TRURO - Almost 40 years after Harold Bethel’s death, the money he left to the Rotary Club of Truro has been dispersed.
The club received $400,000 from Bethel’s estate to be donated to charitable organizations.
“We decided as a club that we didn’t want the money to sit. The need is out there now,” said Kevin Quinlan, club president. “We kept around $100,000 to be used later, but we wanted to make a difference.”
Bethel was a founding member of the Truro Rotary Club and served as its fourth president (1929-1930). He also served as manager of Acadia Trust, a predecessor to Scotia Trust, during the 1950s and ’60s.
As part of his will, drawn up in 1967, four trusts were established alongside the club’s: St. Andrew’s United Church; the Governing Council of the Salvation Army Canada; Acadia University; and Pine Hill Divinity Hall. The will, however, stated the groups were to receive $5,000 per year until the estate’s funds were exhausted, something that was appealed.
The appeal was successful at the end of July last year, releasing approximately $400,000 to all five trusts.
“It was such an honour for the Rotary Club to be able to give out this money,” said Quinlan. “It was a bit of a process to work on that appeal.”
When the appeal was approved, a five-person committee was struck to first determine what “charitable works” meant now, compared to when the will was drafted.
“The committee then did a community scan to see what clients we’ve supported over the years, what clients we hadn’t supported in awhile, and what new clients we could support,” said Quinlan.
The recipients range from local organizations to some in the province, as well as an international program.
The club purchased $15,000 in grocery store gift cards for both the Colchester Food Bank and Colchester East Hants Hospice Society.
“That will make a huge difference,” said the club president.
International projects are part of the Rotary organization’s mandate, and $10,000 is going to a primary school project in Befang, Cameroon, Africa.
“One of our Rotarians, Lydia Sorflaten, and her husband have been involved with this project, to renovate buildings that are literally falling apart. Thanks to this donation, school can be renewed,” said Quinlan.
Twitter: @TDNRaissa
Recipients of the Harold Bethel Trust through Rotary Club of Truro:
- Befang Primary School Project: $10,000
- Maggie’s Place: $7,000 for supplies and parental assistance program
- Aids/HIV: $1,000 grant
- Scotia Pool: $8,500 for a pool lift for disabled pool users
- Colchester Food Bank: $15,000 in grocery store gift cards
- Colchester East Hants Hospice Society: $15,000 toward the Food From the Heart program
- Syrian refugees: $17,500
- Bright Skies: $36,000 to support a summer camp for disabled children
- IWK: $50,000 for the pediatric intensive care unit
- Colchester East Hants Health Centre: $10,000 for the TLC program
- Boys and Girls Club of Truro and Colchester: $50,000 toward club renovations
- Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation Truro chapter: $10,000 toward the national insulin pump program
- St. Vincent de Paul: $2,000 grant for community assistance program
- Sledge funding request: $7,878.65 for adult sledges
- Nova Scotia Health Authority Early Years Project: $9,000 for supplies for two schools to promote health eating habits, school readiness
- Third Place Transition House: $10,000 grant
- Camp Tidnish: $25,000 for repairs
- Juvenile Arthritis Camp Join Together at Brigadoon Village: $10,000 to send 10 children to camp
Truro Daily News May 8, 2016
The Rotary Club of Truro was pleased to induct a new member at it's regular meeting on May 8th . Jean Morris is a speaker, trainer and coach at The John Maxwell Team and an Occupational Health Nurse at Colchester East Hants Health Authority. Rotarian Lech Krywonos is Jean's sponsor.
Food bank representative Mary DeAdder accepted a donation totalling $15,000 from the Rotary Club of Truro. Making the presentation was Rotarian Ken Maclean. 
The Rotary Club or Truro used a portion of the Bethel Trust money to make a donation of $10,000 to Third Place Transition house. Pictured accepting the cheque from Rotarian Sharon Corcoran (right) on behalf of the organization is Sandra Falle.