Community Foundation Day - Nov. 14, 2009
Community Foundation Day has special meaning this year for the Community Foundation of Portage and District Inc (CFPD). The organization is celebrating 15th years of philanthropic work in the community. CFPD salutes the community for believing in the community foundation concept. A great deal of thanks goes to the many donors from all walks of life who have come together to help build a lasting legacy for the City and Rural Municipalities of Portage la Prairie.
The permanent endowment fund balance is nearing $2.4 million and growing. President Dale Lyle says” this year we want to focus on the size of the fund.” The donations are pooled in a permanent income earning fund; the principal is never spent. Earnings from the fund are used to support innovative projects and organizations from every sector of the community.
CFPD’s goal is to help individuals and groups make an ongoing difference in their community. Along with the generous support of other foundations, CFPD has given in grants $1.3 million to support local initiatives. Over the past 15 years, social services received 15% of the dollars awarded, ArtsSmarts 38%, arts 7%, culture 7%, education 11%, sports and recreation 13%, environment 2%, seniors 4% and health care 3%.
This year, CFPD helped Youth for Christ by providing $5000 for a commercial range hood for the community meeting place in the northeast end. The MS Society received $2,500 for storage units and lighting in their new office space. Big Brothers and Sisters received $1000 for a computer. Another $22,000 went out to schools for bursaries and other awards and $19,000 was designated to specific charities by the donors. More grants are being awarded on Community Foundation Day.
Citizens of all ages are enjoying the benefits - a community that is a better place to live, work and raise a family. CFPD is “all for community”.
Donor Presentation: Youth in Philanthropy (YiP) – Portage Collegiate Institute
Photo: Delaney Page, YiP advisor Jennifer Walld, Jenna Leonhardt,
Kelsey Taylor and CFPD Vice President Ray Johnson
The PCI Youth Advisory Committee Jenna Leonhardt, Delaney Page, Kelsey Taylor and YiP advisor Jennifer Walld are presenting a cheque for $308 to CFPD Vice President Ray Johnson. The dollars, raised over the past few years by previous YiP committees, was added to the Portage Collegiate Institute Philanthropy Fund.
The PCI Fund was created in 2002 when the YiP program was initiated in Portage. Through the generosity of The Thomas Sill Foundation, CFPD and other donors interested in the program, the PCI Fund has grown to $5,754. The earning on the PCI Philanthropy Fund and the AMHS Philanthropy Fund are added to the $2,500 provided by CFPD for the YiP grantmaking program each year. The YiP students research the needs of local charities, decide how their dollars will be best spent and make their recommend to the CFPD Board. Their grants are awarded at the CFPD Annual Report Presentation in June. As the YiP fund grows so does the opportunity for the youth to help organizations with their charitable work in our community.
Grant Presentation: Portage la Prairie Regional Library
CFPD Vice President Ray Johnson presented a cheque for $750 to Librarian Percy Gregorie-Voskamp to renew the license for the online Canadian Directory to Foundations and Corporations. Registered charities may access the Imagine Canada Directory at the library to search for additional funds for their projects. They can phone the library to book time on a laptop provided by CFPD to do their research. To find out if the online directory is useful to charities, the library and the foundation have decided to provide the service for one more year. Charities that use the service are encouraged to share their experience with the CFPD.
Photo: Librarian Percy Gregorie Voskamp and Vice President Ray Johnson
Grant Presentation: Portage 2010 Host Society
CFPD Treasurer John Chapman presented Portage 2010 Host Committee co-chair Jim Malenchak and Ferdi Nelissen with a cheque for $10,000. The dollars will go toward the cost of installing a sound system at the PCU Centre. The system is needed to provide high quality audio for the games and other activities being held at the PCU Centre.
The Portage 2010 Host Society is the driving force that is bringing the 2010 Powersmart Manitoba Winter Games to the Portage la Prairie area. The events take place from March 7 to 13, 2010.
Photo: Jim Malenchack and Ferdi Nelisson (Co-chairs of Portage 2010 Host Society)
and John Chapman (CFPD Treasurer)
Grant Presentation: Portage Stampeders Special Olympics Team
CFPD President Dale Lyle presents a cheque for $1000 to the Portage Stampeders Special Olympics Team. Head coach Cathy Holmes and athletes Brett Miller and Belle Andruschuk accepted the funds. The dollars will be used to purchase sports equipment such as snowshoes, shot-puts and some floor hockey gear.
The Portage Stampeders is a part of Special Olympics Manitoba. The purpose of the program is to give youth between the ages of 8 and 18 years old with an intellectual disability the opportunity to participate in sports to the best of their ability. The goal is to prepare the students for future Special Olympic Games.
Photo: Brent Miller, Coach Kathy Holmes, Belle Andruschuk and President Dale Lyle
Grant Presentation: Yellowquill School – Grade 5 class
CFPD President Dale Lyle presents a cheque for $1,500 to Grade 5 teacher Megan Sloik, resource teacher Jennifer Adamson and Principal Shawn Harkness from Yellowquill School. The dollars will be used to purchase mini laptops for the classroom.
The goal of this project is to study the environmental and economic implications of integrating technology in all subject areas and student assessment. Students will assess classroom paper consumption and the positive impact using less paper in the classroom has on our environment. Students will be immersed in an authentic learning experience on sustainable development and the important role technology plays within our lives.
