The Huronia Community Foundation is providing a winter warm-up for 26 local charitable causes.
Now in its second year, the agency’s Heart of Georgian Bay Community Forward Fund will divvy up $102,000 donated by the Marc Wayne and Julie Coleman family to an eclectic mix of charities ranging from the Georgian Bay Food Network to Brookside Music Association.
“Our goal was to partner with the good folks at HCF to create and ultimately grow a fund that supports grass roots initiatives in our community,” Wayne says.
“Now in our second year, we are pleased to see the fund supporting an even greater number of charities than last year. We are excited to announce that we will continue our commitment next year and invite others to learn how they can help.”
Grants from the fund support many important causes in the community, from creativity in the arts and culture, education, literacy and training opportunities, environmental leadership, food security, healthy living activities and the promotion of mental health.
HCF executive director Scott Warnock said there’s ample room for the fund to grow with $91,000 in grants disbursed to 19 local charities in 2023.
"The Wayne/Coleman family strongly believes in the importance of supporting our local communities and paying it forward. We hope others join them, and us, in helping this fund grow every year.
“What better time for a gift from the heart than the month of February."
The selected charities include many first-time recipients such as Habitat for Humanity Gateway North and Junior Achievement NEO Financial Literacy programs.
Other organizations receiving funding for specific programs include Big Brothers Big Sisters of North Simcoe, Community Reach North Simcoe, Midland Public Library, Society of St. Vincent de Paul St. Mary’s Victoria Harbour Food Bank, CLH Foundation, Askennonia Senior Centre, Severn Sound Environmental Association, Midland Cultural Centre, St. Theresa’s Catholic High School, We Are The Villagers, Operation Grow, BGC of North Simcoe (Formerly Boys and Girls Club of North Simcoe), Scientists in School, The Guesthouse Shelter, Georgian Bay Cancer Support Centre, Huronia Museum, Sistema Huronia Music Academy, Society of St. Vincent de Paul St. Margaret’s Conference, Warm and Cozy Children’s Charity, Quest Art School + Gallery, Christian Island Minor Hockey and Ontario Nature.
HCF is funded by generous local residents and companies. Working with 206 other members of Community Foundations of Canada, HCF then builds financial legacies through endowments, using them to make the local community a better place to live, work and play.
Since 2000, HCF has provided over $3.5 million in grants.