By Lisa Parent

Be YOUth Centre staying open after generous donation from company

Jun 5, 2023 | 4:33 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB – A month ago, the Be Youth Centre announced their intent to close due to a lack of funding.

This meant disappointment for youth relying on the centre to make friends and feel welcome.

However, a few days ago, a company based out of Swift Current gave a generous donation to the centre. The donation came from S3 Group, an agricultural manufacturing company.

This donation means the centre will be staying open, with funding set for the next two years.

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S3 Group is expanding into Medicine Hat, and spoke to the city about potential investments in the community. Once Richelle Andreas of S3 Group heard about the Be Youth Centre, she knew it was something that needed to be saved.

This donation was greatly appreciated. After hearing the news, many kids of the Be Youth Centre cried tears of joy.

Co-executive director of the centre Maddy Thurott says, “they were very happy. There was tears, but good tears this time.”

CEO of S3 Group Richelle Andreas commented on why they made the donation.

“The type of company we are, we like to give back. And specifically if there’s an opportunity to give back to something that makes families and communities stronger, we want, that’s the kind of sponsorship that we wanna do,” says Andreas.

The Be Youth Centre will also be staying in the same building, after reaching an agreement with the landlord to lower rent prices. Thurott says the landlord has a soft spot for the kids, and wanted to help them stay open.