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The Clinton Orr & Jodi Ruta Community Builder Fund grants scholarships to graduating students from the Ecole Edward Schreyer School Catchment Area in Beausejour, Manitoba. Each year, the Fund, administered through the Brokenhead River Community Foundation, awards $4,000 to two students who show strong leadership and service to their community. The Fund was made possible through a donation of $202,000 to the BRCF—the biggest single donation in the Foundation’s history. Clinton Orr and his wife Jodi Ruta are passionate about community involvement. They aim to inspire young people to become leaders and help their communities.
Q: Clinton, can you tell us about what inspired you and Jodi to create the Clinton Orr & Jodi Ruta Community Builder Fund?
Clinton Orr: We believe that when young people pursue service work and strive to make a positive change in their communities, it has a tremendous ripple effect on both their lives and the lives of the community. In our own lives, we’ve found community service to be immensely satisfying. We became familiar with the needs of animal shelters when we adopted our rescue dog, Bubba, and when he passed, we set up the Pet Life Animal Fund in his honour to help shelters fund the costs of medical care for pets waiting for adoption. The feeling of giving back to the community has enriched our lives so much, and we wanted to create a scholarship to incentivize active community involvement. We hope it will encourage students to keep the spirit of service and leadership going, long after they finish school.
Q: What’s the main goal of the Community Builder Fund?
Clinton Orr: The Fund supports graduating students from the Ecole Edward Schreyer School Catchment Area who show strong leadership skills and a commitment to community service. Each year, two students are awarded $4,000 for exceptional dedication and service. We hope the Fund will help inspire the students to keep contributing to their communities and become future leaders for many years to come.
Q: What makes this scholarship different from others?
Clinton Orr: We focus on more than just grades. Yes, school success matters, but we wanted an award that specifically valued community engagement, like volunteering or organizing local events. It’s about social responsibility and showing students that their efforts matter. It’s designed for students who might not be at the top of their class, but who have a heart for service and a desire to work hard to meet the requirements of this award.
Q: How has the partnership with the Brokenhead River Community Foundation helped with the Fund’s mission?
Clinton Orr: Working with the Foundation has been amazing. We were able to make a donation of over $200,000 to the Foundation, which helped us set up the Fund. They manage our donation in a way that we know will benefit students. The Foundation has a long history of supporting local projects and administering scholarships, so we trust them completely.
Q: What are your goals for the future of the Fund?
Clinton Orr: We want to expand its reach and spread more awareness in the community, so that even more young people can benefit from it. We’d also love to see individuals and organizations create similar initiatives to support community-driven projects. If we can keep growing this network of support, we can help young people become leaders and make a real difference.
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