What’s Inside
- Giving through your Will
- 2021 Grants
- Climate Action Fund
- Riddell Scholarship Recipient
- And much more!
The Will to Give
It’s that glorious time of year again. Sure, the days are short and temperatures low. But as the holiday season approaches, there is always a sense of anticipation. I hope your December is filled with warmth, friendship, good food, and good books!
It is also the time of year when many of us think about giving. There are gifts for friends and family, of course. But we also think about our favorite charities – those whose missions align with our values – and make contributions.
This year, I’d like to challenge you to think about giving a little differently. In addition to the gifts wrapped in shiny paper and the cheques you mail out, take a moment to consider making a charitable gift through your Will.
Why? Because it’s a way to extend your charitable giving when you’re no longer here to write those cheques. Because it’s a flexible way to give – you control your assets throughout your lifetime, in case you need them. Because it enables you to give more than you can on an annual basis. Because there will always be urgent needs in our communities. (And also, of course, because your estate will receive a charitable tax receipt.)
If you’d like to learn more about this option, please contact me or Pat Morden, our Executive Director. Be sure to discuss the idea with your lawyer, accountant, or other professional advisor, too.
Happy Holidays from all of us at Sunset Community Foundation!
Announcing The Climate Action Fund
Flooding in Abbotsford B.C., November 2021
“The evidence is irrefutable: greenhouse gas emissions are choking our planet and placing billions of people in danger. Global heating is affecting every region on Earth, with many of the changes becoming irreversible. We must act decisively now to avert a climate catastrophe.”~Antonia Guterres, Secretary General of the UN, at COP26
In early November, the world watched with bated breath as world leaders met in Glasgow to hammer out agreements to stem the tide of climate change. The results are yet to be seen but one thing is clear: we must all take strong action in the next nine years to avert catastrophic climate change.
As part of its new strategic plan, the Board of the Sunset Community Foundation has decided to create and raise funds for a Climate Action Fund. The Fund will grant to local projects that mitigate climate change. The Foundation will also play a leadership role in advocating for local climate action.
We invite anyone interested in supporting the Climate Action Fund to contact the Foundation at sunsetcommunityfoundation.ca or 519-619-8630.
The Envelope Please . . . !
Fourteen charities in Lambton Shores and South Huron shared in $90,000 of grants from the Sunset Community Foundation during the fall granting cycle.
“We had lots of grant applications this year,” says Jim Jean, Chair of the Grants Committee, “and we had to make some very tough decisions. Ultimately, I’m proud of the projects and activities we were able to support.”
The grant recipients are:
- Big Brothers Big Sisters South Huron, for Big Bunch and the traditional mentorship programs
- Bosanquet Central School, to purchase tablets for use in classrooms
- Eco-Exeter, to support recycling for Personal Protective Equipment
- Grand Bend Area Health Centre, to support the development of community gardens in our region
- Friends of Pinery Park, to support installation of an accessible dock
- Huron County Food Bank Distribution Centre, for a computer upgrade that will streamline operations
- Huron Perth Public Health, for training of volunteer caregivers who serve vulnerable families
- Junior Achievement, for financial literacy education
- Kineto Theatre, for renovations to the historic building
- Huron Country Playhouse, to support diversity and inclusion initiative
- Jessica’s House, for a garden gazebo
- Lakeshore Eco-Network, for tree-planting and to promote pollinator gardens
- Relay Education, for alternative energy education
- Grand Bend Art Centre, for a new pottery kiln
Sign of the Times: In August John Gill and Pat Morden put the finishing touches on the revised SCF donor sign at the main beach in Grand Bend
Good Fun for Grand Fund!
On September 18, 160 people and 38 boats gathered in Grand Bend for the 3rd Annual John Patterson Dinghy Life Poker Run. When the day was over, more than $6,200 had been raised to support the Grand Women Fund at Sunset Community Foundation.
The event is a project of Dinghy Life, a group of young professionals who love Grand Bend, have been friends for years, and like planning fun activities to support the community. It started as a way to honor John Patterson, whose son Matt is one of the organizers. “My father was a popular guy in Grand Bend, he loved boating, and he knew most of the boating people, so a boating event was a natural.”
During the event, dinghy teams travel up the Parkhill Creek, stopping at five docks along the way. At each dock, they complete a challenge. This year, one involved doing a karaoke performance. For each completed challenge, the participants receive a poker card, and the best hand wins.
“We raised a lot of money,” says Patterson, “but the event is really about getting together and having fun. Because we’re a close community, people just naturally want to give.” This year, each dock was sponsored by a local business, and 12 other businesses donated prizes. Says Patterson: “There are such great businesses in Grand Bend, and they really stepped up.”
