Foundation News
New Year Honours list gives cause for double celebration for SYCF
31st December 2009
CELEBRATIONS are in order after South Yorkshire Community Foundation CEO Pauline Grice received an MBE for work done to help those affected by the devastating floods of June 2007.
The award comes as fantastic recognition of all the hard work that was put in by Pauline and her team to help victims of the floods through the South Yorkshire Flood Disaster Relief Fund.
The cause for celebration at SYCF was in fact two-fold, with one of the charity's trustees, Alan Sherriff, also receiving an MBE for his services to the communities of South Yorkshire.
Pauline said: "To have received this award makes me extremely proud of the work that has been done by the South Yorkshire Community Foundation to assist people in our area to rebuild their lives after the floods hit.
"We all dream of being in a working environment where we are making a positive difference to peoples' lives on a daily basis, and the team at SYCF has this privilege.
"It is now well over two years since the floods, and I think this award recognises how important our efforts were in the long term as well as the short term. We were just glad we could help."
The Flood Relief Fund set a target to raise £500,000 to help flood victims, a figure that was completely surpassed with £1.6 million being raised and distributed through the fund.
"The response to the floods constituted a massive team effort, and everyone played their part exceptionally well.
"We managed to play a pivotal role in uniting local councils, media, businesses, volunteers and donors behind the common goal of helping those severely affected by the floods.
This is not the first formal recognition received to honour the vital flood recovery work performed since June 2007.
The Flood Fund was named Best Local/Regional Campaign and Best Fundraising Team at the Institute of Fundraising Awards 2008, and claimed the gong of Best Finance Team at the Third Sector Excellence Awards 2008.
Pauline added: "In our administration of the Flood Fund, we were doing what we have been since 1986; connecting people who care to causes that matter.
"People in South Yorkshire are some of the most generous in the country, and through the South Yorkshire Community Foundation are able to direct that generosity to have the greatest impact possibe on local communities."