Photo: Teachers Jennifer Adamson and Megan Sloik and President Dale Lyle
Donor Presentation – Paul Davidson honoured by RBC Asset Management Firm
CFPD President Dale Lyle accepted a cheque for $1000 from Paul Davidson. On behalf of Paul, RBC Asset Management wanted to show their Gratitude for all the business he has given them since joining Austin Credit Union in 2008. Paul who is a Wealth Management Officer at Austin Credit Union requested that the donation go to the Community Foundation of Portage and District Inc to be added to the permanent Endowment Fund. Paul was appointed to the CFPD Board as a Director in September.
Photo: President Dale Lyle and Paul Davidson
Grant Presentation – Portage la Prairie Lions Club Fund - A Donor Advised Fund
Along with CFPD President Dale Lyle, Lions Club President Tom Street presents a cheque for $1000 to Executive Director Tara Pettinger from Portage Plains United Way.
A year ago the Lions Club created the Portage la Prairie Lions Club Fund. Each year earning from the fund go to a registered charity of their choice. This year the Lions Club Advisory Committee selected the Portage Plains United Way.
Photo: Lion’s Club Director Robert Martin, Lion’s Club President Tom Street, United Way Executive Director Tara Pettinger and CFPD president Dale Lyle
Grant Presentation – Portage Literacy and Learning Centre
CFPD President Dale Lyle gave a cheque for $1,500 to Chair Barry Bills and Program Director Kathie Hildebrand from the Portage Literacy and Learning Centre. The organization latest project is the Community Clothes Cupboard. The funds will be used to purchase computer equipment needed to operate the program.
The purpose of the project is to provide people living in poverty to choose and receive appropriate clothing to attain and maintain employment. The project will also provide training and work experience for adults with barriers to employment.
Photo: PLLC Program Director Kathie Hildebrand, CFPD President Dale Lyle
and PLLC Chair Barry Bills
Library receives laptop computer for non-profits to access the online Canadian Directory to Foundations and Corporations
As of April 17, 2009, non- profit organizations will be able to book time on the laptop to access the online Canadian Directory to Foundations and Corporations. This service will be available to all non-profit organizations in search of funding for various purposes. The Imagine Canada Directory provides information on over 3,100 foundations and 150 corporations that invest in the community and is continually updated.
The online Directory can be accessed only on the library’s own-in-house terminal. As the library computers are in high demand, it has been a challenge for community groups to access the program. Those in search of funds for their project will be able to phone the library ahead of time to schedule a convenient time to use the laptop to access the Directory. On their arrival, they will need to ask the library staff for the laptop and the staff will set them up. If an organization has their own laptop, they can bring it to the library and staff will help them access the program.
The Portage la Prairie Regional Library and the Community Foundation of Portage and District are partnering in this project. An anonymous donor has provided funds to purchase the laptop computer. CFPD President Vern Crandell and Head Librarian Percy Gregoire-Voskamp were on hand for the launching of the computer and jointly invite non-profits to come to the library to use this service. Dawn Froese, Big Brothers and Big Sisters was the first to use the laptop to access the online directory.
Administrative Support grant sponsored by Winnipeg Foundation and Manitoba Hydro partnership
Andy Poulton, Manitoba Hydro’s Energy Services Coordinator and Brian Miller, Assistant District Supervisor, presented a cheque for $10,895 to Vern Crandell, President of Community Foundation of Portage and District Inc. The Administrative Support Grants Program is sponsored by the Winnipeg Foundation in partnership with the Manitoba Hydro. The Winnipeg Foundation’s portion equals $8,171 and the top up from Manitoba Hydro is $2,724. This is double the amount CFPD received last year.
The grant is based on a formula involving a number of components related to the 2007 assets and growth. Vern said, “We were number one in the province when it came to the amount added to our Endowment Fund that year.” A total of $573,573 was receipted which included a $313,000 bequest from the James Culbert estate. The program offers administrative support to eligible foundations so that they can focus on building their endowments and growing their grant making capacity. Total amount available each year to share among the 39 foundations is $100,000.
Community Foundation of Portage and District Inc presents seven grants worth $16,288
The Community Foundation of Portage and District Inc (CFPD) is winding up 2008 by presenting two grants from the regular grants program valued at $5,333 and another $10,955 to 5 organizations to fill the commitment of the James Culbert Fund. CFPD President Vern Crandell will present cheques to the following registered charities:
1. Portage Collegiate Institute - Multi-sensory Room - $2,733
CFPD chose to support the development of a Multi-sensory room for the life-skills area of the Portage Collegiate Institute. The Multi–sensory room will provide the teachers with an extra avenue with which to assist special needs students by encouraging independent thinking and acting. It will provide multiple uses including relaxation, therapy, education and stimulation for the students. CFPD President Vern Crandell presents a cheque for $2,733 to life-skills teacher Albert Krynski to assist with the development of the room.
2. Canadian Mental Health Association – Kitchen $2,600
The funds will assist with the development of a kitchen for the Portage Clubhouse. With a new kitchen and appliances, they will be able to add cooking and baking activities for their clients to learn healthy cooking and baking skills. They will encourage clients to participate in preparation, serving and cleanup. Once the kitchen is fully functional they will offer the Kitchen Breakfast Program three days a week using the Canadian Food Guide and advice from a dietician.
3. James Culbert Fund - 5 grants - $10,955
In 2007 CFPD received a bequest from the Estate of James Culbert for $313,000. Mr. Culbert requested that the interest earned from the fund go to five registered charities. CFPD is required by the Income Tax Act to disburse, as grants, to qualified donees a minimum of 3.5% of the value of Fund yearly. The amount available for disbursement this year is $10,955; each charity will receive a cheque for $2,191.
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