Brampton Foundation gets $200,000
Posted by Stephen Rhodes
The Rotary Club of Brampton presented $100,000 to the fledgling Brampton and Area Community Foundation to help launch the new umbrella charity in its first year of operation. Click headline for more
Brampton businessman Robert Bell, a Rotarian and chairman of the foundatio's steering committee, matched Rotary's contribution with a further $100,000 private gift to establish the first endowment fund.
The foundation hopes to raise $12 million over the next five years to support city and area charities. Community foundations also act in a leadership role by partnering with people, charitable agencies and business to identify and address local issues.
"We are excited to take a leadership role with the Brampton and Area Community Foundation," says Rotary President Jerome Dawson. "The foundation takes us to yet another level of community service and it fits well with our clubâ¿¢s objectives."
The Rotary contribution will help offset some of the startup administration costs, says Dawson. "It puts them on a solid footing right away."
Brampton Rotary also operates Rutherford Bingo Hall, which generates about $2 million annually for community sporting, cultural and social services. In addition, Rotary directly supports Easter Seals, the Peel Memorial Hospital Foundation, St. Leonardâ¿¢s House, Peel Children's Centre and Junior Achievement to name a few.
Bell says, "Rotary's gift will give the foundation a strong community presence immediately. This is the kind of leadership role we have come to expect from the Rotary Club of Brampton."
Of his own donation Bell says: "when you are involved in this kind of project I think it is important to demonstrate leadership in a measurable way. I think it is essential to lead the charge with a significant contribution.
"This is not a benchmark, simply a tangible expression of my commitment to an exciting project for Brampton and area. I don't expect that everyone can contribute at this level but I am hopeful we can stimulate substantive interest in the business community and among the citizens of this city."
Bell says he welcomes donations of all sizes. "Every $25 contributes to our goal; every $100 contributes to our goal. Every dollar is important if we hope to achieve our target."
The idea of creating a community foundation originated with the city of Brampton Millennium committee and the project is broadly supported by city council.
"Council saw the value immediately. Our city is growing rapidly and this foundation can make a significant contribution to improving the quality of life in Brampton. We believe it deserves our support and we hope others in the city will help to build the foundation," says Brampton Mayor Susan Fennell.
This summer the foundation hired Peter Watts as executive director. He officially joined the foundation July 15th, although he worked as a volunteer for several weeks prior. He retired from TDBank Financial group in January 2002 after more than 32 years. He was Vice President of the Commercial Banking Group.
"The contributions of community foundations across the country are so significant that a community the size of Brampton and surrounding area would be missing a serious opportunity to improve the quality of life forever."
Community foundations pool the charitable gifts of many donors into permanent income earning endowment funds that benefit the community. The fund will support a wide range of local initiatives from health, education and socials services to the arts, culture and the environment.
There are in excess of 120 community foundations in Canada managing assets of about $1.7 billion and making annual grants of more than $75 million to community causes, says Watts.
"Our mission of this foundation is to enrich the quality of life in Brampton and surrounding area. The plan is to attract and effectively grow endowment funds by helping donors fulfill their philanthropic interests. Moreover, the foundation hopes to provide leadership in identifying and addressing significant community charitable priorities."
Gifts to the foundation can take many forms including cash, real estate, artwork, stock, insurance and bequests.
"Donors can choose to support their hometown broadly or designate a favourite cause or charity. Flexibility is the key."
The first community foundation was established in 1921. Today, foundations exist coast to coast, serving large and small urban centers as well as rural communities. Each foundation is autonomous and governed by an independent board of directors made up of business and community-minded citizens.
In Brampton the steering committee was formed in October, 2001. Federal incorporation was granted in June 2002.
The foundation hopes to raise $12 million over the next five years to support city and area charities. Community foundations also act in a leadership role by partnering with people, charitable agencies and business to identify and address local issues.
"We are excited to take a leadership role with the Brampton and Area Community Foundation," says Rotary President Jerome Dawson. "The foundation takes us to yet another level of community service and it fits well with our clubâ¿¢s objectives."
The Rotary contribution will help offset some of the startup administration costs, says Dawson. "It puts them on a solid footing right away."
Brampton Rotary also operates Rutherford Bingo Hall, which generates about $2 million annually for community sporting, cultural and social services. In addition, Rotary directly supports Easter Seals, the Peel Memorial Hospital Foundation, St. Leonardâ¿¢s House, Peel Children's Centre and Junior Achievement to name a few.
Bell says, "Rotary's gift will give the foundation a strong community presence immediately. This is the kind of leadership role we have come to expect from the Rotary Club of Brampton."
Of his own donation Bell says: "when you are involved in this kind of project I think it is important to demonstrate leadership in a measurable way. I think it is essential to lead the charge with a significant contribution.
"This is not a benchmark, simply a tangible expression of my commitment to an exciting project for Brampton and area. I don't expect that everyone can contribute at this level but I am hopeful we can stimulate substantive interest in the business community and among the citizens of this city."
Bell says he welcomes donations of all sizes. "Every $25 contributes to our goal; every $100 contributes to our goal. Every dollar is important if we hope to achieve our target."
The idea of creating a community foundation originated with the city of Brampton Millennium committee and the project is broadly supported by city council.
"Council saw the value immediately. Our city is growing rapidly and this foundation can make a significant contribution to improving the quality of life in Brampton. We believe it deserves our support and we hope others in the city will help to build the foundation," says Brampton Mayor Susan Fennell.
This summer the foundation hired Peter Watts as executive director. He officially joined the foundation July 15th, although he worked as a volunteer for several weeks prior. He retired from TDBank Financial group in January 2002 after more than 32 years. He was Vice President of the Commercial Banking Group.
"The contributions of community foundations across the country are so significant that a community the size of Brampton and surrounding area would be missing a serious opportunity to improve the quality of life forever."
Community foundations pool the charitable gifts of many donors into permanent income earning endowment funds that benefit the community. The fund will support a wide range of local initiatives from health, education and socials services to the arts, culture and the environment.
There are in excess of 120 community foundations in Canada managing assets of about $1.7 billion and making annual grants of more than $75 million to community causes, says Watts.
"Our mission of this foundation is to enrich the quality of life in Brampton and surrounding area. The plan is to attract and effectively grow endowment funds by helping donors fulfill their philanthropic interests. Moreover, the foundation hopes to provide leadership in identifying and addressing significant community charitable priorities."
Gifts to the foundation can take many forms including cash, real estate, artwork, stock, insurance and bequests.
"Donors can choose to support their hometown broadly or designate a favourite cause or charity. Flexibility is the key."
The first community foundation was established in 1921. Today, foundations exist coast to coast, serving large and small urban centers as well as rural communities. Each foundation is autonomous and governed by an independent board of directors made up of business and community-minded citizens.
In Brampton the steering committee was formed in October, 2001. Federal incorporation was granted in June 2002.