CRYIF) added another $4,000 this year for a $9,000 increase over two years.
In the last three years alone the youth foundation has given away $44,000 in scholarship money. They awarded $10,000 in 2023, $15,000 in 2024, and now $19,000.
“Thanks to an increase in funds this year, we were able to raise the bar again on the amount of money we distributed,” said Rick Hugh, a CRYIF board member and past committee chair. “Funds that are given out by CRYIF each year are raised through several means.”
The main source of funding for the rodeo’s youth foundation is the annual 50/50 draw held during the Cloverdale Rodeo & Country Fair each year. Ticket sales for the draw begin online in advance of Rodeo Weekend and the lucky winner is drawn during the final rodeo performance held on Victoria Day.
“This year's 50/50 program raised approximately $61,000,” noted Hugh. While half went to the winner, the rest went into CRYIF’s scholarship and community program coffers.
Hugh added they sometimes get one-time donations from individuals, families, or organizations, allowing the foundation to give out even more cash. This was the case this year when the family of the recently deceased Baron Parker, a former NHL linesman, reached out to Hugh. The family asked that any donations in Baron's memory be made to the Cloverdale Rodeo Youth Initiative Foundation.
“The Cloverdale Reporter had previously done an article about Baron and his contributions to the community,” Hugh said. “CRYIF was truly honoured to be connected with the Parker family. Baron was a former student of mine. He and I became friends and remained so throughout his life.”
Hugh revealed that the family's kind act allowed the foundation to “increase the number of scholarships given out” in 2025.
Apart from scholarships, CRYIF also donates to community programs that support youth and families
“The two community based local organizations and programs that we chose to support in 2025 are Storehouse Community Hub, which includes the Cloverdale Community Kitchen, and the recent Ugly Potato Day [program],” Hugh added.
As for scholarship awards, Hugh said the board was once again amazed by the quality of the applicants this year.
The foundation awarded $1,500 scholarships in 2025 to: Farezeh Alhamza (Lord Tweedsmuir), Alice Chen (École Salish), Rylann Harding (North Surrey), Harrison Lobley (Clayton Heights), Tyas Mehat (Frank Hurt), Nixon Pech (École Salish), Zoya Reaz (Princess Margaret), Agamdeep Singh (W.J. Mouat), and Sineth Rehan Thilakaratne (Lord Tweedsmuir).
The foundation awarded $2,000 scholarships to: Jeneya McNab (Lord Tweedsmuir) for the Isabella Olson Rising Above scholarship, and to Sydney Vacek (Lord Tweedsmuir) for the Gary and Gail Grelish Foundation scholarship.
In addition to the regular scholarships, the rodeo youth foundation voted to give out a special "CRYIF Cares" award this year.
“This year's award of $1,500 went to Mehak Bhangu, a North Surrey Secondary graduate,” noted Hugh. “Mehak started volunteering with us in Grade 10 and for the past two years also served in a youth advisory capacity with the CRYIF board.”
The foundation has been awarding scholarship grants for more than a decade now, having been established at the 68th annual Cloverdale Rodeo and Country Fair in 2014.
Since that time, the foundation has handed out about $100,000 in scholarships and funds to assist programs benefiting youth.
Youth foundation scholarships are open to Grade 12 students who have given back to their schools and communities and must be current or past Cloverdale Rodeo & Country Fair volunteers.
For more info on the Cloverdale Rodeo Youth Initiative Foundation, volunteering, or scholarships, visit the foundation’s website at cloverdalerodeofoundation.com.
Malin Jordan
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