From Our Executive Director

Over the past few weeks, I have had the pleasure of speaking with several existing and new donors about their wishes to establish endowment funds at the Foundation – either now, through a future bequest gift, or, as in the story you will read about below, through a combination of both. It’s truly rewarding to hear the shift in people’s voices when we narrow in on exactly what feels right for them: that’s when I know I’m doing my job well.
 
If you’re curious about what is involved in setting up a fund at the Foundation, you can see the four easy steps on our website at cfka.org/createafund or, even better, reach out to me with your questions. I’m here to help! (With zero pressure – I’m here to provide information and ideas to guide people to the decision that feels right to them.)
 
Unintentionally, or perhaps serendipitously, this issue of Waves is focused on legacy giving: all the updates chosen to share with you tie back to individuals, organizations, or families who have decided to work with the Foundation to continue to support the community in areas that are meaningful to them. 
 
Happy reading, and please do reach out with your questions, comments, or ideas.
I can be reached at tina@cfka.org or 613.546.9696.
 
With best wishes,

Tina Bailey
Executive Director
Legacy Fund helps strengthen community well-being

John and Lyn Dundas first met with me in 2015 to plan a bequest gift. Sadly, Lyn passed in April 2018. In revisiting his financial and estate plans (a good idea for everyone every few years, and especially after a major life change), John decided to establish a legacy fund in his late wife’s name now, in addition to the future gift planned through his Will. The L. Carolyn Dundas Fund in support of Mental Health was created to help relieve the pain of people suffering from anxiety and depression, with the goal of preventing suicide.
 
With demand for mental health support increasing due to the pandemic, this fund is needed now more than ever.

“The pandemic has only made things worse for people experiencing mental illness,” says John Dundas about his intent for establishing the fund. “Although it’s a somewhat invisible problem, the anguish suffered by those in need will not go away by itself. I hope this fund will help eliminate the stigma surrounding mental health and enable positive change in our community.”

It is such an honour to meet with people like John and Lyn to explore their interests and help them plan a legacy gift that will be meaningful to them. If you are interested in an initial conversation to explore ideas, we invite you to contact me at tina@cfka.org or 613.546.9696.
Fund Update: Sisters Present $5 Million Gift

It was with both gratitude and excitement, shared by everyone present, that Foundation board members Rob Wood (Chair) and Gayle Barr (Past Chair) met with Sister Sandra Shannon (in middle of photo above) and several other Sisters of Providence of St. Vincent de Paul to receive their change-making $5M gift.

The occasion was marked with the Sisters reading the lyrics of Jan Novotka’s song All I do Today (2002), words chosen to highlight their wishes for this gift and the community:

May all I do today Be for the healing of the whole
May all I do today Mend our broken world
May all I do today Bring blessing on the Earth
May all I do today Be for the good of all

The Sisters’ challenge to the Foundation was to use these funds to stimulate transformative, sustainable, systems-level change in two identified areas of need: to prevent and mitigate the lifelong impacts of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), and to reduce the social isolation and loneliness felt by seniors – both significantly amplified by the experience of COVID-19.

Wanting to achieve immediate and maximum impact from their gift, the Sisters of Providence of St. Vincent de Paul Community Impact Fund is intended to be fully expended on high-impact community initiatives and programs over the next five to ten years.

Work is well underway to address ACEs. Early results from the funding include the delivery of trauma informed training to hundreds of people in the Kingston area. The training has been so well received, that they are working on delivering the training widely across the community. To make this possible, over 40 individuals from a wide range of organizations – from schools to service agencies to city staff – have now been trained as facilitators to deliver this training to staff within their organizations and the community at large.
 
Our work to address seniors’ isolation and loneliness is just getting underway. We welcome your ideas, which can be sent to tina@cfka.org.

We will continue to share updates about this transformational gift over the coming months and years. 
Grant Update: Giving a Boost to Local Youth

Funded by: Marion and John Dunn Fund, Bill and Gladys Kelly Community Fund, Ontario Endowment for Children and Youth in Recreation Fund

BGC South East (formerly the Boys and Girls Club of Kingston & Area) received $7,500 from our Spring 2021 Community Grants program to support their Academic Boost Summer Camp (ABC). The funding went towards subsidized registration fees for over 200 children ages 6-11, helping make this educational program accessible to all.
Stark Family Fund Supports Health Care in Prince Edward County

The Stark Family Fund, held at the Community Foundation, granted $50,000 to the Prince Edward County Memorial Hospital Foundation (PECMHF) earlier this month.
 
The grant will go towards the purchase of an upgraded cardiac monitoring system, which will be used in the County Hospital’s emergency department and inpatient unit. This funding will enable the medical team at PECMHF to better care for and accommodate patients with suspected and diagnosed cardiac conditions.
 
The Foundation’s gift was generously matched by the Beatty Family...
Did you know: Even a small share of your estate left to the Community Foundation can have a BIG impact on our community, while still leaving the majority to your loved ones.

The Foundation helps donors like you create lasting legacies – building a stronger and more enriched community for future generations. Your legacy will live on through causes that you care about and ensure our community’s well-being FOR GOOD ∞ FOR EVER ∞ FOR ALL.

Visit our Will Power page today to learn more, or contact me at tina@cfka.org
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