When my wife Jodi and I decided to create the Clinton Orr & Jodi Ruta Community Builder Fund, we had a simple goal: to recognize and reward young people who dedicate their time to building stronger, more connected communities. 

The Community Builder Fund, administered by the Brokenhead River Community Foundation, will award two $4,000 scholarships to graduating students in the École Edward Schreyer School Catchment Area who demonstrate exceptional civic-mindedness and a commitment to service. It’s a privilege for Jodi and I to be able to incentivize young people to pursue community service.  

We believe that service provides unique opportunities to grow in ways that classroom achievements or athletic success may not. When students engage with their community, they develop empathy by seeing the challenges others face. These experiences are powerful, and they help people to become not only more skilled but also more socially aware.

There are critical life skills that come from volunteering, like problem-solving, leadership, and resilience. For example, organizing a food drive or mentoring younger children requires resourcefulness and initiative—qualities that are just as important in a professional setting as academic accomplishments. By encouraging students to give their time and talent to causes they care about, we want to help them grow into compassionate, capable adults.

Scholarships traditionally reward academic excellence or athletic ability, and these certainly deserve recognition. However, these awards often overshadow other forms of achievement. Community service and volunteering rarely get the same attention, despite the profound impact they have on young people and their communities.

Volunteerism builds a sense of belonging and responsibility to others and to society that becomes invaluable as young people grow into their careers. It helps them believe in their ability to create meaningful change, both locally and nationally. We hope these scholarships will bring attention to the value of volunteering and encourage more young people to see themselves as community builders.

Recent statistics from StatCan show that 74% of Canadian youth feel it is important to be active in their communities. But since COVID 19, the rates of volunteerism have dropped, for obvious reasons. Now that health risks have been minimized, pathways to service need to be refreshed. We hope that the Clinton Orr & Jodi Ruta Community Builder Fund can be a small part of building the leaders of tomorrow—leaders who prioritize compassion and collaboration alongside personal success.