CommunityFor Immediate Release – The Manitoba government has proclaimed April 26 as Community Foundation Day across the province. This proclamation recognizes the vital role that community foundations play in contributing to the well-being of Manitobans, and the generosity of our citizens.
“The Government of Manitoba values the crucial role that community foundations play in our province. Manitoba’s community foundations support a wide range of charitable organizations and projects that enrich the quality of life of people throughout the province,” says Municipal Relations Minister, the Honourable Andrew Smith.
Community foundations are public charitable organizations that pool and permanently invest gifts (donations) entrusted to them, and the interest earned is granted to local charitable organizations each year. Since the capital is never spent, these gifts support our communities forever.
Manitoba is home to 57 community foundations, including Canada’s first community foundation, The Winnipeg Foundation.
“We are honoured the Manitoba government has proclaimed April 26 – The Winnipeg Foundation’s birthday – Community Foundation Day,” says Tom Bryk, Board Chair of The Winnipeg Foundation. “Community foundations are built through the generous gifts of donors who want to see their community flourish. This annual day will celebrate the contributions of community foundations throughout our province and the generosity of all Manitobans.”
Manitoba is also home to the most community foundations per capita in North America. Endow Manitoba represents the network of our province’s community foundations that work together to advance the sustainability and growth of the community foundation movement and to enhance their impact on the communities they serve.
“Manitoba’s community foundations are committed to community vitality,” says Sky Bridges, CEO of The Winnipeg Foundation. “Each community foundation serves its local community’s unique interests and needs, enriching the quality of life and helping create vibrant communities across Manitoba.”
The Manitoba government has supported the community foundation movement for many years, including partnering with The Winnipeg Foundation, through its Endow Manitoba initiative, on the Endow Manitoba Giving Challenge and Manitoba Heritage Trust Program, and establishing an endowment fund to support the growth of our community foundations.
Our province’s thriving community foundation movement demonstrates the generosity of Manitobans and why the Fraser Institute’s Generosity Index consistently finds our province is the most generous in Canada.
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The Winnipeg Foundation is For Good. Forever. We help people give back to our shared community by connecting generous donors with Causes they care about For Good. We are an endowment-based public foundation, so gifts are pooled and invested, and the annual earnings are distributed back to the community Forever. Formed in 1921, we are proud to be the first community foundation in Canada.
Endow Manitoba represents the network of our province’s community foundations. An initiative of The Winnipeg Foundation, Endow Manitoba works with the province’s 57 community foundations to increase their impact and to advance the movement.
Media inquiries and to arrange interviews, contact:
LuAnn Lovlin, CFRE
Director of Communications & Marketing
W: 204-944-9474 x 232 M: 204-781-9336
Email LuAnn
