Nov 2009 - Vancity Community Foundation

Named Fund Newsletter
November 2009
Vancity Community Foundation Anniversary Events a Great Success!
On October 29, 2009, 200 people gathered at the Vancity
Theatre to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Vancity
Community Foundation. Guests included community partners, grant recipients, donors, VCF current and former Board
of Directors, employees and former employees of VCF, and
supporters from Vancity.
Inside this issue:
20th Anniversary Community Spotlight:
Tradeworks Cus2
tom Products
Just Beginnings
3
Flowers
Named Fund news:
Margaret Mitchell
Biography
4
Kazuko Takahashi
Endowment Fund
Leave A Legacy Brooke Forbes
Community Spotlight
enp
Mount Pleasant
Family Place
5
5
Named Fund listing:
Permanent Named 6
Funds
Encroachable and 7
Flow Through
Charitable Bequest Giving at Death
7
Year End charitable
giving reminder
8
Staff directory
8
With a nod to Vancity‟s former branding, the room was festively decorated with orange
accents. Photographs from 1989 of VCF employees with big hair adorned the walls,
prompting guests to chuckle as they mingled over cocktails in the foyer.
“We multiply goodness by our acting on it.” – David Driscoll, former Executive Director, VCF
At 7 pm everyone entered the theatre proper to watch videos and hear about the history,
work and future of VCF. David Driscoll, former Executive Director of VCF, spoke about the
Foundation‟s beginning and thanked employees for having and realizing a vision of community. He said, “Good has as its benefit not a plus sign. Good has as its benefit a multiplication sign. We multiply goodness by our acting on it.”
The crowd listened to grant recipient Pamela McFarlane describe how a grant from the Mennonite Central Committee,
Future Foundations Program, which was supported by VCF,
gave her the skills and confidence to change her life.
“Instead of fearing challenges, I rose to them,” she says. In
13 years, Pamela went from being a single mother on social
assistance to an employed homeowner who knows she can
provide for her two sons. Through teaching from Future
Foundations Program, she saved enough money to start her own business and pay for a
retrofit on her house. “I have dreams that I now know I can reach,” she says. “I believe
that these programs are fundamental to helping people who live in poverty succeed.”
Derek Gent closed the presentation by speaking about VCF‟s future. He said the Foundation had made a good beginning and expressed his confidence that VCF would build on
this solid foundation. “What I‟ve come to realize,” he said, “is that our organization is a
manifestation of the community itself. We are in the business of connecting values-driven
donors with values-driven work in community. We‟re part of something much bigger than
ourselves as individuals, and I think we‟re just getting started.”
Please feel free to watch and share our 20th Anniversary videos or view
our photo album.
20th Anniversary Event in Victoria…
On Thursday, October 8th,
we journeyed across the water to host a community celebration event and gathered over
60 people from the local community. Hosting the event at the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria
created an historic, yet homey venue to say thanks to these individuals and groups for their
contribution to the Greater Victoria community. Derek, Calvin and Jackie were there to
represent VCF staff, and we were thrilled that Barb McMillan was able to join the celebration on behalf of the Board. Derek said a few words about VCF highlighting how far we
have come over the past 20 years, and explained how excited he is looking forward to our
future. There was so much mingling going on in the room that it was overwhelming but at
the same time, so great to be a part of, and instigator of, renewed contact among those
who want to make a difference in the Victoria community.
VCF Community Building blocks on page 2
Named Fund Newsletter
Page 2
20th Anniversary Event Community Spotlight...
VCF Building Blocks - Together, more becomes possible
Submitted by Derek Gent
To help share in our celebration and to honor the spirit of reciprocity, we commissioned a
special gift for everyone to take away from the event. We were thinking about something
that would have some enduring value. That is symbolic, but functional. Fun but not too
kitchy. Definitely something BC based, made by a social enterprise, and which might encourage more engagement among those we‟ve connected with.
So we came up with the idea of building blocks. We talked to our friends at Tradeworks
Custom Products for their expert assistance. They created our blocks and even used beetle kill wood – marketed as “denim pine”, to give the materials some additional historical
context. You can stack them, line them up, re-order them. You can actually start building
stuff. And, this is where the engagement part comes, when you get a few people together,
and share your blocks, you can really start creating cool stuff.
