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From our Executive Director
On this unusually cold Spring day, I know I am not the only one looking forward to warmer, brighter days ahead - both literally and metaphorically. Until then, I hope this newsletter brings you a little sunshine, as it is full of gratitude for our wonderful volunteers and highlights the impact of some of our recent granting.
In addition to recognizing our dedicated Community Foundation volunteers (see article below), I wish to express deep gratitude to the staff and volunteers of the many local charities who are working hard to make our community a better place for all. I know this past year has been very tiring; yet you keep going. Thank you. We are honored to help support the work you do.
It has been a challenging year for everyone - individuals, charities, and the people they serve. Sunnier days are ahead of us. In the meantime, be kind to yourselves, and each other. Remember that small kindnesses can have a huge impact. With best wishes,
Tina Bailey
Executive Director
PS - Shortly we will be announcing the results of our latest Community Grants round which will invest another quarter million dollars in the work of local charites. Stay tuned for some more good news!
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Thank you to our volunteers.
For National Volunteer Week the Community Foundation would like to thank our volunteers for their continued support and dedication.
This year, National Volunteer Week runs from April 18 to 24 with the theme: The Value of One, The Power of Many. With 85 active volunteers - who take on roles as members of our Board & various committees, reviewing grant applications, and helping at events - we can certainly relate to this powerful statement. The Community Foundation relies on our volunteers to not only carry out vital operations, but to help strengthen our vision and reach within the community. Our work would not be possible without these incredible individuals. The impact of our volunteers was only heightened last year with the effects of the pandemic. Early on we discovered their willingness to adapt and their continued commitment to helping the Foundation during these unprecedented circumstances. Our Board and committees quickly transitioned to a virtual setting, and our Grants Committee found innovative ways to review and discuss grant applications virtually. The work of these volunteers was essential to successfully meeting increased community need. The Community Foundation has grown significantly over the years and we have remained a strong supporter of the community because of the hard work of our wonderful volunteers. Thank you!
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Your community has been challenged by the pandemic. The Community Foundation was, and continues to be, there to respond to emerging community needs.
But where does our funding come from?
Our granting resources typically come from over 220 endowment funds; funds established and donated to by people like you, as well as local businesses and organizations. Donations of any amount - small or large - are pooled together to establish a strong ripple effect in our community. This year we were fortunate to also receive over $500,000 from the Government of Canada's Emergency Community Support Fund, providing even greater granting capacity.
For Good We create and inspire community connections and strive to stimulate new ideas, build participation, and strengthen community philanthropy. In 2020 we granted over $1.5 Million to a wide range of registered charities and projects that helped to build a more caring, healthy, and vibrant community. We are a "360-degree grant provider". We take a broad view of community in our granting programs and are proud to provide grants to all sectors of need that strengthen and enhance the quality of life in the communities we serve. For Ever Our endowment fund model ensures that every dollar donated to us benefits the community - For Ever. Income earned is used to provide charitable grants every year. Donations to the Community Foundation are an investment in your community in perpetuity. To learn more visit: https://cfka.org/what-how-we-fund/ For All We serve and support any charity in Kingston & Area. ALL charities in the City of Kingston, the Frontenac Counties, and Loyalist Township are welcome to apply for grants. To date, we have funded over 365 local charities through our Community Grants program (see full list here ). We thank you for your generosity and so do our Fall Grant Recipients. Head over to our YouTube channel to view a few short videos expressing thanks from the organizations doing the frontline work to enrich our communities. "We are so excited to receive these funds that will go towards our Volunteer Program. The volunteers support our women, children and youth through our different services that we offer. Thank you." Leigh Martins, Interval House Kingston.
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Small Grant - Big Impact
The South Frontenac Museum is generously supported by the Township of South Frontenac but is operated by the not-for-profit South Frontenac Museum Society.
The Museum applied to the Community Grants Program in the Fall of 2020 to help upgrade their computer system which consisted of a unit purchased in 2014 and an old borrowed laptop.
The purchase of the two new laptop computers will assist in the efficient acquisition of artifacts and secure the Museum's archives and operational files. They will
assist in the Museum's website development and social media presence. They will be able to display our exhibits, encourage new membership and visitors and provide virtual educational history lessons for adults and children.
"We are so grateful to the Community Foundation for Kingston & Area for this vote of encouragement, especially in these COVID-19 times, when our operations and fundraising plans have been so disrupted. We have just completed transferring all our files and artifacts to these computers and are very happy with the ease of accessibility that they have provided and the professional final results. We deeply appreciate this investment in our Museum's future." - John McDougall, President
"This generous grant has allowed the Museum to moderize antiquated computers to new systems that can handle cataloguing of collections and archiving of records past and future. Thank you Community Foundation for Kingston & Area" - Mayor Ron Vandewal, Township of South Frontenac
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Food Boxes Delivered to Seniors 55+ during COVID-19
Kingston Community Health Centres (KCHC) are grateful to the Community Foundation of Kingston & Area for receiving an Emergency Community Support Fund grant of $16,507; funding administered in partnership with the Government of Canada. The grant provided 600 seniors who are 55+ with monthly free Food Boxes containing fresh produce and staple food items from January to March 2021.
