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First Named Fund created within the Oakville Community Fund
“Arnold and Wendy Blight are great advocates for their community,” said Barney Christianson, Chair of the Community Foundation of Portage and District. “Once again they have demonstrated, in concrete terms, the strength of that commitment by supporting today’s needs and building for a better future tomorrow with another generous donation.”
The Blights handed over a cheque for $3,000 in December to be added to an earlier donation of $2,000 to create the Arnold and Wendy Blight Fund within the Oakville and District Community Endowment Fund. The principal from the Fund will never be spent, only the interest earned will be forwarded yearly to the Oakville Community Club to be used to support community projects in the Oakville area.
Arnold said, “Wendy and I feel it is important to give back as others have before us. Many have given time to make our younger years so enjoyable. Growing up in a small community such as Oakville, we were always given the chance at using and enjoying whatever facilities the community had to offer. Most of them, rink, ball diamond, community hall, etc were run by volunteers from all families involved and fundraising took place from within. In this day and time that remains important with a lot of people giving of their time to make it possible for children and adults alike to enjoy what this community has to offer. The need for funding will always be present to sustain these benefits.”
Arnold continued by saying, “The Oakville Endowment Fund is a wonderful vehicle to help raise and distribute funds permanently supporting the needs and wants of the community. Hopefully more will see fit to continue to contribute to the Fund so the community can and will survive.”
“The Blight family have been involved in and supporters of the community for generations,” stated Len Essay, CFPD’s Oakville Rep. “I have always been proud to say I am from Oakville. When you see kids like Arnold Blight, that you saw grow up in Oakville, supporting the Oakville Endowment Fund, it makes you say ‘I believe in the fund that lasts forever’.”
In 2011, Oakville Community Club President Larry Hodgson accepted a cheque for $3,850 from CFPD‘s Oakville Rep Len Essay. The dollars will be used to support community projects in the Oakville area.
Back in 2007, to start the Fund, a $50,000 gift to the Community of Oakville from the Blair Morrison Estate was used to match the dollars received from individuals, groups and businesses. This past year $13,020 was added to the Oakville Fund. The Fund has grown to $123,162and so far the Oakville Community Club has received $11,324 to support community projects.
To learn more about leaving a legacy for Oakville and district by creating a named fund within the Oakville Endowment Fund, please call either Len Essay at 267-2630 or Karen Braden at 274-2442 or e-mail cfpd@mts.net