Three new signs mark the ongoing work of Powell River Community Foundation to build a permanent endowment for the region.
Manufactured by Compuwood Mfg. Ltd., the three signs have been installed on Joyce Avenue beside the Thunder Bay Store, on Highway 101 beside the new Rotary Club of Powell River sign and in the parking lot at Crossroads Village between McDonald’s and the Shell station.
The foundation recently held its annual general meeting, during which the board of directors was elected and winners of funding awards were presented with their grants.
The foundation is one of close to 200 charitable entities established across Canada, providing a place for donors to endow their gifts in order to make a difference in their community. Monetary donations are invested and the interest accumulated is used to support local charities as they in turn support the community through their actions. This means that the original sum donated is retained in perpetuity and only the interest is dispersed.
Gifts come in all different sizes, from a donation made in lieu of flowers at the death of a friend, to the bequest of an entire estate written into a will. Gifts qualify for reductions on income tax.
Real Sigouin, outgoing president, provided an overview of the foundation’s activities in the last year. “All of our committees are working very hard raising the awareness of Powell River Community Foundation locally,” he said.
Raising the awareness will help to motivate people to make contributions to the foundation, Sigouin added. “That’s going to leave a lasting legacy for Powell River,” he said. “That’s the whole intent for the board. We want to make sure that we leave something behind.”
The foundation focuses on seven areas of need: health; arts and culture; social justice; education; environment and parks; children and youth; and seniors.
Ross Cooper, whose father, Graeme, was one of the founding members of the foundation, is the new president. “There is so much enthusiasm on the board of directors,” he said. “I feel like you have a very energetic horse and I’ve just been asked to ride it along for another year.”
Paul Schachter, vice-president, presented the awards. “This is the part that we really do like,” he said. “It’s the part that inspires us to do what all of you do, which is work so hard for the community.”
A community foundation has as its mandate that people on the board have to know the community, Schachter said. “It’s the people who actually work in the community who have to be on the board of the community foundation, because it’s really important for the movement of community foundations throughout Canada that the money goes to the people who we know are doing the work,” he said.
Grants were presented to the Kiwanis Housing Society, Lund Community Society, Malaspina Art Society, Powell River Sea Cadets Corps Malaspina and PRISMA (Pacific Region International Summer Music Academy).
Other members of the board include: Sharon Sawyer, secretary; Paula Knapton, treasurer; Kathy Bowes; Ed Frausel; Charlie Kregel; Frances Ladret; Sean Melrose; Jeff Sauve; and Sheona Scott.
More information about the organization is available on its website, as well as on Facebook.
