Organizers of the Parksville Beach Festival were all smiles when presenting the biggest donation cheque in the events history. (Parksville Beach Festival Society/Facebook)

By NanaimoNewsNOW Staff

major donation

Oceanside groups land nearly $70K from successful Parksville Beach Fest

Oct 25, 2019 | 8:06 AM

PARKSVILLE — Philanthropic organizations in the Oceanside region are being handsomely rewarded for the generosity over the summer.

Twenty-five not-for-profit groups who volunteered as greeters at the 2019 Quality Foods Sand Sculpting Competition and Exhibition received donations from the Society who organizes the massive annual event.

Arrowsmith Search & Rescue, Oceanside Hospice and the Parksville Qualicum Adult Literacy Society are among the groups who got a piece of the roughly $69,000.

Members of the Parksville Beach Festival Society said it’s the largest amount of cash given in the lengthy history of the event.

Martha Grier with the Adult Literacy Society said it’s “re-assuring” to see such a strong community support the festival and in turn other organizations.

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“It goes to how important it is that communities work together. This to me is a hallmark of how strong the Parksville community is.”

Twenty-five per cent of gate proceeds go to community projects and philanthropic groups.

The Society said just over $700,000 was donated since 1999.

This year 115,000 people visited the event and enjoyed festivities and world-class sand sculptures.

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