KCHC started this program in April of 2020 as a response to the COVID-19 crisis when seniors were being told to stay home and stay safe. As the impacts of the pandemic continue, many seniors are still struggling to get nutritious groceries, and the need for the Food Boxes remain high.
Thanks to the support of Tony Deodato and Sons, Grant's No Frills and Hogan's Honey, KCHC is able to provide seniors with a box of food worth $35, but pay only $25 per box. When the pandemic started, KCHC had planned to provide 200 free boxes, but this quickly grew to 400 a month. Thanks to the support of funders like the Community Foundation and the United Way, we were able to meet this demand; however, we now have a waiting list.
Prior to COVID-19, KCHC supported the Good Food Box program, a bulk buying club where Kingston residents could purchase quality, affordable, and fresh produce. Monthly, residents would place an order at one of 30 local host sites and take delivery of their box at that site. When the pandemic hit, many of the host sites closed and folks were left with no option to purchase the box. KCHC quickly moved the program to an on-line ordering system and partnered with our friends at Loving Spoonful to deliver the boxes right to people's front door.
While the Good Food Box is an affordable option, with a large box selling for only $17 providing fresh produce for a family of four; it is still unaffordable for many during this unique time. Thanks to the support of funders we were able to make 250 free boxes available to those struggling to pay the bills.
Both the free Seniors' Food Box and the Good Food Box now have waiting lists. However, one wonderful thing that has happened is that many of the Good Food Box paying customers have stepped up to help their neighbours, purchasing a box for themselves and one for their neighbour! This has allowed us to take names off the waiting list and help those who are in need.
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Our Latest Food First Fund Recipients
Community charities that provide food related supports to their residents continue to experience the effects of COVID-19. The organizations receiving grants from the Regina Rosen Food First Fund provide for the basic provision of healthy food to vulnerable populations. During the pandemic demand has grown at the same time as organizations experience a decrease in donations as well as extra costs to ensure that their staff, volunteers and clients remain safe.
Congratulations to our grantees!
Northern Frontenac Community Services For the purchase of emergency food vouchers for community members in need. Kingston Interval House Robin's Hope Housing will purchase food boxes for their residents. Martha's Table Martha's Table will purchase sanitizers and other disposable items for food safety in their meal program. HIV/AIDS Regional Services (HARS) Preparation of take-away meals for clients will be supported with the grant. Kingston Youth Shelter The shelter will use the funds to purchase groceries to provide food for their clients. YMCA of Eastern Ontario Youth 5-14 in North-End/Rideau Heights area will benefit from the purchase of supplies to safely prepare meals.
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Youth Diversion Sustainability Fund Matching Campaign
Youth Diversion is running a fund matching campaign to support their Sustainability Fund, one of 25 agency funds that the Community Foundation holds to support local charities. This means that donations made to their fund can be doubled throughout the month of April.
Youth Diversion has been helping children, youth and families in Kingston, Frontenac, Lennox and Addington overcome challenges by providing programs and services that target behaviour, substance use, schooling, trauma and conflict with the law. 1,400 young people and their families are provided direct care every year to help mitigate the challenges of adolescents and to teach and reinforce the skills necessary to experience success.
The fund matching campaign was made possible thanks to Susan Creasy from Susan Creasy Financial INC., who provided a matching gift of $10,000 to help grow the Youth Diversion Sustainability Fund. Established with the Community Foundation by Brad French and Alliance Wireless, this endowment fund ensures Youth Diversion has access to much needed sustainable funding for now and into the future.
Click here to learn more about this campaign and the work of Youth Diversion.
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To learn more about how charitable agencies can set up a fund with the Community Foundation, please visit our website.
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RBC Future Launch Community Challenge Vital Conversations
This month, the Community Foundation for Kingston & Area co-hosted Vital Conversation: Kingston's Youth Voices with the Kingston Immigration partnership (KIP).
We asked newcomer youth two questions:
If you could wave a magic wand, what would the future look like for newcomer youth in Kingston?
What would it take to make that a reality? What would help it to happen? What would it look like?
We are so grateful that this group of engaged youth took the time to share their thoughts and ideas with us. We heard some very honest and thoughtful responses. To read more about this impactful conversation, including what we heard and suggested actions, visit our website.
As a Community Foundation, we have challenged ourselves to seek out granting opportunities with an Equity, Diversity and Inclusion lens and be strategic with our 'for youth, by youth' funds. We look forward to continuing the conversation with youth leaders about how these funds can be granted to address their needs.
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Happy Earth Day!
In addition to funding environmental projects through our Field of Interest Funds, the Community Foundation is honoured to hold endowment funds for charities focused on preserving natural spaces and providing environmental education.
Click on the links below to donate to these incredible funds and help support their ongoing work:
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Community Foundation for Kingston & Area | 613.546.9696 | www.cfka.org
Copyright © 2020 Community Foundation for Kingston & Area, All rights reserved.
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Our mailing address is: Community Foundation for Kingston & Area 275 Ontario Street
Suite #100 Kingston, ON K7K 2X5 Canada
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