On each side of the blocks you‟ll see a word from our tagline – together, more becomes possible, as well as our logo
with 20 year commemoration, and even a Tradeworks logo to recognize their effort in the creation.
If you were unable to join us at the Anniversary Celebration, and would like to receive a set of 4 custom made blocks,
please contact Jackie by email or phone 604.877.6584.
Block photo taken by Gina Spanos, AG Photography www.ginaspanos.com
“We have secured some good business support among
real estate developers and crown corporations”, says
Ross Gentleman, Executive Director. “Last year we
reached $77,000 in sales, and we should grow that this
year.
Tradeworks Custom Products is a unique women‟s social
enterprise in the Vancouver‟s inner-city, manufacturing
small wood products that often feature sustainably harvested BC wood. Integrated laser engraving adds great
finishing touches.
“The project grew out of training programs for women and a
desire expressed by these women to take the next step.
Often the women enrolled in training have little or no recent
work experience, only an interest in learning more about
wood working and carpentry,” says Kate Stewart, Production Manager. “But the training is only one part. The parttime employment opportunities we provide give each
woman recent work experience and a reference.”
Stewart also notes that physical production work is often
both a great way to build confidence and team work.
“These women take pride in the products they produce.”
As a social enterprise, the objective is to provide skills development and employment to 30 or more women annually.
The business is sponsored by Tradeworks Training Society, which has been active in the downtown eastside for
more than 15 years. As a start-up, the project has some
support from Vancity Community Foundation, Central City
Foundation and BC Social Venture Partners. However,
the key to long term success will be building sales.
“Our primary focus has been the corporate gift market,
and the laser engraving system that we have allows us
to give companies some special products.
“Now we are looking to move into other markets and we
are hopeful that we can locate distributors and other
partners to make it all work.”
In the run up to Christmas the business will have ornaments on sale directly and through RONA‟s Grandview
Highway store. “RONA has been very supportive of this
project,” says Gentleman. “This is real work in the innercity. RONA and other companies see the importance of
giving people a chance to learn and take control of their
lives.”
This is one of the most exciting projects in the DTES;
because it isn‟t just talk and it isn‟t just training. They
see women really make big changes in their lives, and
that is why they want to see this little business succeed.
Visit them online at www.tradeworks.bc.ca
Named Fund Newsletter
Page 3
20th Anniversary Event Community Spotlight...
Just Beginnings Flowers founder, June Strandberg „s love of flowers has lasted 56 years, dating back to her early teens. It all
started when she began working for her uncle‟s flower business,
working in the shop and greenhouse after school. As the years
passed she became an award winning Canadian Florist.
Moving to Vancouver, she worked for two major flower wholesalers, and would travel across Canada teaching floral
design to their clients. In 1989 she decided to devote herself to teaching floral design to people to whom it would
make the most positive impact - women in prison. She created and introduced a floral
training program to the provincial government.
Implemented in the Burnaby Correctional Center for Women Maximum Security Prison,
"Beginnings" opened on April 1, 1990. For the next 13 years June and her “Beginnings”
flower program changed the lives of thousands of women BC prison system, as well as
servicing some 150 brides a year! June started Just Beginnings Flowers in Surrey BC to
continue her legacy of positive social change through flowers and floral training.
The purpose of Just Beginnings Flowers is to create a social enterprise dedicated to making a difference in the lives of individuals in less fortunate circumstances: single parents,
women who have experienced violence in their lives, persons returning from prison and
those recovering from drug and alcohol abuse. Just Beginnings will train, support and
assist these individuals in achieving their highest potential in order that they gain confidence and self-esteem, enabling them to return to the community with gainful employment.
Congratulations to Just Beginnings Flowers!
Just Beginning Flowers partnered with another local flower shop to secure the Olympic floral contract giving
June and the women at Just Beginnings the opportunity to create amazing Olympic bouquets for winning athletes.
"It's like an Olympic medal for our employees and will be a phenomenal experience” June said. “This is a wonderful
example of how purchasing from a social enterprise can have a business and social impact," said David LePage,
enp's Program Manager. "VANOC is assured a quality product at a competitive price while employment and training
opportunities are made available to the employees at Just Beginnings."
