Ontario Community Newspapers

Oakville Beaver, 27 Jun 2013, 16 + 17

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17 | Thursday, June 27, 2013 | OAKVILLE BEAVER | www.insideHALTON.com www.insideHALTON.com | OAKVILLE BEAVER | Thursday, June 27, 2013 | 16 2012 Annual Report of the Oakville Community Foundation partnerships Unlocking Possibilities Our Partnerships · Agency Profile: Oakville Trafalgar Memorial Hospital · Engaging and Partnering: Donor Profile · Partnering to spread kindness - Random Act of Kindness Day Longevity of a Partnership : Oakville Trafalgar Memorial Hospital Seeing beyond today and to our future, connecting those who can with those who can't and seeing the impact of all that our collective efforts can offer, is what makes a community foundation a success. Special people have done wonderful things this past year. As a result, we at the Oakville Community Foundation (OCF) have had quite an exciting twelve months. This condensed report, highlights some of the success stories of the impact our donors and community leaders are making in the Oakville community. To read the complete report visit www.theocf.org or scan this code. Rusty Baillie, CEO and Jim Rager, Chair ABOUT YOUR COMMUNITY FOUNDATION Making a difference across a broad spectrum of areas that affect community life, year after year, is what we are all about. With a comprehensive view of the challenges facing Oakville, we focus our granting where we believe we and our fundholders have the greatest impact. We also work with our fundholders, providing the knowledge and community needs awareness to facilitate our fundholder's philanthropic wishes. In partnership with our 117 Fundholders, we granted $1.09 million to charities in 2012. Join us as a Partner, and become a match maker for the community. PARTNERING TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE The Oakville Community Foundation exists to make meaningful connections between those who want to help and those who need help. We understand our role as a leader in community development and strive to help identify and fulfill opportunities and, to support charitable organizations with funding and expertise. The advantages of establishing a fund at the Oakville Community Foundation are yours to consider: » No administrative responsibilities » No start-up and reduced ongoing expenses » Ongoing involvement » Professional management and investment expertise » Investment and grant expertise » Membership in a strong national foundation network RAK is designed to raise community spirit by spontaneously offering a "good turn" for someone. providing tablets to Oakville students with reading disabilities. "The OCF immediately appealed to Pauline and me because we could make one donation and spread it around to many causes," says Don, a 29 year resident of Oakville who contacted OCF after a friend suggested it would help him and Pauline simplify their annual charitable donations. "However what we liked most was that OCF knew better than we did who was in need in Oakville and enabled us to fund causes we previously didn't know existed. This December, with his foundation established, Don decided he also wanted to donate his time. With assistance from OCF, he was introduced to Acclaim Health and through it, to two senior Oakville residents who live on their own. Don who describes himself as someone who "likes to chat and likes people" instantly knew it was a perfect fit. If you want to catch a game of golf or a cup of coffee with Don these days don't plan it for a Tuesday or Thursday as his calendar is already booked. Don visits with these Oakville residents, either to take them for a drive or visit with them and chat. The weekly visits are Don's favourite times of the week. "Donating my time is a brand new experience for me but it is very exhilarating as the people you help take great delight in someone caring for them and they look forward to seeing you," says Smith who takes pride in his full circle partnership with Oakville Community Foundation." Don became an OCF Fundholder and volunteer because he wanted to give back to the community where he lives. However, his donations of time and money aren't just benefitting those he supports. "I get more out of this than the people I help," says Don. A significant partnership was formalized and put into action in 2012 between OCF and the Oakville Hospital Foundation. As defined in the dictionary, this partnership already existed through the participation of fundholders who chose the hospital as a recipient of their annual grants. In fact, in 2012, more than $200,000 was granted from OCF Fundholders to the hospital's priority needs. The association between the two organizations was further bolstered when the Hospital Foundation moved nearly $10 million in existing endowments into OCF Pooled Funds in April 2012, joining other pooled fund partners like the United Way, Lions Club and others. `Everyone into the pool' isn't just a backyard summer phrase anymore! A solid partnership revealed itself with a new matching gift program to benefit youth requiring mental health services. The Navigator program will see any gifts to this hospital program bumped up with a 2½ times match thanks to the Mental Wellness Network and Amarna (a long-time OCF donor advised fund). The Navigator Program will see the hiring of 2 youth social workers who will assist