Foundation spotlight series: Phoenix Foundation

March 28, 2025

At the 2024 Community Impact Expo, Phoenix Foundation president Becky Clements presents the Kootenay Robusters Dragon Boat team’s Lorraine Bell-Lebedoff a certificate of appreciation for their dedication to nurturing vibrant communities.

Foundations in the Interior region raise funds that support medical equipment, care needs, and innovative local initiatives in their communities. Each organization includes respected community leaders, volunteers and staff who are passionate about meeting the needs of patients and families in Interior Health. Thanks to the generosity of their supporters, we all have a stronger health system.

In this next story of our series on the incredible health-care and hospital foundations throughout our region, we interviewed Sandra (Sandy) Wade, executive director of the Phoenix Foundation of the Boundary Communities.

How long have you been with the Foundation? 

Sandy: I’ve been with Phoenix Foundation since 2021.

Tell us about the focus of your Foundation and why what you do is important?

Sandy: The Phoenix Foundation’s mission is to “Build a Better Boundary.” We do this by investing in funds that have been endowed to us and granting out the proceeds of the investments to non-profit community groups that do work for the betterment of the residents of the West Kootenay/Boundary region.

A gathering of people in a community hall. Tables are spaced around the room covered in blue tablecloths. — Community organizations gather at the Christina Lake Community Hall for the Phoenix Foundation’s 2024 Community Impact Expo. This event brings all the Phoenix grant recipients together in one space to showcase the work that they are doing in the community.

Why did you want to work with the Foundation?

Sandy: Working with the Phoenix Foundation has been a great opportunity to work with individuals who put the community first and pour their time into creating opportunities and experiences for its residents. Building community ties and fostering social inclusion for people who may not be as fortunate as others is important to me.

Do you have any favourite fundraising campaigns?

Sandy: I have too many favourites to count!

Seeing Special Olympics BC – Grand Forks give people with special needs access to bowling alleys and baseball tournaments, and just seeing them with their new uniforms
Watching the Kootenay Robusters build their dragon boat storage shed on Christina Lake while fundraising for breast cancer
Seeing the Boundary Helping Hands feline rescue build a “cat house” and rescue and re-home so many stray cats in the community
Watching small communities flourish with the aid of community groups like the Beaverdell Community Club

A group of people in gym attire pose around a sign that says Dink Master and Christina Lake. One is holding a pickle ball paddle. — Members of the Christina Lake Pickleball Club pose with their new Dink Master, a portable practice unit to help master the techniques of pickleball, at the 2024 Community Expo last spring. In 2019, Christina Lake received the trademark designation of “Pickleball Capital of Canada” for their dedication to promoting the game and recreation in the area.

Is there a particular donation over the years that stands out? 

Sandy: The Phoenix Foundation was gifted a large donation by the Boundary Hospice which recognized that we were supporting the community in ways that would benefit its residents. We also received a large health-care legacy grant from the Grand Forks Credit Union/Gulf & Fraser. This grant benefits health-care services in the Boundary by supporting students in school who are hoping to work in our communities, and by giving the Boundary Hospital resources to begin its own health-care training program in-house.