Download the 2019 calendar (PDF 10.7 MB)
Last year we celebrated the Yellowknife Community Foundation’s 25th Anniversary. This provided an opportunity for us to look back and celebrate the generosity and hard work of many people who have been instrumental in the creation and development of the Foundation.
Part of our Anniversary celebration was to provide four extraordinary grants of $25,000 in addition to our regular grant program. We also supplemented a number of scholarship funds to bring them to $2,500, more than doubling the support available to students for this special year. In 2018 we distributed a total of over $200,000 in grants and scholarships to individuals and community groups in a variety of areas, including: social housing, education, seniors, children and youth, arts, culture and heritage, sport and physical activity, health and safety, and community services.
The year also saw the establishment of two new funds: the Alice and Randy Daniels Fund to support developing musicians; and the Elliott Michael Brown Fund to provide assistance to young entrepreneurs who have had to overcome adversity. We currently manage 35 funds, with several more in development which we look forward to implementing in the coming year. Our asset base stands at over $4.5 million.
It has been both fun and educational to look back, celebrate the progress made since our first donation of $100 in 1994, and recognize the many people – volunteers, sponsors, donor families and the hundreds of others – whose generosity continues to make the work of the Foundation possible.
However, it is now more important to evaluate where we are, look forward to where we need to be in the future, and plan how we can get there.
As we move forward into our next 25 years, we will be working to help realize our Vision of a giving community where people working together make a difference for all.
The Mission of the Foundation is to enhance the quality of life in our community by: identifying and addressing current and anticipated community needs; raising, managing and distributing money from donated funds to meet those needs; and supporting projects that improve social conditions, assist and promote arts and cultural activities, sport, recreation and community development, assist and advance the provision of health care services, advance education, or assist and advance other community activities of a charitable nature. We are currently working to develop an action plan that makes this Mission real, and demonstrates our values of Generosity, Honesty, Inclusivity, Transparency, Fiscal Prudence, Mutual Respect, Accessibility, Fairness, Responsiveness and Partnerships.
While we have come a long way since our first board of directors was established and we owe them, and their successors, not only thanks, but a serious commitment to build on their vision and hard work. We will be doing this by developing a plan and acting to achieve it.
Every day we see the power of people working together – every year many people give generously of their time and expertise with little, if any, recognition. Without these volunteers, including our volunteer board, we could not function. Nor could we exist without the generosity of the many donor families and organizations, as well as our corporate and community sponsors whose assistance and contributions are essential to allowing the Foundation to carry on its work for the community.
Twenty five years ago, the Yellowknife Community Foundation was formed, based on a simple premise: that people working together can make a difference. As we enter our twenty sixth year we extend our thanks to everyone who has contributed, in so many different ways and look forward to continuing to work together to make a real difference.
Thank you for your continuing support and commitment to our community.
Bronwyn Watters
President
