Rick Frost, Winnipeg Foundation CEO, spoke at the Welcome Place annual meeting on June 16^th. The organization recently received a grant of $150,000 from the Foundation, through the Moffat Family Fund, for its new reception centre for newcomers. The speech outlined the Foundation’s support of programs and resources for newcomers to Winnipeg, as well as the goals and aspirations that the Foundation and Welcome Place both share.

On June 15, Resource Assistance for Youth (RAY) officially opened its new home on Sherbrook Street. The organization, which provides support and resources to street-entrenched and homeless youth, received a grant from The Winnipeg Foundation for its move to a larger location that will help RAY better-meet the needs of its clients. RAY has received a number of grants from The Winnipeg Foundation, including from Youth in Philanthropy committees and The Women’s Fund giving circle.

Online voting is now open to select the next title for On the Same Page! Visit www.onthesamepage.ca to cast your vote for the Manitoba book you think should be featured in the province’s biggest book club. On the Same Page is an initiative of The Winnipeg Foundation and Winnipeg Public Library to get Manitobans reading, and talking about, the same book at the same time.

Rick Frost, CEO of The Winnipeg Foundation, received the Manitoba Children’s Museum’s inaugural Great Friend To Kids Award (individual category) on June 3rd. The award recognized Rick’s personal and professional commitments to children in our community. Rossbrook House received the award in the organization category and 13-year old Montana Lehmann received the youth category award.

Photo: Laurie Mustard presents Rick Frost with Great Friend to Kids Award

The Canadian Revenue Agency (CRA) created a 3-part video series about registered charities, giving to registered charities, and tax savings, entitled Giving to Registered Charities 101.

Manitoba’s community foundations gathered in Winnipeg on May 14th and 15th to learn, share and discuss opportunities to collaborate on their work. The regional meeting, organized by The Winnipeg Foundation, included representatives from 30 of the 44 foundations in the province, as well as delegates from Ontario, Saskatchewan, Alberta and from Community Foundations of Canada, the movement’s national umbrella organization.

On Tuesday, May 11th, more than 400 Winnipeg high school students, teachers and staff of local charities gathered to celebrate the 11th year of Youth in Philanthropy (YiP). Through YiP, a program of The Winnipeg Foundation, student-led committees learn about our community, research local charities, and decide how to allocate $5,000 in grants. This year, the 24 participating committees distributed almost $125,000 to more than 150 charitable projects.

The second chapter of On the Same Page wrapped up on May 4, with a celebration at McNally Robinson Booksellers. The project, which aims to get all Manitobans reading and talking about the same book at the same time, featured Joan Thomas’ (photo) novel Reading by Lightning in 2009-2010. Watch for more information about the selection of next year’s title, coming soon!

Marie Bouchard, Community Grants Coordinator at The Winnipeg Foundation, was honoured with a Women of Distinction award last week by the YMCA-YWCA of Winnipeg. Marie was recognized, in the Arts and Culture category, for her contributions as a curator, art historian and champion of women artists and artists with disabilities. Congratulations Marie!