A big thanks to June and her dedicated team at Just Beginnings Flowers for supplying the flowers for our 20th Anniversary event. Visit them online at www.justbeginningsflowers.com.
The delicious and tantalizing food at the 20th Anniversary
event was provided by Potluck catering. Potluck is a
leader in social enterprise and an inspiring entrepreneurial model for Downtown Eastside community economic
development and revitalization. Through its business activities, Potluck has directly improved the quality of life for
residents of our DTES community.
Potluck operates a fully professional café and catering
enterprise in the heart of the city serving hundreds of corporate and non-profit clients. Potluck is a registered charity whose revenue is directly invested
back into its 4 community social programs that are integrated into its daily
operations. These include:
An Integrated Food Services & Life
Skills Training and Employment Program
that has trained and employed dozens of DTES residents with barriers to employment
A daily Meal Program that provides over 26,000
free meals annually to residents of the DTES suffering
with severe physical and mental health and addictions
challenges.
A Community Kitchen Program that regularly welcomes a small group of DTES residents to learn basic
cooking and nutrition skills and nurture relationships
with other neighbourhood residents in the warm and
familiar Potluck Café.
A Recipes for Success Outreach Program that
shares best practices for successful social and community employment with other employers interested in
successfully maintaining employment for
hard to employ inner city residents.
For more information about catering please
contact Johanna at 604.609.7368 or visit
them online at www.potluckcatering.org.
Named Fund Newsletter
Named Fund News...
Page 4
Margaret Mitchell’s biography
As a leader in social policy and women‟s rights, Margaret Mitchell put violence against
women on the national agenda and played a critical role in having women recognized in
the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. She pioneered community development in many
Vancouver neighbourhoods helping to organize public housing and create opportunities for
people on welfare. She is a strong advocate for minority rights and multiculturalism.
Her outstanding work as a community development worker has inspired many social workers in B.C. to follow her path.
As the Member of Parliament for Vancouver-East from 1979 to 1993 she voted against a
pension increase for MPs and diverted her share of the increase to create the Margaret
Mitchell Fund for Women. Today, the Fund continues to grow and assist women‟s organizations in East Vancouver dedicated to helping women help themselves and better their
community. Her life has been dedicated to helping people, starting with her service with
the Red Cross in Asia and Europe where she helped refugees from war in their time of
dire need.
Since her retirement from public service, she continues to serve British Columbia in many volunteer capacities, including being the first Chair of the BC Advisory Council on Human Rights.
To purchase a copy of Margaret‟s biography, please contact Jackie by email or phone 604.877.6584.
Kazuko Takahashi Endowment Fund Created!
We are pleased to announce the creation of the Kazuko Takahashi Endowment Fund. The
interest earned on the fund will be used to support the maintenance and growth of local organic food production, towards the development of a sustainable local food system in the
province of British Columbia. This includes support for Community Farm Initiatives that
work cooperatively to preserve and steward farmland to support farmers in growing quality
food for local communities.
LEAVE A LEGACY™ Newspaper supplement profiles
Brooke Forbes Legacy Fund
The LEAVE A LEGACY™ Community Newspaper supplement was recently published and distributed to more
than 300,000 homes in the Greater Vancouver/Fraser Valley area and included an article profiling the Brooke
Forbes Legacy Fund on page 9 of the supplement.
You may find useful estate planning information in this document so please contact Calvin for more information on
how Vancity Community Foundation or Vancity Credit Union can help address your questions and needs.
Named Fund Newsletter
Page 5
Community Spotlight...
Enterprising Non-Profits (enp) is a unique
partnership that supports the development of
social enterprise. Social enterprises are businesses operated by non-profits with the dual purpose of
producing a quality good or service for the market place
and creating social value.
This important work began eleven years ago when Vancity
Community Foundation made its initial contribution to
support the planning of social enterprise as one of several
founding funders of a two year pilot project in 1997. The
success of that pilot lead to the establishment of Enterprising Non-Profits in 1999.
What began as a small Lower Mainland granting program
to support non-profits planning for social enterprise, has
now developed into a province-wide partnership of ten
funders that support the development and growth of social
enterprise. Over the years enp has supported the start up
or development of over 65 successful social enterprises,
including Atira Property Management, Starworks, and Potluck Café and Catering.
