Lethbridge living | Page 44

the Community foundation looks to the future Dennis Hatt, President It is my pleasure, on behalf of our Board of Directors, to introduce you to “Giving Together,” the Community Foundation of Lethbridge and Southwestern Alberta’s Report to the Community. This year is a special one for our organization as we celebrate 50 years of service to our region. On the following pages, you’ll meet interesting people who are making a difference to their families and their communities in many ways. We hope that through their stories you’ll gain a better understanding of what the Foundation does, each day, to help make life in southwestern Alberta better for its residents. It is hard to believe that in 1966, the Foundation started with just $297. Today, we boast a stable $25 million investment portfolio and, even with the changing nature of the financial world, our ability to help continues to grow at a measured rate. Last year, for example, we were able to return $723,127 to the community and support 110 organizations throughout southwestern Alberta. The tremendous success of our organization today was envisioned long ago by community builders not unlike our present Board and Committee members – dedicated people who saw that philanthropic support for a broad range of community organizations could translate to a better future for people. Fifty years ago, our founders thought so far ahead that they not only established one of the first 10 foundations in Canada, they encouraged donors to support the Foundation in a way that allows us, today, to have a great deal of flexibility in granting funds to where they can make a significant difference. We are looking ahead to our next 50 years with the same forward-thinking mindset. Who knows what type of community challenges the Foundation can help to solve 50 years from now? We don’t, but we want to ensure the funds are in place for organizations to access as the need arises. anyone, has been responsible for the direction the Foundation has taken to encourage new donor support and to look for new ways for the Foundation to invest in communities in our region. George is as forward-thinking now as our founding community members were 50 years ago, and there is no doubt his influence and efforts over the past nine years will serve the Foundation well in the future. George is retiring in April, 2016, and on behalf of our Board – present and past – I wish him well as he starts a different chapter in his life. We have been fortunate over the past nine years to have George Hall as our Executive Director. George, more than our Vision Communities flourish through generosity. our Mission the Community foundation of lethbridge and southwestern alberta provides an effective, flexible method for caring and generous individuals of all means to connect to worthy causes in southwestern alberta. Look For More Stories online www.cflsa.ca Follow Us @lethfoundation facebook.com/cflsa unit 50, 1202 - 2nd ave south lethbridge, ab t1J 0e3 403.328.5297 2