The Community Foundation of Portage and District (CFPD) is a non-profit registered charity, formed in 1994 by a group of community minded citizens who saw the benefits of building a "community fund."
Our geographical area is primarily, but not exclusively, the Rural Municipality of Portage la Prairie which includes the following: City of Portage la Prairie, Southport, Newton, Oakville, Poplar Point, St. Ambroise, High Bluff, Delta, MacDonald, and First Nations – Long Plain, Dakota Plains and Dakota Tipi.
The Gilberts Give a Gift of Shares
On Monday, November 23, 2009 , CFPD President Dale Lyle thanked Brent and Debbie Gilbert for their generous gift of shares to the Communty Foundation. “Putting stock in charity is a good thing for everybody,” said Dale Lyle. The $5,000 plus donation will be added to the Brent and Debbie Gilbert Family Fund. Their fund is undesignated which does not place any restrictions on the use of the earnings, thus allowing the Board of Directors to make grantmaking decisions that meet the current priorities and needs of the community.
Brent and Debbie, along with their daughters Kate, Meaghan and Rachel, established their family fund in 2008. Philanthropy has always been a part of the Gilbert family, whether it be serving on a board, a committee, or supporting charities with monetary gifts. Brent was the fourth president of the Community Foundation, serving on the Board from 1999 to 2005. He and his family continue to support the Foundation by helping build the permanent endowment fund for Portage and District.
“When we established our family fund in 2008, we were committed to adding to it on an annual basis,” said Brent. “We are delighted to be able to do so this year with a gift of shares. We would urge other potential donors to consider the benefits of gifting shares to the Community Foundation.”
Everybody wins when you make a gift of appreciated stock to your community foundation. Your gains are put to good use. Your gift of stock is reinvested in your community, and it qualifies for an immediate tax credit equal to the full fair market value.
Giving appreciated stock through a community foundation is a simple, smart, highly rewarding approach to giving. Your Community Foundation can help you fulfill your personal charitable goals. This can include establishing a fund in your name, as the Gilberts have done.
Gifting appreciated corporate shares provides you with special tax advantages. You receive a tax deduction on the full market value of your gift as well as the ability to eliminate the capital gains tax you’d normally pay when selling appreciated stock.
Community Foundation Day - Nov. 14, 2009
“all for community”
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
