Prince George Community Foundation Allocates Adjudicated Grants

In keeping with the Prince George Community Foundations' pledge of "Giving Something Back" the Foundation is pleased toannounce that recipients of the Spring 2013 adjudicated grants were recognized at a Grant Award Reception April 9th. Prince George Community Foundation is in its 18th year and proud to be active in the community. We are pleased to announce that through the generosity of our Donors our endowment funds are now in excess of $7 million. This is a significant milestone in the short history of the Community Foundation. To date close to $1 Million has gone out into the community to worthwhile projects. Tonight we are
pleased to present close to $35,000 through our Adjudicated Grants. The following 15 organizations will be presented with grants.

Arts & Culture - Prince George Symphony Orchestra; Prince George Metis Elders' Society; Latino Canadian Association of Northern BC.
Education - Child Development Centre of PG & District; Central BC Railway and Forestry Museum; BC Schizophrenia Society – Prince George Branch.
Environment - Exploration Place.
Health - Prince George 4-H, CNIB, MS Society of Canada, Prince George Chapter.
Social Services - Habitat for Humanity, Northern STAR Kids Program; Big Brothers Big Sisters of Prince George.
Sports & Recreation - Prince George Royal Canadian Legion; Canadian Paraplegic Association (BC) – Spinal Cord Injury BC.

Prince George Community Foundation President, Ray Noonan said, "We are pleased to recognize that all of these organizations have contributed a great deal to the quality of life in our community and all of them are supported by very dedicated volunteers." "We are happy to be a part of their successes in the community." The Prince George Community Foundation provides the opportunity to make a lasting charitable donation to enhance our community forever.

The income earned on numerous family funds held with the Prince George Community Foundation is what has afforded the opportunity for these grants. Our gracious donors and fundholders have invested in this community greatly. If anyone is interested in starting a family fund with the PG Community Foundation, we would be happy to discuss this further with them. They too can be part of "Giving Something Back".

Prince George Community Foundation partners with the Family Y though True Sport Grant

Earlier this year The Prince George Community Foundation in partnership with True Sport and the JW McConnell Foundation awarded the Family Y with a grant in the amount of $4,500. "The funding for this particular program was matched through an anonymous donor and also funds from the Ryan Shiels Memorial Fund held with the Prince George Community Foundation. Through this fund, Ryan's family has made sure that his passion for the outdoors made available to others," said Judy Neiser, Executive Director for the Prince George Community Foundation... Read more here.

Income Distribution from Funds

In keeping with the Prince George Community Foundation's pledge of "Giving Something Back" the Foundation is pleased to announce recipients of the Fall 2012. Income Distribution of Organizational and Agency Funds were recognized at a reception, December 4th. The Community Foundation has been active in making presentations to the community for the past sixteen years.

Over $37,228.62 of earned income for Agency/Organization Funds presentations were made to the following: Central BC Railway and Forestry Museum, the Child Development Centre, the College of New Caledonia, Cranbrook Hill Greenway, Fraser Fort George Museum Society (Exploration Place), Hospice Endowment Fund, the Prince George Public Library, Community Arts Council, The Prince George Symphony, Springboard to Success Scholarship Fund School - District 57, Theatre Northwest, Two Rivers Gallery, Prince George United Way and UNBC. In addition there will $1,500 being awarded in the Spring 2013 to the Speech Arts and Drama, Music Festival and Dance Festival as part of a Prince George Concert Association Fund held with the Community Foundation.

Additional grants in the amount of $87,350.46 are available to our partnering regional community foundations. Community Foundation President, Ray Noonan said, "We are pleased to recognize that these organizations have made many contributions to our community and to also recognize that they receive tremendous support from their dedicated volunteers. The market is holding steady and our prudent investments continue to show positive earnings. We are happy to return the income earned on these funds to those in the community who are making a difference."

Noonan also said, "The Prince George Community Foundation is pleased to continue its commitment of contributing $5,000 from the proceeds realized from the Citizen of the Year function to an endowment fund in the name of the current Citizen of the Year – Monica Peacock.