In addition to producing a quality good or service, social
enterprises are a unique solution for addressing specific
community needs. They can fill a need the market will
never meet on its own, such as employment for marginalized community members. They can provide an
opportunity to advance a non-profit's mission,
particularly in areas of cultural and environmental
activities and they can enhance a non-profit's
financial sustainability through the generation of
profits that flow to a social purpose.
Looking for funding…
Currently enp has ten funders, including Coast Capital Savings,
Columbia Basin Trust, Northern
Development Initiative Trust,
Southern Interior Development
Initiative Trust, United Way of the Lower Mainland, Vancity Community Foundation, Vancity Credit Union, Vancouver Foundation, Western Economic Diversification
Canada, and an anonymous donor. Enp will distribute
over $375,000 in grants in 2009 across BC.
In addition to technical assistance grants, enp has conducted 28 social enterprise learning workshops across
the province this year, from Bella Coola to Dawson
Creek, and Kitimaat to Castlegar, with over 500 participants from almost 400 non-profit organizations.
Enp also publishes The Canadian Social Enterprise
Guide and maintains a robust, resource filled website,
www.enterprisingnonprofits.ca. Just recently enp
launched an online Social Enterprise Purchasing Toolkit
to help businesses, government and non-profits integrate
social enterprise into their purchasing decisions.
The enp staff, Peter, Michelle and David, stay busy keeping up and supporting a rapidly growing social enterprise
sector. For more information about enp or social enterprise, please visit them at www.enterprisingnonprofits.ca,
or phone 604.871.5421.
A Baby & Me Program that Makes a Difference
Mount Pleasant Family Centre is a well-respected and
established not-for-profit organization, which welcomes up
to 200 children, from birth to 6 years of age, and their families each week to its related drop-in programs. Many of the
families who attend come from subsidized and low-income
families. For children in this East Vancouver inner-city
neighborhood, this means opportunities to play and learn in
a safe, supervised setting, while providing a chance for
their parents to connect with others and learn new skills.
„Baby and Me‟ builds on what we now know about the
importance of strong child-parent attachment in a
child‟s early brain development and long-term emotional growth. Using traditional nursery rhymes, songs
and stories, parents share ideas to enrich the bond with
their babies; they learn new tools and coping strategies
while having fun together! The time spent in discussion
and socializing is equally as important as is the beginning of many lasting friendships.
Mount Pleasant Family Centre is currently looking to raise
$2500 to be able to offer 2 x 6 week sessions over the
course of a year, with skilled experienced facilitators, quality childcare for older siblings, all in a supportive, welcoming and nurturing environment. This popular 6-week group
introduces up to 12 new moms and dads the joy of spending time together, connecting with their babies through
song, rhyme and stories while making connections with
each other.
“The Baby and Me program changed my life – I made
wonderful friendships and connections within my community. I'm much happier in the city than I ever could
have imagined 18 months ago - amazing to think it all
started with simple rhymes!” ~ Sally, mother of one.
Contact Jean Woodcock, Executive Director at Mount
Pleasant Family Centre for information.604.872.6757.
