20 Dollars
20 Dollars
The Victoria Foundation's first gift was received in 1937 from Mrs. Fannie Gadsden, mother of Victoria Foundation Founder Burges Gadsden.
In 1936, Dorothy had never seen a soup kitchen...
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1937
A letter from Mrs. Fannie Gadsden dated April 15, 1937, which included her $20 donation and her instructions to establish an endowment fund called The Widow's Mite.
37 Honorary Governors
37 Honorary Governors
An Honorary Board of Governors was established under the distinguished leadership of Mrs. Jane Rogers. The first meeting was held at Jane's home on April 16th, 1996. They embarked on a campaign to raise the profile of the Foundation by being good will ambassadors. At the time, Howard Petch was the Foundation Board Chair and the total assets under management was $6 million.
The support from the Victoria Foundation is incredibly important...
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The history behind the Raymond and Marigold Patterson...
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1957
Mayor Percy Scurrah was advised that The Victoria Foundation, which now holds barely $900, is still in existence and he is a trustee. "The fund has apparently been entirely forgotten," he stated. "It contains an idea which could be very important." Indeed – a permanent source which would do good in perpetuity for the community.
1951
Future Chair of the Victoria Foundation Board of Directors (2004 and 2005), Ian Izard, QC, and his sister Patricia await the arrival of Princess Elizabeth and Prince Philip outside Ellesmere on Rockland.
I hope to sustain and support Victoria's livability by...
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1969
After a long period of dormancy, the Foundation announces three substantial grants totaling $7,000 and begins active granting.
5 Grants in 1974
5 Grants in 1974
The Victoria Foundation granted to five organizations in 1974, including: The Salvation Army, Greater Victoria Association for the Retarded, Victoria Theatre Guild, Victoria Symphony Society and Tsartslip Indian Band Council.
1974
The first designated fund at the Victoria Foundation was the Colonel Bull Fund, established in 1974. The Fund started granting two years later in 1976 and in 2009 distributed over $13,800 to charitable organizations.
5 Fields of Interest
5 Fields of Interest
Our granting program is broad in scope and provides support in the following fields of interest: Arts, culture and heritage, community services, education, environment, health & recreation.
Building on tradition and a changing community, grants...
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50 Grants in 1984
50 Grants in 1984
The Victoria Foundation granted to a total of 50 organizations in 1984.
Local firm Horne Coupar first law firm in Canada to join...
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8 Types of Funds
8 types of funds within the Foundation's assets
Discretionary, hosted organization, designated, donor advised, pass-through, IKB Scholarship Society, Provincial, and First Nations.
New Program Funds Education for Aboriginal People...
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1993
Big news for the Foundation! The first ever $1 million gift is received to establish the Ernst & Hazel Kay Fund for Seniors. The Fund aims to improve the quality of life of seniors with priority given to programs that benefit needy, frail and vulnerable seniors in the County of Victoria.
68 Grants in 1994
68 Grants in 1994
As the Foundation's endowment grew, so did the number of organizations benefiting from its support. Significant grants made in 1994 included the BC Cancer Foundation and the Queen Alexandra Centre for Children's Health.
1997
A $1million gift is received from Goodwill Enterprises Perpetual Trust for Adults Living with Developmental Disabilities. The current focus of the Goodwill Industries Perpetual Trust Fund is to support projects that address educational and employment preparation services for adults living with developmental disabilities. Grants from this fund are available to charitable organizations located across Vancouver Island and in Powell River, BC.
Historic agreement enables Tsay Keh Dene First Nation...
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180 Million
Total Assets under management
In 2011, the Foundation's total assets under management reach $180 million, making it the sixth largest community foundation in Canada.
12 Board Members
12 board members
The Foundation's Board of Directors is comprised of 12 volunteers who serve two 3-year terms. Current Board Members include: Steve McKerrell (Board Chair), Gloria Back, Chuck Burkett, Kathryn Dawson, Sandra Harper, Dick Izard, Andrew Jackson, Mark Litwin, Peter Malcolm, Heather Raven, Deirdre Roberts and Bob Worth. Ian Izard, QC is the President of the Honorary Governors.
The girls at Artemis Place are not your typical highschool...
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1998
A $1.3 million gift is received and the Helen May Noxon Fund is established. The Fund provides resources for palliative care, research, equipment purchase and treatment of cancer and heart disease in the County of Victoria.
Creating opportunities for independence, growth and...
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2000
The Foundation participates in the national community foundation initiative Our Millennium
6 Scholarship Funds
6 Scholarship Funds
A total of 861 awards valued at $2,864,500 have been awarded since 2006.
LifeCycles Project Society (Cultivating Communities) was...
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2002
The J.W. McConnell Family Foundation environment partnership funding is established.
PARTY is a fast paced "tell it like it is" injury prevention program...
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2003-2006
A unique partnership with the BC Ministry of Children and Family Development is forged creating ten 'Strategic Investment Funds resulting in over $50 million invested for children, youth and families living in British Columbia.'
We have the most incredible spirit here, says Liz Bloomfield...
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2003
The Students Who Care - Youth in Philanthropy program is established in two schools; Belmont Senior Secondary in School District #62 and Victoria High School in School District #61.