As part of the celebrations The Prince George Community Foundation was delighted to receive three cheques totaling $15,000 which represents proceeds from the North Central Branch of the BC Restaurant and Food Services Association. A group who has a long history of giving back to the community through fundraisers such as the Taste of Prince George and the Phantom Dinner, is in the process of regenerating interest and resurrecting itself. $5000 was provided to the existing College of New Caledonia – Culinary Arts Fund, $5,000 was provided to start a new endowment fund with the PG Community Foundation that will see proceeds go to The Kordyban Lodge and $5,000 which has been set aside to sponsor the 2013 Citizen of the Year event being held October 18th, 2013.

This is amazing support from a terrific organization. President Noonan said "We are happy to be able to further the goals of the Association by having them place their funds with us. This shows the confidence they have in the work the Prince George Community Foundation does in the community."

The Prince George Community Foundation also announced that at their AGM on November 22nd, after 8 years on the Board, Past President Jim Imrich would be moving on. He was acknowledged for his insurmountable dedication and contribution to the Foundation in the formative years. Four new Directors have joined the Community Foundation Board, Gord Brownridge, Dennis Callaghan, Al LeFebvre and Sandy Whitwham, all of whom are well known in the community and will undoubtedly add strength and breadth to an already highly regarded and supportive Board consisting of Ray Noonan, Lorraine Grant, Mayor Shari Green, Judy Jackson, Jim Martin, Micaela Roque, Teresa Saunders, Bill Stewart and Leonard Zirnhelt.

Smart & Caring Communities

As we approach our country’s 150th birthday Canada’s Governor General, The Right Honourable David Johnston, has challenged Canadians to imagine our country as it could be – a smart and caring nation that holds promise for all.

Community foundations across Canada are rising to this challenge with Smart & Caring Communities, our contribution to building a ‘smart and caring nation.’ Our network will rally together in pursuit of two goals: to ensure every Canadian community has access to a community foundation and to connect those communities by establishing Smart & Caring Community Funds. By 2017, communities across Canada will be home to their own Smart & Caring Community Fund dedicated to seeking out and seeding local opportunities for generations to come.

Can you imagine . . . The impact we would have on Canada if we achieved these goals? Think about the Canadians who would be connected to our network for the first time. Or the impact of each Smart & Caring Community Fund.

For more information click here.

To donate to the PGCF Smart and Caring Fund, click the red "donate now" button.

True Sport Project: Building Community through Sport

The Prince George Community Foundation in partnership with the True Sport Foundation and the JW McConnell Foundation are pleased to announce the successful grant recipients for this years' program. Earlier this year we announced that the Prince George Community Foundation was one of 10 Community Foundations across Canada who were chosen to introduce the program in to our community. A series of community consultations were held with prospective organizations who wanted to make an impact on the premise that Good Sport should be a positive experience, should be welcoming and inclusive and should be values driven. True Sport is It is a social movement who's goal is to help sport live up to its full potential – making a significant contribution to the development of youth, the well-being of individuals, and the quality of life in our communities. At the heart of True Sport is a simple idea … good sport can make a great difference.

To learn more, click here.

Smart and Caring Community Endowment Fund

The PGCF invites you to participate in our Smart and Caring Community Endowment Fund.  The Governor General, His Excellency David Johnson as the patron for the Community Foundations of Canada endorses the work we do in our communities to make them stronger.   To that end, his vision of a Smart and Caring Nation is that by 2017 - the 150th Birthday of Canada, that all communities will be serviced by a Community Foundation.  The Prince George Community Foundation has developed a Smart and Caring Community Endowment Fund that will allow donors who want to make a difference in the communities we live in to donate to this fund.  This can be done through direct donations, leaving a legacy, a contribution in memory of a member of our community, or just about anything else that would be a contribution to our community.   Proceeds earned from the capital balance will go towards continuing to make Prince George a Smart and Caring community.  This truly is the opportunity to give the Gift That Keeps on Giving.  Please join others in our community in contributing to this fund. For more information contact Judy at 250-562-7772 or by email pgfoundation@telus.net or click the "donate now" button above.