The Huronia Community Foundation (HCF) is now in its 25th year of operation and has something to celebrate.
In the past fiscal year, the HCF has given a record $606,471.34 to 51 North Simcoe charities and organizations.
"From the environment to education to issues around food security, our fund holders across the North Simcoe communities stepped up in a big way this past year," says Scott Warnock, executive director.
“The purpose of HCF is to improve the quality of life and support a strong community now and forever through leadership and generosity."
Many were on hand at the recent Celebration of Giving event at the Midland Public Library including Simcoe North MP Adam Chambers.
“When you give through the Huronia Community Foundation you are actually enabling more future giving. It’s really important to think about the math on that, because it does enable this cheque to grow every single year,” Chamber says.
Chambers concluded his address by saying it's all about "partnerships, partnerships, partnerships."
Warnock concurred saying that the past year has been about building partnerships in the community and with the parent organization the Community Foundation of Canada. There are more than 200 community foundations across Canada and the HCF ranks 99th.
One of the fairly recent partnerships made was with the Penetanguishene Ukranian Support Lions Club who is helping bring Ukrainian families uprooted by the Russia-Ukraine war to settle in the region and create new, safe and financially independent lives for themselves.
Volunteer co-chair Joep Diening says partnering with the HCF gave the group an easy and trusted way for people to make donations and get a tax receipt. The HCF provided $38,000 in support in the past year through the Huronia Ukranian Support Project.
Diening says his group of only seven members has brought in seven families since September of 2022, the latest of which arrived only eight weeks ago.
Of the first six families, five of those have settled in the area "and they are all thriving," says Diening.
“Four of the families that have come here are financially independent within 12 months of their arrival and the last (fifth one) is almost there,” says Diening.
The newest family "still needs a lot of help.”
The group of volunteers supports a family for the first 12 months by providing a place to live, clothing, food and applications for everything from school enrolment and English classes to Social Insurance numbers.
Diening says it requires approximately $15,000 per family for the first year. The group is fundraising now to meet that commitment for the latest family "and we are almost there."
"The universe provides financial donations and time and resources to ensure these families can once again start up a life in a very safe and welcoming community,” Diening said thanking the HCF for helping them to help others.
The event honoured the founding members of the HCF including John Gammell, who led the first board of directors.
Volunteers were also thanked for all their efforts to provided needed services to people in the community.
And fund holders were thanked, including Bob Kafato, president of LabX Media Group, which donated $35,000 to approximately 24 different charities last year through the LabX Charity Fund.
"Thank you for your ongoing support for the community," says Warnock.
For more information about the HCF and it's funds visit its website: huroniacommunityfoundation.com.
