Staffing Updates

Recently, there have been lots of changes happening at the Kinsmen Foundation Office. Now that the dust has settled a little, we’d thought you might like an update.

For a while now, the staff consisted of an Executive Director and five staff members. But as the funds coming in through TeleMiracle increases, and the funds going out through Kinsmen Foundation grants increases, so has the workload.

With the help of the team at On Purpose Leadership Inc., and the support of the Foundation Board of Directors, our office team has grown to match the current and future needs of our applicants and donors. 

Richard Kies
Executive Director

Richard is responsible for the overall management and business operations, of the Foundation and TeleMiracle, as well as the main contact for planned giving and advertising. 

He reports to the Management Committee of the Kinsmen 
Foundation’s Board of Directors. 

Wendi Cowles
Finance Manager

Wendi deals with all the money coming in through TeleMiracle and all the money going out through the Kinsmen Foundation.

She ensures that donor tax receipts, applicant expense claims, vendor bills and all other finance and accounting matters are dealt with in a timely manner.  

Carman Praski
Fund Development Manager

Carman joined us in February 2022 in the newly created role of Fund Development Manager.

He is tasked with getting more donors, sponsors and other supporters involved in TeleMiracle to help that total go higher!

Geneen Guinan
Grants Manager

Geneen is the first point of contact for the Kinsmen Foundation Board of Directors as well as the thousand or so people who apply for grants each year.

She also makes sure that the applications get through the review process in a timely fashion.

Gina Funk
Associate Finance Manager

Gina is our most recent addition. Her role is to assist the Finance Manager (Wendi) in the day-to-day operations and financial management of the Foundation and TeleMiracle. 

Lori-Anne Klassen
Grants Administrator

Lori takes care of the technical side of Foundation grant applications, including the grant management database, processing expense claims from grant recipients and invoices from equipment vendors. She also looks after meals, accommodations, and venue bookings for the Board of Directors’ meetings.

Diane Brakefield
TeleMiracle Administrator

Diane is the friendly face at our front desk. Her other duties include being the main support person for the TeleMiracle organizing committee, coordinating the ordering and sales of TeleMiracle souvenirs, handling a wide assortment of incoming and outgoing mail/parcels, and a multitude of other administrative tasks.

Brigitte April
Tech. and Marketing Coordinator

Brigitte is our in-house techie. Her primary responsibilities include anything to do with the website, all the social media, and the quarterly newsletter.

She is also involved with the booking of Saskatchewan Talent performers, On-Air Presentations, Corporate Phone Panels, etc. as well as helping out with databases and troubleshooting tech issues.

Amanda Whyte
Grants Assistant

Amanda has been with us since January 2022. Her primary role is to assist Lori and Geneen with processing grants and other administrative tasks.

This includes entering applications into the grant management system, helping process invoices and expense claim forms, and updating  various Foundation forms and records. 

There you have it! 

These are the nine people who work full-time, year round, in the Saskatoon office. They are passionate about the cause and often go above and beyond for the good of the organization. Their efforts support the work that the Kinsmen, Kinettes, and Kin volunteers of the province put in with the organizing of the TeleMiracle telethon, and running the registered charity called Kinsmen Foundation Inc.

We thank them for all that they do!

If you need to reach any of the staff, their contact information can be found on the Contact Us page of this website.

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