Mortgage Matching Fund

This year marks year three of our five-year campaign to eliminate the Gibsons Public Market mortgage and redirect more than $100,000 annually from debt payments into community programs, services, and support for local producers.

“Len’s creative idea and his leadership gift made this campaign possible,” says Pam Robertson, Board Chair of the Gibsons Community Building Society. “Len challenged us to imagine what we could do for our community if we weren’t spending $100,000 a year on debt payments, then he stepped forward to help make that debt-free future real.”

Currently, a significant portion of the Society’s annual revenue is used to service mortgage debt rather than being invested directly into community impact, programming, and support for local producers and organizations.

“I was inspired to do more to support our community after seeing the incredibly positive
response from multi-generational families to the new Judi ‘Bubs’ Libin Park and Play Centre at Gibsons Public Market,” says Len Libin. “The idea behind a matching campaign is giving members of the community an opportunity to participate and my family is thrilled with the early response.”

The first two years of the Mortgage Matching Campaign doubled $160,000 in donations, raising $320,000 with the support of local donors and leadership gifts of $50,000 each year from long-time supporters Unni and Fred Claridge.

“This is a chance for the whole community to participate in securing the future of a place that belongs to all of us,” said Nancy Cottingham Powell, Executive Director of the Gibsons Community Building Society. “Whether someone can give $25, $100 or $5,000, every dollar moves us closer to a debt-free future and stronger community impact.”

Gibsons resident Len Libin and his family initiated the Mortgage Matching Campaign through the Judi Libin Giving Fund, pledging $400,000 over five years to match every campaign donation dollar for dollar.