Newsletter – December 2020

HCF – Working Hard for Our Community

This new way of life is certainly challenging for not only individuals, families and businesses but also our local charities that provide the much needed community and human services. This is why Huronia Community Foundation, a charity for charities, is working even harder to support them.

In response to the pandemic, the Foundation created the HCF COVID-19 Community Response Fund and through the generosity of our donors, 9 local charities received additional funding to assist in their efforts to support our most vulnerable citizens.  Since April 1st, in collaboration with the Federal Government of Canada, Community Foundations of Canada and our generous fund holders, the Huronia Community Foundation has disbursed nearly $250,000 back to the North Simcoe community. 

Each year the Foundation gives out hundreds of thousands of dollars from its many designated, flow-through and donor-advised funds. In addition to these grants, there is a small group of funds that support the Foundation’s annual call for proposals. This past year 11 local charities received a Smart and Caring Grant and undertook a wide range of activities to make our community better. Although the pandemic is front and centre, the Foundation continues its work to ensure as many community needs as possible are being addressed. Over the past year, HCF provided $30,000 to 5 local youth-led initiatives thanks to the RBC Future Launch Community Challenge. Another very successful endeavour was the Youth Philanthropy Initiative which gave $5,000 to 5 local charities, including: Wendat Support Programs, Georgian Bay General Hospital Foundation, Georgian Bay Cancer Support Centre, Huronia Transition Homes, and a Jack.org chapter at Georgian Bay District Secondary School. Both projects not only supported local charities but also cultivated a philanthropic mind-set in the younger generation. Plans are underway to repeat the Youth Philanthropy Initiative in 2021.

See our annual report for our list of achievements in 2019/20.

Why Create A Fund with HCF?

If you have a desire to make a difference in our community, then consider creating a fund with HCF. By doing so now, you’ll have the opportunity to make your fund the centre of your charitable efforts. It’s about making a difference by consciously choosing how much to give, when to give and for what purpose.

The more funds that are established with the Foundation, the more money flows back to the whole community. Currently, Huronia Community Foundation stewards over 80 funds which provide grants for arts & culture, community services, environment, healthcare & mental health, seniors, sports & recreation and youth & scholarships. The Foundation is always working to develop more funds and enhance the ones currently in existence.

Hospitals and universities have known the value of endowment funds for many decades, using them to make financial commitments far into the future, knowing that the resources to meet those commitments will continue to be available.

Huronia Community Foundation is also working with many charities and non profits to assist them in developing and building an endowment to sustain them in the years ahead. Several smaller charities have established endowment funds as part of their long-term financial plan including: Hospice Huronia, Sistema Huronia Music Academy, Askennonia Seniors Centre, Huronia Community Players and Gateway Centre for Learning.

Some of the more recent charity funds established with the Foundation include the YMCA Simcoe/Muskoka Camp Kitchikewana Fund, Wendat Community Programs Endowment Fund, North Simcoe Rotaract Club Fund, and the Chigamik Community Health Centre’s Health Equity Endowment Fund.

Get busy and call us today to get your fund started… we’re here to help!

We Welcome to the HCF Family of Funds

Bimbombay Memorial Fund – Established by Jane Courtemanche in memory of her son, Duncan, who took his own life after a long and difficult battle with depression. The fund will support initiatives to help youth who struggle with their identity and with the transition from school to independence, to give them hope and belief that they will find purpose and happiness in their lives. It will also support suicide awareness and prevention initiatives for those who cannot see a way forward. 

Chigamik Community Health Centre’s Health Equity Endowment Fund – Supports the ongoing mission of Chigamik – to equip our communities to achieve optimal health and wellbeing through education, health promotion and illness prevention. Proceeds from this fund will support the development of culturally-inclusive and bilingual community programs and services that address the social determinants of health. This includes traditional healing, emergency food programs, social prescribing, Indigenous doula support, French Language System Navigation and other community initiatives that support a more equitable future for everyone.

Naadaamadewin Flow Through Fund – The word Naadaamadewin is Ojibway and means “helping spirit”. In that light, this award is to be presented to a student who has displayed a proven commitment to helping others through community involvement.

Presented annually to a Beausoleil First Nation student entering post-secondary education, it was generously donated by the Greenlee Family of Midland and is intended to assist BFN students pursuing a post-secondary education at a college or university level.

Catholic Family Services of Simcoe County – Serving Simcoe County for 40+ years, they offer professional counselling, psychotherapy and education that is inclusive, affordable, accessible and available to everyone living or working in Simcoe Muskoka regardless of age, ability, cultural or religious background, race, sexual orientation or gender identity.

HCF Needs YOUR Help

Like most charitable organizations, the Huronia Community Foundation finds itself at a financial crossroads. In order to carry on supporting the local community, we need the local community to support us!

2020 was supposed to be a year of reflection, celebration and looking ahead for the Huronia Community Foundation. That all changed in March when COVID-19 took over our lives and sent most of us into isolation.

Some charities and organizations closed their doors or ceased to exist entirely. We at the Huronia Community Foundation faced similar challenges but we carried on helping those in need as never has the need to support our most vulnerable population been greater. 

This holiday season, we ask that you become a Holiday Party Hero by donating what would have been your Holiday Party expenses to the HCF Sustainability Fund. This will go a long way to ensuring that the Huronia Community Foundation will continue to support the local charities and organizations who make a difference in so many of our lives.

Make sure you Join the party!!!