It’s a way to drive home the message.
Manitoba’s specialty licence plate program, which gives organizations the chance to display their brand one vehicle at a time, also raises money, which is especially important for smaller groups or causes that often lack publicity and have difficulty fundraising.
While it’s no surprise the Winnipeg Jets and Blue Bombers teams have the highest number of plates on the road, Basketball Manitoba’s plate has been a boon for the organization.
“It’s … exposure for the sport, just people being able to show their love for the game in a different way that we would normally not have the chance to, on their vehicle,” Adam Wedlake, executive director of Basketball Manitoba, said. “And (it’s) a way to raise some funds well.”
The Basketball Manitoba plate is the eighth most popular of the province’s 14 specialty plates, per figures provided by Manitoba Public Insurance as of July 15.
The organization has sold 2,150 of the vanity plates since they were released in 2017.
Each plate costs the vehicle owner $70, with $30 going to the corresponding charity. As a result, the Basketball for Life Fund has been able to raise roughly $65,000.
Wedlake said it takes an average of $500 to help one person start playing basketball. The organization tries to reduce barriers for players who are new to the sport.
“The fund is there to reduce or eliminate as many costs to young people getting involved in basketball at a variety of levels and around Manitoba,” Wedlake said. “The goal is to get more people involved in our sport.”
Basketball helps youth build friendships and shared experiences while helping develop a life-long love of sport, Wedlake said, adding other sports help do the same.
The sport has steadily been gaining popularity in the province, thanks partially to the arrival of the Winnipeg Sea Bears. The funds raised from the licence plates help support that growth.
Wedlake said he encourages his staff members, family and friends to purchase a plate. His car is fitted with the second Basketball Manitoba plate ever issued. The first is on display at the Manitoba Basketball Hall of Fame and Museum.
Melissa Rogers, the Winnipeg Humane Society chief administrative officer, said she’s happy whenever she spots a plate for the animal charity.
“It’s so incredible to see a bunch of WHS ambassadors driving around the city,” Rogers said in a statement.
“It makes your heart swell when you pull up behind someone with a WHS plate to know they’re so proud to support us, that they’ll put it on their car.”
The specialty plate, originally released in 2014 and redesigned for the organization’s 125th anniversary in 2019, has raised more than $259,000.
Its the fifth most-popular plate in the province with 8,865 total sales, just behind the Snoman (Snowmobilers of Manitoba) plate.
The humane society puts the money toward food, medical care and shelter for the more than 10,000 animals it takes in every year, Rogers said. The funds also support its food bank, behaviour helpline and emergency boarding programs.
The plates are a way to give “a little extra thanks” to donors, Rogers said.
The Jets, Blue Bombers and Jets heritage plates are the top three sellers, with a combined total of 121,714 sold since the program started and more than 79,000 still in use.
The remaining $40 from the purchase of a specialty plate covers the cost of production, shipping and taxes. All Manitoba licence plates are made by Waldale Manufacturing in Amherst, N.S.
The recently approved 15th plate will be a nod to provincial parks and add cash to an endowment fund that pays for improvements to facilities in the 93 sites. The plate, which was championed by Tory MLA Greg Nesbitt, is in the design stage.
Nesbitt has said he was inspired by B.C.’s park licence plate, which depicts that province’s forests, mountains and lakes.
MPI said it’s reviewing the program and is not taking new applications. Organizations that previously applied or showed interest in creating a plate will be contacted when the program reopens, a spokesperson said in an email statement. There is no timeline on when it might take new applications.
jura.mcilraith@freepress.mb.ca