Named Fund Newsletter
Page 6
Named Funds
Jhajj Foundation
Permanently Endowed Named Funds
Joy and Ken Williams Education Fund
John Freeman Scholarship Fund
Alayne Keough Fund
Amy Dalgleish Memorial Endowment Fund
Arts and Culture Legacy Fund
BC Council of Garden Clubs Scholarship Fund
BCCFA Scholarship Fund
Better Environmentally Sound Transportation
BGH Community Fund
Judith Marcuse Project Fund
Kay Stovold Memorial Fund
Kazuko Takahashi Endowment Fund
Kerry & Betty Ho Fund
Langley Environmental Partners Society Bursary
Laura Napodi Endowment Fund
Leo and Frances Longo Fund for Charity to Animals
Leon C. Morel Memorial Scholarship Fund
Bob Quart Family Fund
Brooke Forbes Legacy Fund
Calarchy Fund
Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives Fund
Chambers Memorial Endowment Fund
Chiron Family Fund
Christopher Rytter Memorial Fund
Coastal Sound Music Academy Fund
Community Farms Endowment Fund
Cooperative Commonwealth Fund
Co-operators Fund, The
Lions Bay Community Scholarship Foundation Fund
Mary Mira Kasljevic-Robson Fund
Mowat Family Fund
Nancy Grant Fund
Norman Kirby Scholarship Fund
North Shore Community Resource Society Endowment
Fund
Pang Kui Chiu Fund
Parkgate Community Legacy Fund
Pat Glazner Memorial Fund
Path 10 Fund
Cull Family Fund
Currie/Baehr Family Endowment Fund
Cyndi & Jim Poynter Thoracic Nursing Education Fund
Dave Mowat Climate Change Fund
Donald George Robson Fund
Driscoll Family Fund
Early Childhood Educators of British Columbia Fund
Edna Goring Fund
Ellen Tattersfiled Memorial Fund
Enchanted Forest Fund
Farm Folk / City Folk Endowment Fund
George Sisters Fund
Grace Mirehouse Memorial Award Fund
Greater Victoria Credit Union Legacy Fund
green grass productions inc. Community Projects Fund
Grey Community Fund
Gulf & Fraser Financial Group Fund
ICBC Endowment Fund For People with Disabilities
Inhance Charitable Giving Fund
Innovation Fund
Integris Credit Union Community Foundation
Interior Savings Community Development Fund
Jennifer Prosser Wade Endowment Fund
PLAN A - Permanent Endowment Fund
Purple Papillon Fund
Richard E. Sanford Fund
Romuald and Nancy Gobis Fund
Sawicki-Runka Sustainable Environment Fund
Shannon Meehan Legacy Fund
Sharon Martin Community Health Fund
Shooting Stars Foundation Endowment Fund
Silver Tubby Fund
Somerville Fund
SPARC BC - Michael Goldberg Endowment Fund
Strandberg Family Fund
Sustainable Economy Fund
Vancitizens' Legacy Fund
Vancity Place for Youth Society Fund
Vancouver Women‟s Fund
VanTel/Safeway Credit Union Legacy Fund
VCF Director's Fund
VIPY Fund
Watson/Colley Memorial Endowment Fund
Williams Family Fund
Zaurrini Family Fund
* New funds created since June 2009 are bolded.
Named Fund Newsletter
Page 7
Encroachable - Named Funds
PLAN D - Jack Collins Bursary Fund
BC Community Sustainability Fund
Shooting Stars Foundation Sustaining Fund
BC Litigation Fund
SPARC BC - Michael Goldberg Sustaining Fund
Borstal Endowment Fund
Spectrum Endowment Fund
CoDevelopment Endowment Fund
Squamish Credit Union Legacy Foundation
Downtown Eastside Women's Centre Legacy Fund
Surrey Homelessness and Housing Fund
Elizabeth Fry Society Endowment Fund
Youth at Risk Fund
FORED Environmental Conservancy Fund
ICBC Endowment Loan Fund For People with Disabilities
Krannitz Family Fund
Lions Bay Community Scholarship Foundation Fund
Margaret Mitchell Fund for Women
Myasthenia Gravis Association of BC Fund
PLAN B - Personal Network Sustaining Fund
PLAN C - Lucille Johnstone Discretionary Fund
The Learning Library...
Lois Youngson Camp Goodtimes Fund
Gulf and Fraser Financial Group
McIvor Fund
Ministry for Children and Families Bursaries
Ministry for Children and Families Training/Pro D
Mowat Family
Summerville Foundation Fund
The Charitable Bequest: A Gift of Residue
In 1999, two donors, Ernest Somerville Collins and his
wife, Ethel Alice Collins, collaborated with the Foundation to establish the Somerville Fund. The initial donation was a modest sum of $1,000.00.
Over the years, the Somerville Fund received ongoing
donations from the Collins that helped
provide for annual grants to the charities they supported in the areas of music and theatre, health and welfare,
assistance to persons with physical
disabilities, and protection of the environment.
...capacity
to give was
greater at
death than
during their
lifetimes...
