At its gala event on Oct. 14, the Comox Valley Community Foundation announced that it has allocated $450,000 to benefit both local charitable organizations and students through grants and scholarships over the next year.
This amount represents a 50 per cent increase over the allocation of $300,000 announced a year ago.
“Our purpose is to enrich life in the Comox Valley. This dramatic increase in planned distributions over the next year will help us do just that ever more than before,” said Dr. Harry Panjer, president of Comox Valley Community Foundation.
Over the past 20 years, the foundation has awarded more than $2 million in local grants to over 130 charities and over 140 student scholarships. These grants and scholarships result from realized investment earnings from the over $12 million endowment funds that have been established by local community-minded individuals and businesses.
There are four ways Comox Valley Community Foundation distributes the $450,000. First, through Community Enrichment grants that are available annually to local community based charitable organizations. The foundation is currently accepting applications until Oct. 31 for these grants.
Second, through agency and designated endowment funds that provide sustainable, long-term operational funding for a number of local organizations, including North Island College Foundation, Sid Williams Theatre Society, Comox Valley Healthcare Foundation, Comox Valley Community Arts Council, Comox Valley Hospice Society and several others.
Third, through scholarships that are awarded to local residents who are pursuing studies at universities and colleges, including many students at North Island College.
And fourth, through professional development grants made to local non-profits to help build professional capacity by covering the costs of training programs for volunteers and staff.
Twenty-one years ago, 17 local leaders created the CVCF as a vehicle for individuals, families and businesses to create endowment funds that will support the community forever.
The CVCF is part of a national network of 191 community foundations across Canada.
For further information about the CVCF, see cvcfoundation.org.