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From our Executive Director
The past month has been a whirlwind of activity. Most notably, we have completed three grant review processes: our Fall 2020 Community Grants Program, a second round of granting from the federal government's Emergency Community Support Fund (ECSF) and our Regina Rosen Food First Fund.
Watch your inbox for funding announcements shortly.
Having observed the grant review deliberation process this year, I wish to express my sincere gratitude to our volunteer grant reviewers for their diligent and thorough work. It certainly demonstrated the truth of the Aristotle quote that is displayed in our office:
"To give away money is an easy matter and in any (person's) power. But to decide to whom to give it and how large and when, and for what purpose and how, is neither in every (person's) power nor an easy matter."
This year's granting certainly was no easy matter. We had a record number of applications to review which required very thoughtful deliberation and some tough decisions. Our Community Grants Program received 80 applications with funding requests totalling over $1.1 million - the highest we've ever seen. And we received 30 applications with grant requests totalling over $630,000 for funding through round 2 of the ECSF when we only have $164,018 available to grant.
Our reviewers had a lot of work to review all the applications and advise on how to best allocate the funding we had. I was impressed by the calibre of their analysis and discussions and how the group came to their final recommendations.
We look forward to sharing with you the results of these granting rounds once all final approvals are made and results communicated to all applicants.
The pandemic has certainly amplified community needs, and we anticipate needs continuing to be high in the years to come as we recover from the impacts of COVID-19. We are grateful to each and every one of our donors whose support enables us to respond to these community needs. And a special thank you to our Donor Advised fund holders who responded to our call to help us fund more projects through our Community Grants Program this year.
This month we welcome a new fund to the family of funds that support our Community Grants program. See article about the new Marin Pest Management Fund below. As a permanent endowment fund, this fund will increase the amount we have available to grant in 2021 and beyond.
As you think about your year-end giving, please consider a gift to your Community Foundation: either to our pooled Community Fund, or to the fund of your choice. Together, we can invest in our community's long-term well-being.
With best wishes,
Tina Bailey
Executive Director
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New Fund - Marin Pest Management Fund
We would like to thank Sarah and Daniel Marin, owners of Marin Pest Management, for establishing a new Community Fund with us. Marin Pest Management is a local, family-run business that has been serving residential and commercial sites in Kingston and area for three years.
"We wanted to find a way to say thank you to our customers, and to give back in a meaningful way to the very community that has helped us become a successful local business," says Sarah about their motivation for creating the fund. "A friend and fellow small business owner recommended we contact Tina at the Community Foundation, and after talking about our options, this felt like a great fit for us."
Recognizing that community is really about supporting one another, Sarah and Daniel felt that setting up a fund that contributes to the Community Foundation's competitive granting program would maximize the impact of their gift by leveraging the Foundation's knowledge of community needs and granting expertise. In the years to come, the Marin Pest Management Fund will support a wide variety of charities engaging in projects that enrich the lives of those in our community.
We are proud to welcome Marin Pest Management to the Community Foundation's family of funds.
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Zal & Rose Yanovsky Breakfast Fund
In the wake of Covid-19 and public health restrictions, the beloved annual breakfasts at Chez
Piggy and Pan Chancho cannot take place. Not in the same way, that is....
This year, we would like to invite our breakfast guests to pop by and pick up their coffee
and breakfast box TO GO!!
Tuesday, December 8 at Chez Piggy from 7 to 9 AM. Call 613.549.7673 to reserve. Wednesday, December 9 at Pan Chancho from 7 to 9 AM. Call 613.544.7790 to reserve. Call ahead to reserve your coffee and breakfast box to go! Donations to the Zal & Rose Breakfast Fund help support the Food Sharing Project which provides over 6,000 meals each week to students in 88 schools across KFL&A.
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Celebrating the first 25 Years of For Ever
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In our final "Where Are They Now" piece, undertaken in recognition of our 25th anniversary year, we reconnect with Vikram Varma. Vikram served as the Foundation's Executive Director from 2009 to 2013, before passing the reigns over to Tina in May 2013.
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In early 2009, after working in business development for a few years, I found myself "between assignments". Peter Tobias took me out for lunch one day and suggested I spend some time volunteering with a local organization. I was surprised, delighted and intrigued to hear about the Foundation - an organization that raised sustainable funds for local community organizations and initiatives.
Peter introduced me to Florence Campbell, who was leading a new Foundation initiative called Vital Signs, and I assisted Dan Norman, Past President and Chair of Vital Signs Committee with getting the first Vital Signs under way. Around the same time, Glenn Stresman, the Foundation Executive Director resigned to take on the helm of the WindsorEssex Community Foundation. I was encouraged by others to apply for the position.
I met with the hiring committee and a few weeks later, when I had not heard back, called Lynn Harding, the board member who was the HR committee chair. Lynn said they were hesitant to make me an offer due to budgetary restrictions. I told her that the opportunity to work in the community was something I could not pass up, and I was willing to work within their constraints. They made me an offer the next day.
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Board of Directors 2020/21
BOARD MEMBERS LEFT TO RIGHT:
George Wright (Secretary), Greg Fisher (HLM*), Julie Burch, George Thomson, Richard Kizell, Peter Finnegan, Rob Wood (Vice-Chair), Gayle Barr (Chair), Sue Bates, Kalen Ingram, Jonathan Warren (Treasurer), Ian Gemmill, Monica LaBarge, Chris Chard (Past Chair)
Like most organizations now, our board meets virtually.
The Board welcomed Monica LaBarge as a new member in June 2020. Born in Ottawa, she brings to the Foundation's activities a long family history of non-profit involvement. A member of the faculty of the Smith School of Business, her research interests centre around public policy issues in marketing and how marketing can positively affect consumer well-being.
Learn more about all the people who make the work of the Community Foundation happen at cfka.org/people/* Honorary Life Members (HLM) are individuals who have made significant contributions to the Foundation. They are non-voting Board members. HLMs are: Michael Bell, Florence Campbell, Michael Davies, Greg Fisher, Eveline Flint, and Virginia Gordon.
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Give Now: It is the Giving Season
The increased needs caused by COVID-19 will continue well into the future.
Your year-end donation of any amount to the Community Foundation is an investment in your community's long-term well-being.
AN EASY CHOICE: Help the Foundation support a wide range of charities with a single gift to our endowed Community Fund. Or, you can support your favourite charity or cause by giving to one of our over 220 funds or establishing your own fund.
When you give to the Foundation you can have confidence that your
community will continue to benefit from your gift FOR EVER.
Giving Tip!
Do you hold securities that have gained in value? Make a charitable gift of those securities and benefit from a HUGE tax advantage: - You avoid paying income tax on the capital gains.
- You receive a charitable donation receipt for the full market value.
The process is easy: - Use our simple form to transfer securities electronically.
- DO NOT sell them yourself, they must be gifted in-kind.
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We want to hear from you!
Have an idea for a story? A question about the Foundation? Is there something you'd like to learn more about or share with us? Email us at [email protected]
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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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