74 Inner City Kids earn $2,000 each – So Far!

September 14th, 2012

Most Winnipeggers have never heard of the “You Can Do It Awards,” but this new initiative has enormous potential to impact the lives of kids living in our most economically – and socially – challenged neighbourhoods.

Here’s how it works: interested donors contribute $295 to create a “You Can Do It Award.” This generous gift is matched by both the Province and The Foundation. The money is invested to earn some capital gains and, in the end, provides a $1,000 scholarship. These scholarships are given to kids in grades 5 through 12, selected according to criteria established by the School Board. Factors considered include: attendance, academic achievement, leadership and volunteerism.

In the first two years of the program, 440 “You Can Do It Awards” have been handed out to students at six inner-city schools. (Most of these award recipients wouldn’t even consider post-secondary education an option without the help of scholarships and bursaries.)

The Awards are held at the Foundation until the students are ready to attend college or university. Younger students have the opportunity to build up their funds over their years at school.

In reviewing the names of the student recipients from June 2011 and June 2012, it is interesting to see that 74 students have now won two awards. This means that The Winnipeg Foundation is holding $2,000 in their names — and counting — a significant contribution to the cost of attending college or university.

Carly McMillan, Foundation Donor Relations Officer, handing out 2012 awards at William Whyte School

I think it is pretty amazing that for $295, anyone can give a deserving, hard-working kid $1,000 toward the cost of their post-secondary education. We all know that “education is a ticket out of poverty” and this program is certainly opening students’ eyes to future possibilities.

We look forward to presenting more awards in the spring of 2013 and watching the program grow. If you’d like to help build hope and opportunity for an inner-city student through the You Can Do It Awards, contact Pat Lilley (plilley@wpgfdn.org) at The Winnipeg Foundation.

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Posted in Charitable Giving, Education, Scholarships & Bursary, Youth

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London 2012 and Future Opportunities

August 15th, 2012

This month, most Canadians spent at least some time watching the Olympics. There is plenty of drama as athletes from around the world share the pride of wearing the colours of their country. All are remarkably dedicated and have made huge investments in their training. There often seems very little difference between those who make the podium and those who do not. Fractions of seconds divide the glow of success from the disappointment of missing a medal. All in all, London provided a beautiful background to this celebration of the human spirit.

At The Winnipeg Foundation, we were particularly interested in the Women’s Eight Rowing event. One of the silver medal-winning crew, Janine Hanson, is the daughter of our past Chair, Gregg Hanson. We’ve heard many stories of her hard work over the past years and know that her family and friends are justifiably proud of what she and her teammates have accomplished.

As Winnipeggers, we are also proud of Clara Hughes phenomenal accomplishments. There are certainly others besides these two women who could be mentioned as proof positive that Manitobans can compete at the world’s highest levels and succeed.

Looking to the future, one of the great challenges for Winnipeg is to ensure that every young child has the opportunity to develop their potential. In our city, there is a divide between those who have some affluence and those who have very little. We are regrettably raising two classes of children. Most of us remember the movie “The Blind Side” which tells the true story of how a supportive family environment enabled a poor kid from an American ghetto to become a star football player. No one wants to think about stars that never have a chance to shine.

Our vision is “a Winnipeg where community life flourishes” and one of the ways our donors work to accomplish this is through grants that give children access to recreation opportunities that might otherwise be out of reach for their families – whether it’s a chance to attend summer camp, take to the field as part of the Inner City Soccer League, or a safe neighbourhood green space where they can run and play. Of course, there is no measure of public policy or philanthropy that can equalize talent, but there are ways to equalize opportunity. We’re proud to work with donors from all walks of life to help Winnipeg kids feel like champions.

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Posted in Charitable Giving, Recreation, Youth

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Bill Norrie: An Inspirational Leader

July 6th, 2012

It is with great sadness that our city learned Mayor Bill Norrie passed away today at the age of 83. In his professional life, his only reason for being was to serve the people of Winnipeg. He was a great municipal leader because he understood city life and why people live in cities. His vision of strong neighbourhoods is represented by two CORE agreements—unique in Canada—which provided millions of dollars to re-vitalize the inner city. His deep appreciation that everyone needs to belong and to be included is represented by his untiring commitment to attend countless community events. His understanding that a city needs to have a sense of pride and place is represented by the legacy of The Forks and the Pan Am Games. While so many community leaders and politicians debate what should be done or how it should be done, Mayor Norrie’s leadership always started with why it should be done. A person who is driven by public interest and never by self interest easily motivates others to follow.