Flow Through Funds
Concurrent with the Somerville Fund
being established in 1999, the Collins
had the foresight to incorporate in their
estate plans through their Wills, leaving
the eventual gift of the residue of their
estates to the Somerville Fund. In
making this charitable bequest through
their Wills, Ernest and Ethel acknowledged that their capacity to give was
greater at death than during their lifetimes, given the uncertainty of what life
may toss their way financially during
their retirement years. The Collins
nonetheless wanted to make certain
that their philanthropic dream of their
Somerville Fund would be properly
funded. Their charitable bequests pro-
vided that certainty and offered peace of mind to the
Collins.
Ernest passed away in June 2006 with Ethel dying in
October 2007. The residue of Ethel‟s estate that now
passes to the Somerville Fund, amounts to some
$900,000. The Somerville Fund is now, and for the future, well capitalized to carry out it‟s philanthropic mission. The staff of VCF will now manage the fund, and
grants will continue to be made in memory of Ernest and
Ethel, to the charities they supported.
In spite of compelling reasons to make a Will, many people die without making one. One may think their estate
is too modest for a Will to be of benefit. When one
starts to tally the value of their home, personal property,
investments, life insurance policies and retirement savings, the tally may become quite surprising and worthy
of creating a document to direct the distribution of those
assets at death. If a Will is not in place at death, the
distribution of one‟s assets is governed by the Estate
Administration Act of BC which does not provide for,
amongst other things, a charitable giving opportunity at
death.
The Foundation, with help from the Estates and Trusts
Department of the Vancity Savings Credit Union, would
be happy to assist in determining how best to incorporate a charitable bequest in your estate plan.
Contact Calvin Fong by email or phone 604.877.7241
for more information.
Named Fund Newsletter
Vancity Community Foundation
510 – 815 West Hastings
Vancouver BC V6C 1B4
tel 604.877.7647
fax 604.709.6909
www.vancity.com/vcf
Derek Gent
Executive Director
derek_gent@vancity.com
Administration
Annie White
Admin Coordinator
annie_white@vancity.com
Pearl Wu
Office Coordinator
pearl_wu@vancity.com
Program Staff
Irene Gannitsos
Mgr, Community Programs
irene_gannitsos@vancity.com
Elizabeth Lougheed Green (Liz)
Mgr, Social Enterprise Program
elizabeth_lougheedgreen@vancity.com
Page 8
Year End Charitable Giving - Donate Online
Through the administrative support of CanadaHelps, we have the capability to
receive donations online to your Named Fund!
CanadaHelps, a public charitable foundation, is Canada's only donation portal
that provides access to all of Canada's 80,000 charities. We have a registered account with CanadaHelps so we too, can reap the benefits of online
giving. An official tax receipt for each donation is instantly issued to the donor.
The great news is that we have added each Named Fund to our CanadaHelps account, so your fund can now receive gifts from anyone. There is a
drop-down fund designation in the VCF profile where all Named Funds are
listed alphabetically and includes a description of your Fund purpose. There
is also an option to make a one - time donation or pledge to give on a monthly
basis. Take this opportunity to share with friends and family the great impact
your Named Fund is having on community while growing your fund at the
same time! What a greatway to encourage year end contributions to your
Fund! Visit CanadaHelps today to make a donation online to your Named
Fund. www.canadahelps.org.
Have a safe and
happy holiday season!
Bryn Sadownik
Project Lead, Demonstrating Value
Project
bryn_sadownik@vancity.com
Vera LeFranc
Program Coordinator Surrey Homelessness and Housing Fund
vera_lefranc@vancity.com
Philanthropic Services
Calvin Fong
Mgr, Development & Philanthropic
Services
calvin_fong@vancity.com
Jacqueline Dagg (Jackie)
Mgr, Donor Relations
jacqueline_dagg@vancity.com
Tamara Wojdylo
Philanthropic Services Coordinator
tamara_wojdylo@vancity.com
(Sandra Yip on maternity leave)
Designed and created by
Jacqueline Dagg, November 2009
Tell Us Your Story...
Now it’s your turn. We would like to hear from you.
What are you working on? What would you like to
learn about? What do you need funding for? Do
you have a special event coming up? Is there a
certain area in community that you would like to
support, but don‟t know where to start?
Please send any story ideas, submissions, or
thoughts to Jackie.
Together, more becomes possible