Although the Ottawa Valley Community Foundation had been created in the Summer of 2008, and engaged since the Fall of 2009, we’ve not heard much of its activities- as its good deeds have primarily been confined to the Pembroke and Petawawa areas.
That changed locally on January 12th, with the visit of Arnprior resident and Board Member Alastair Baird to Town Council to clue the Eastern Valley up.
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As a community foundation, it does no fundraising on its own- but is a vehicle for funding support.
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Baird says the community foundation exists to serve where there is need.
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The Community Foundation Board member says the organization ties giving up with a bow.
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The Community Foundation works in tandem with service clubs, organizations and individuals donors.
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The Ottawa Valley Community Foundation supports both one time giving as well as annual endowments.
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Alastair Baird shares a well-known example of how the foundation supports individual causes.
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His appearance at Arnprior Council was designed to spread the word.
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A developing example is the Sport-for-All fund, arising out of the Ontario Winter Games hosted locally in 2023.
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The Ottawa Valley Community Foundation is growing both in terms of assets, and outreach.
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Alastair Baird says the foundation’s annual giving cycle begins with a Winter-time general meeting.
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By Rick Stow