Judy McDonald, Matt’s mother, is a former Chair of the Sunset Community Foundation, and honorary chair of the Grand Women Fund. “I’m delighted that the money raised will go into the fund,” she says. “It will enable us to do more to support our community, now and for many years to come.”
Local Financial Institutions Support Entrepreneurship 
In recent months RBC and Libro Credit Union have both contributed generously to the Huron Entrepreneur Fund.
The Fund was launched in February 2021 and is held within the Sunset Community Foundation. It’s an innovative “impact investment” that will benefit the people of Huron County in two ways: by making more funds available as loans to entrepreneurs through Community Futures Huron, and by making grants to local charities.
“As a certified B Corporation, we use all of our resources to grow prosperity in southwestern Ontario,” says Marty Rops, Regional Manager, Huron-Perth Region, Libro Credit Union. “One of the ways we do this is by supporting organizations that are making a positive local impact by addressing employment challenges. The Huron Entrepreneur Fund will help local entrepreneurs pursue their business goals and create or grow enterprises that provide meaningful employment.”
Lorna McKercher, Vice President, Agriculture at RBC was also pleased to announce a donation to the new Fund. “At RBC, we have a long history of uplifting entrepreneurs and supporting charities in communities across the country. We’re thrilled to have the opportunity to make a positive impact in Huron County through this Fund and we can’t wait to see what ideas and change its recipients will spark in our communities.”
Bryan Vincent, Chair of the Huron Entrepreneur Fund committee, welcomes both contributions. “Our objective is to create a community resource that benefits entrepreneurs and local charities alike,” he says. “It’s wonderful to have major corporations embrace that vision.” Vincent adds that with these two gifts, the fund has reached almost $25,000.
Deb Gill, Chair of the Sunset Community Foundation is also delighted by the Fund’s rapid growth. “It’s exciting to see this vision come to life. There’s no question the Huron Entrepreneur Fund will have a positive impact on Huron County, now and for many years to come.”
Riddell Scholarship Helps Listowel Native Take First Steps Toward Dream
Jack Riddell is known for the many contributions he has made during his busy life, including as a 4-H leader, a high school teacher, an auctioneer, MPP for Huron Bruce, and Minister of Agriculture for Ontario. His achievements have been recognized by induction into the Ontario Agriculture Hall of Fame.
Now his example is inspiring and supporting young people to follow in his footsteps. The Jack Riddell Scholarship is awarded annually to a grade 12 student from Huron or Perth Counties who is planning a career in agriculture. This year’s recipient is Katie Payne.
Jack’s family and friends set up the scholarship fund to recognize his contributions to agriculture. The fund is held by the South Huron Community Fund within the Sunset Community Foundation. Every year, the Avon Maitland District School Board coordinates the selection of the successful recipient and awards the scholarship at the school’s Awards Ceremony.
Katie is a graduate of Listowel District Secondary School. She loves being with and managing animals. She especially enjoys working with large animals, with horses and pigs her favourites.
Fueled by her passion for animals, this September Katie started the first year of pre-veterinary medicine at Dalhousie University’s Agricultural Campus in Truro, NS. She plans to work toward her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree and become a large animal veterinarian. Says Katie: “The bigger the animal, the more there is to love, right?” The first step is to complete her undergraduate degree and get as much experience with animals as possible.
“We wish Katie every success,” says Tom Prout, Chair of the South Huron Community Fund Committee. “It’s wonderful to see this fund honoring Jack’s achievements and helping Katie’s dreams come true!” Prout adds that anyone can set up a family fund to support communities and causes they care about by contacting the Foundation.
Scary Good Fun! A visit to Big Brothers Big Sisters South Huron Big Bunch program
It’s a few days before Halloween and a group of excited children gather at the Exeter Youth Centre in full costume. The big excitement is making “slime,” a gooey, stretchy mixture that provides hours of fun. Kids gather around big tables where adult volunteers read out the recipes and help them create a glorious mess. At another table, some children are decorating glass jars with cutout Halloween shapes.
This is Big Bunch, the group program of Big Brothers Big Sisters South Huron, held throughout the school year. Children gather on Wednesday evening to participate in a variety of activities and events. Some are children waiting to be matched with a Big Sister or Big Brother, but the program is also open to matched Bigs and Littles. It’s a chance for kids to make friends, increase their social skills, interact with adult volunteers, and have lots of fun. It’s also a welcome break for their parents. The year culminates with a day bus trip in the summer.
During much of the pandemic, Big Bunch met virtually using Zoom. Now groups of 10 children get together, but mask-wearing (even when it’s not Halloween!) is required. Because of demand for the program and to allow for social distancing, two sessions of 10 are offered each week.
Sunset Community Foundation has proudly supported Big Bunch for many years.
https://mailchi.mp/c039df6b63fc/building-back-better-the-sunset-community-foundation-newsletter
