From our Executive Director

Lots of news and updates to share with you this month. The articles speak for themselves, but I would like to offer a few personal comments about them:

First, if you have not yet seen the powerful documentary film Resilience (or want to see it again), I encourage you to sign up for one of the free virtual screenings being hosted this summer. Each time I watch it I am struck by the importance of the work we are doing in this space (see Update on ACEs article below). My wish is for everyone in our community to see this film and to become a part of building a resilient community.

Finally, I want to acknowledge the pain being experienced by the horrific discovery of children’s bodies in unmarked graves on former residential school grounds. I cannot quite fathom the depth of the trauma and heartbreak that this discovery – and the actions that led to it – must cause for Indigenous peoples. I was moved by the gesture of love from a local community member in response to the 215-shoe memorial at City Hall, which you can read about in the final article. I encourage all of us to think about actions we can take to be Indigenous allies. We have a lot of work to do. 

With best wishes,



Tina Bailey
Executive Director
Community Builder Award
Congratulations to our third Community Builder Award recipient, Sophie Kiwala.

The award recognizes her leadership in addressing food insecurity, particularly in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Spring 2021 Community Grants
Earlier this month, the Community Foundation released its Spring 2021 Community Grants to 25 local charities. A total of $222,000 was granted for a variety of projects – large and small – but all designed to have big impact and enhance the quality of life in our community.
 
You can view the full list of recently funded projects on our website. Congratulations to recipients and thank you to our donors and fundholders who make these grants possible! 
Videos Capture the Impact of our Latest Granting Round
The Community Foundation’s Spring 2021 Community Grants recipients have been sharing photos and videos celebrating their recent grants and thanking the donors who have made them possible.

Given we cannot hold our traditional in-person grants celebration, our latest grant recipients have been taking to social media to express their thanks and share the impact of their funded projects.

Check out some of these creative videos below:

Follow us on social media (@CFKingstonArea) to see more Community Grants spotlights and to stay up to date with the latest news from the Foundation.

Visit our website for a full list of Spring 2021 Community Grants recipients.
ACEs Update
The Foundation continues to play a leadership role in bringing the community together to raise awareness of and help prevent and mitigate the impacts of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs).

Visit our website to read about recent ACEs activities including how you can register to attend a FREE screening of the powerful documentary Resilience, the film that at each screening we are consistently told: “everyone needs to see”.
Matching Grant Opportunity for Local Charities
Last week we announced a matching grant opportunity for local charities looking to develop their own sustainable source of funding.

The Community Foundation is matching funding of up to $10,000 for local charities wishing to establish a new endowment fund. A smaller match of up to $1,000 is available to charities that hold existing funds at the Foundation.
 
Visit our website for details about the matching grant opportunity.
 
Response to date has been strong, showing that charities are looking at creative ways to fund their important work into the future. Charities are asked to send their expressions of interest to tina@cfka.org by June 30th so we can ascertain interest before confirming the match we can offer with our available funds. (Or, if you are with a charity and reading this for the first time after that date, reach out anyway – we will try to help as many charities as we can).
Speaking of Agency Funds...
Before we announced our match for Agency endowment funds, to mark their 17th birthday, the Land Conservancy of KFL&A kicked off a fundraising campaign for their fund at the Foundation.

Their Natural Areas Protection Fund ensures they have ongoing stewardship funds to maintain Land Conservancy properties forever. Their goal is to raise $17,000 by the end of the summer.

The Foundation is pleased to offer a dollar-for-dollar match for their first $1,000 raised. Donations to their fund to help protect natural spaces can be made here:
Tha'teioneniienawa'khontie:
In the Spirit of Cooperation

Our hearts are heavy as we continue to learn of the hundreds of children buried in unmarked graves on former residential school grounds. It is an atrocity, and our hearts are with Indigenous communities.

In a time of such pain, we wanted to share a gesture of love that these horrific events inspired.

We were approached by a local community member who was moved by the memorial of 215 shoes at Kingston City Hall and the sacred fire that burned across the street. This person spent some time with the organizers and shared that it was “a beautiful, moving tribute that speaks truth directly to everyone’s hearts.”

They proceeded to make a $10,000 anonymous donation to the Tha’teioneniienawa’khontie: In the Spirit of Cooperation Fund with the following message:

“With our donation we would like join in the spirit of this wonderful fund as way to honor these 215 children and the many that remain to be brought home. They bring a message straight to the hearts of all caring compassionate citizens. We hope in some small way it says to anyone out there; that they were loved and never forgotten. “

The Tha’teioneniienawa’khontie: In the Spirit of Cooperation Fund was established at the Foundation last year by another anonymous donor. The fund name (phonetic pronunciation) and purpose were established in consultation with local Indigenous community leaders.

While funding is not the only answer to the reconciliation and reparation that is needed, it is an important part. The donor thought that instead of a few large donors, it would be more heartwarming and impactful if hundreds of small donors showed support for the fund.

We invite you to make a gift of any amount to show your support as well. To make a gift to this fund, please click the following link: https://www.canadahelps.org/en/dn/47780.

There is still much work to do as this country moves towards reconciliation with Indigenous peoples. We encourage you to continue to learn and think about other individual actions you can take to support the Truth and Reconciliation process. Visit the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) of Canada’s website to see their final report and calls to action.
Office Closed: July 2, 2021
The office will be closed on July 1st & 2nd, reopening on July 5th.
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