2003 Winnipeg Foundation Board photo: (left to right) Justice Guy Kroft, Lawrie Pollard, Bill Norrie

Like so many in this city, I knew Bill well because he was so personable. No one could be more engaging, have a kinder heart or a greater interest in others. He recruited me to Winnipeg in 1989 and we worked closely together at City Hall for the following three years. And he was the longest-serving Board Member of The Winnipeg Foundation. In 2009, I had the opportunity to pay tribute to Mayor Norrie when he was honoured by the Government of Japan. It is with great respect and affection that we all have admired the profound impact Bill had on the lives of those around him.

The sincere condolences of the Board and Staff of The Winnipeg Foundation are extended to Helen and the Norrie family at this sad time. Bill left such a positive mark on this city and in our hearts that he will be forever remembered

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Posted in Community members, Philanthropy

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St. Boniface Waterfront

July 4th, 2012

In recent months I have spent some time working with a group of people who are interested in seeing the river pathway in St. Boniface revitalized. Years have passed since any capital has been invested on the east side of the Red and there is a marked contrast to the high maintenance standard created by The Forks.  It is about a 2.5 km route if you start at the Esplanade Riel, head south on Taché turning off and walking behind the hospital, then crossing the Queen Elizabeth Bridge and entering The Forks at the South Point eventually going behind the Children’s Museum and returning to the Esplanade.

It is not hard to imagine a visitor to the new Canadian Museum for Human Rights wanting to take such a leisurely walk. The façade of the old St. Boniface Cathedral is one of Winnipeg’s most recognized icons and it will inevitably be a draw to anyone seeking a little time for contemplation. Of course, the cemetery in front of the Cathedral is filled with history, and is the final resting place of Louis Riel, the Father of Manitoba. A committee representing a broad cross section of our community is leading an effort to make the public areas around the Cathedral a welcoming amenity for all to enjoy.

Most Winnipeggers have visited other cities that have the good fortune of being built on a river.  It seems people are naturally drawn to water. Cities everywhere recognize this and are very deliberate in assuring river walks are accessible and attractive. While our river side walk from The Forks to the Legislative Building is challenged by changing water levels, there can be no doubt that people love this public space. And without question, the higher level walkways around the National Park and throughout the rest of The Forks are beautifully maintained and well used throughout the year.

Several years ago, our Board committed that The Winnipeg Foundation would invest in downtown green spaces in accordance with a series of principles. Our plan recognized the importance of The Forks (including Upper Fort Garry) and Provencher Boulevard.  I am very encouraged to see people from St. Boniface looking at potential riverfront improvements along Taché and our Board has already signaled its willingness to be a supportive partner.  The Canadian Museum for Human Rights is an invitation to the world to visit our City and the Foundation wants to ensure that the east side of the Red will be an important part of this experience. It’s exciting to see plans taking shape.

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Posted in Environment, Neighbourhoods

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“Laundering” is simply too strong a word

May 4th, 2012

I have rarely stepped into areas that might be construed as political because The Winnipeg Foundation is determined to avoid positions on issues of public policy. Our actions over the years make our views on social justice and the importance of maintaining a vibrant community transparent to all. We believe in “a Winnipeg where community life flourishes” and it is hard to imagine a flourishing community without a strong charitable sector.

In my opinion, the use of the word “laundering” is not appropriate when it comes to describing the work of Canadian charities. One may question how a registered charity spends its money but I think that is quite different than employing language which implies criminal activity. Charities are regulated by the Canada Revenue Agency with respect to any political activities. But even here, the government generally appreciates that the charitable sector can make a valuable contribution to public policy because of its grass roots perspective from the front line.

I am also a bit sensitive about a generalized suggestion that somehow foreign donations are not legitimate. A few years ago, we created The Winnipeg Foundation USA and in 2011, we received almost $300,000 through this source.  Of course, CRA requires that we report such gifts from outside of Canada. There is nothing improper about this practice.

As I said at the beginning, we will leave the development of good public policy in the hands of elected officials. But as they carry out their responsibility, one must hope that they will do so in a respectful manner. We work with dedicated charitable agencies every day; we constantly see the passion and impact of donors and volunteers. If some particular charity is engaging in illegal activity, government authorities should take appropriate action. Otherwise, let’s not make sweeping statements about charities laundering dollars from foreign sources. Instead, let’s appreciate the generous spirit that defines our country.

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Posted in Charitable Giving, Charitable Sector

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