188 Homelessness Grants
188 Homelessness Grants
From 2005 to 2010 grants made towards programs and initiatives addressing the issue of homelessness reach over $1.2 million.
2004
The Environment Endowment Fund is established with three defined priority areas: Ecosystem Awareness and Protection, Air and Water Quality, and Urban Sprawl and Sustainable Communities.
2006
The Foundation marks its 70th anniversary in 2006. Total assets under management reach $70 million and more than $15.5 million has been provided in grants since 1969.
60,311 Website Visits
60,311 Website Visits
Our traffic is growing! We have had over sixty thousand visits to our website since 2005 with a total of 237,808 pages viewed.
Actively defending and speaking for the rights of those who...
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2006
A $10 million Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) Action Fund is established to promote the prevention of FASD through caregiver and public education, and to support multi-year demonstration projects focusing on improving outcomes for people with FASD.
2.2 Million in Scholarships
2.2 Million in Scholarships
A total of $2.2 million in scholarships has been awarded through the Irving K. Barber BC Scholarship Society to students pursuing post-secondary education.
Dedicated to providing care and quality of life to all, Broadmead...
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2006
The BC Government establishes endowment funding to further support the Youth Educational Assistance Fund (YEAF) and Adoption and Permanency. The funding is to provide support for youth formerly in government care through bursaries for post-secondary education.
2006
The Foundation's inaugural Victoria's Vital Signs® report is launched in early October 2006. As a community report card, Vital Signs measures the vitality of our city, identifies significant trends, and assigns grades in areas critical to Victoria's livability.
706 Grants
706 Grants
In 2010 the Foundation grants total $6,747,351.43.
Mary Manning Centre is the main provider of therapy and victim...
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Established in 1986 to produce performances for...
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13 Staff Members
13 Staff Members
Today, the Victoria Foundation has a staff team of 13 people who work to fulfill the vision of connecting people who care with causes that matter®.
7 YIP Schools
7 YIP Schools
The Victoria Foundation runs Youth in Philanthropy in seven area schools: Belmont Secondary School, Frances Kelsey Secondary School, Victoria High School, St. Michaels University School, Reynolds Secondary School, Oak Bay High School and Stelly's Secondary School. The reach of this program extends across three school districts and four provincial electoral ridings.
2006
In 2006 the Foundation distributed 525 grants to worthy charitable organizations throughout the community. Thirty nine new funds were established, bringing the total number of funds under management to 266.
3.8 Million
3.8 Million
Over $3.8 million in grants is distributed in 2005.
If you can scale a rock-face, surf the waves or guide...
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2006
Justin Trudeau speaks to a sold out crowd in honour of the Victoria Foundation's 70th anniversary.
$17,500 YIP Grants
$17,500 YIP Grants
A total of seven Youth in Philanthropy program schools allocate $2,500 each to a wide range of local charities. Using Victoria's Vital Signs report as a tool, the students learn about critical issues that exist in their community; how to build on existing strengths and how to address current challenges.
20,000 Issues of Vital Signs
20,000 Issues of Vital Signs
A total of 20,000 issues of Victoria community report card have been distributed since the inaugural issue in 2006. Victoria's Vital Signs evaluates the Capital Region as a place to live, learn, work and grow. It measures the health of our city and assigns grades in a number of areas that are critical to Victoria's vitality.
2007
The Irving K. Barber British Columbia Scholarship Society was established in 2004 as a result of a contribution made to the University of B.C. by Irving K. Barber, a philanthropist and founder of Slocan Forest Products Ltd. The scholarship program endowment funds are held at the Victoria Foundation.
As a retired widow with three children, many people ask...
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38 Community Advisors
38 Community Advisors
Known as the eyes and the ears of the Foundation, the Community Advisors are volunteers who meet face to face with the charitable organizations that deal with the daily reality of our community's challenges. Advisors conduct site visits with Foundation staff and evaluate the difficulties facing an organization, as well as the opportunities and possible solutions. The wide spectrum of knowledge and experience this group brings to the Foundation helps to make connections and suggestions that go far beyond financial support.
2007
A commitment was made to pursue a new model of granting that includes five Fields of Interest: Arts, Culture and Heritage; Education; Environment; Health and Recreation; Community Services.
On their 50th wedding anniversary, Dr. Michael Kovacs...
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66 Community Grants
66 Community Grants
The Foundation’s Board approves 66 grants valued at over $700,000, bringing the total grants so far in 2010 to $6.75 million. In total, 90 applications were received seeking just over $1.2 million in funding.
348 Funds
348 Funds
The Victoria Foundation has a total of 348 endowment funds as of 2009.
2008
Foundation Board of Directors defines areas of interest for pro-active granting: Staying in School and Leadership.
2008
Establishment of our Community Advisors as part of our More than Money efforts.
But the most important thing, I believe, your...
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2009
October 30: The Victoria Foundation Act received Royal Assent.
2009
Victoria Foundation Leadership Award was presented to the Victoria Women's Sexual Assault Centre.
Dave was a wonderful friend, uncle, son, brother, husband...
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75 Years
75 Years
The Victoria Foundation celebrates 75 years of connecting people who care with causes that matter®.