young mental health patients to navigate through various community services, all with an end goal of mental wellness and a rewarding life. Right now, 1 in 5 Ontarians under the age of 18 are struggling with a mental health issue. Unfortunately, only a fraction of children and youth who need mental health services receive them. Early intervention can make all the difference when it comes to preventing children from entering adulthood with untreated issues. The sooner mental illness is treated, the better the chances for recovery. Funds raised over and above immediate needs will fund a new Endowed Fund at OCF, seeded in 2013 with $850,000 and expected to grow past $3 million. This will ensure a Navigator Program will exist in perpetuity at OTMH. Finally, the most defining dictionary description must be joint interests ­ this is possibly the most vital factor when Oakville charities, Fundholders and the Oakville Community Foundation work together. At the end of the day, our joint interest is our own community ­ the health of our community, the safety of our community, and the ability to ensure that every person has what they need to live a good and rewarding life. Whether their needs are food, clothing, education, faith, sport, healthcare, shelter from abuse ­ the list is long ­ it is only through partnership that we can provide these basic human needs and rights. Through partnership, we become a better Oakville. How To Start Your Own Community Foundation? Types of endowment funds include: You could start a fund at OCF for a very small investment. There are many different ways to establish a fund and we're here to help you decide the best option. Choose one or combine features of fund types within one fund. Unrestricted Funds: Your gift provides OCF with the flexibility to make strategic grants to greatest areas of needs in the community. Designated Funds: You designate one or more charitable organizations when your Fund is established and grant to them every year as part of your estate. Field of Interest Funds: You identify specific areas you care about and rely on our expertise to make effective grants. Donor Advised Funds: You provide input on the annual grants to charitable organizations of your choice. What we have in common brings community closer together. Community members who create legacy gifts are experts in sharing. Creating a fund through a donation today or one through your estate will pay it forward for generations to come ­ your gift can support the organizations you are most touched by. The community foundation can manage and share your gift on your behalf and support the community causes closest to your heart. Consider giving to what you live for and share with your community. PARTNERING TO SPREAD KINDNESS ­ Random Act of Kindness Day Random Act of Kindness Day® (RAK) is designed to raise community spirit by spontaneously offering a "good turn" for someone, just because it's a kind and fun thing to do! It's the "ripple effect". Imagine if this idea took hold in our communities, such that people did it more and more... What kind of a community would we be developing then? This has been the focus and intent behind RAK since OCF and community partners started the initiative in 2011. Oakville is a great place to live and work. Yet, at the same time, every year needs in Oakville increase while financial support is stagnant. Similarly, there are fewer people volunteering their time to support the work of charities. OCF does not take this initiative on alone, in fact there is a large body of volunteers involved including representatives from Oakville Chamber of Commerce, Oakville YMCA, Sheridan College, Oakville Hospital Foundation, Appleby College and United Way of Oakville. Each organization helped the November 9th initiative which simply highlighted the kindnesses which happen every day in our town. Random Acts of Kindness will be happening all over Oakville again in November 2013. How will you celebrate kindness on this day? Engaging and Partnering: Donor Profile Don and Pauline Smith began a partnership with the Oakville Community Foundation in 2010 when they established a family foundation that would support their chosen charities for today and in perpetuity, and now two years later, they have added to this foundation. While the foundation is very rewarding, Don says he and Pauline particularly enjoy reviewing the granting-round submissions ­ projects OCF doesn't have enough funds to support ­ that are circulated to Fundholders each year. Through these submissions the Smiths have selected and supported a number of causes near to their hearts, including a weekend seminar for caregivers of people living with Alzheimer's and 2012 Financial Highlights » The OCF's total asset base has grown from $34 million in 2007 to $59 million in 2012 » Over the past 5 years OCF has granted over $5 million to charitable organizations. » The complete audited financial statements are available on our website. (www.theocf.org) Our Partners Thank you to our Partners in supporting the Vision and Mission of OCF COMMUNIT Y VISIONARY SUPPORTERS COMMUNIT Y LEADER SUPPORTERS For More Information info@theocf.org | www.theocf.org | 905.844.3562 The Oakville Community Foundation is a registered charity #891934374RR0001 COMMUNIT Y SUPPORTERS 478 Morden Road|Suite 204|Oakville L6K 3W4

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