The Winnipeg Foundation has approved a $6 million grant in support of The Canadian Museum for Human Rights project. The unprecedented grant, the largest in the Foundation's 82-year history, was approved by the Foundation's Board of Directors earlier this week.

"The Canadian Museum for Human Rights reflects the vision of the Winnipeg Foundation—a flourishing community where cultural diversity, tolerance and creativity are embraced by all. It reflects the value we place on education and our young people. It respects the past but also speaks to our collective aspirations for the future—a just community where all citizens are respected and have fair and equitable opportunities, "said Chief Justice Richard Scott, Board Chair of the Foundation.

"The project will bring a new level of vitality to our downtown and will give all Winnipeggers a sense of pride in our province and our country. For all of these reasons, this initiative warrants the strong support of The Winnipeg Foundation," he said when announcing the extraordinary grant.

The $6 million will be dispensed over a 10-year period within a structured payment plan, in large part from the Foundation's discretionary resources. One third of the grant, ($2 million) will come from the donor-advised Asper Endowment Fund at the Foundation.

"There is no question that this is a stretch grant—many times larger than any other grant in our history," says the Foundation's CEO, Richard Frost.

"Our Board has given this decision very careful consideration and we believe that this national museum symbolizes the kind of Winnipeg and the kind of Canada that we want for the future. For that reason, it is most important that the broader community send a clear message of support. During the next decade, The Winnipeg Foundation will grant about $175 million across the entire community and while this grant commitment to this project is very significant indeed, we believe it can be managed," he said.

The national museum, a visionary project of the late Israel Asper, will examine the development of human rights in a historical and global context, focusing on the experience of Canadians. The Asper Foundation and Dr. Asper have a strong history of supporting human rights.

"We are honoured and humbled by this significant and meaningful grant from The Winnipeg Foundation," said Gail Asper, speaking on behalf of the Friends of the Canadian Museum for Human Rights. "The fact that the country's oldest community foundation is providing the largest grant in its history to The Canadian Museum for Human Rights sends an invaluable message to the people of Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada and the world.

"I applaud The Winnipeg Foundation's vision and commitment and fully appreciate the relevance that they are one of the lead institutions to inspire others across the nation and world to stand up and be a part of promoting human rights for all peoples," she said.

The museum, to be located at The Forks, will have an important education component, teaching how human rights can be respected as well as the consequences of denying them. The national student program is outlined to sponsor 100,000 high school students and their chaperones from across Canada to visit the museum every year.

The Winnipeg Foundation is Canada's first community foundation. It is a collection of permanent endowment funds established by people from all walks of life. The funds are pooled and invested with the income distributed as grants. Last fiscal year, The Winnipeg Foundation granted $12.7 million to more than 450 community charitable organizations. Since it began in 1921, the Foundation has distributed more than $125,000,000 in grants to local charities.

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For more information, contact:
Richard Frost, Chief Executive Officer
The Winnipeg Foundation
204.944.9474