The definition of “community,” from the Oxford Dictionary: “A group of people living in the same place or having a particular characteristic in common.”
What makes the Saanich Peninsula a great community? For many, it is the people and organizations that support all who live here. From the arts to the outdoors, there is one organization unfamiliar to most locals, but it has touched almost everyone in the area in some way. It is the Saanich Peninsula Community Foundation (SPCF). Over the past 16 years the board, consisting of a small group of volunteers, has shepherded the establishment and growth of a permanent endowment fund. The principal of the endowment fund itself is held in perpetuity, and its annual yield funds grants to charitable organizations on the Saanich Peninsula. This year grants totaling over $17,000 were made to eight different groups, benefitting Saanich Peninsula residents of all ages.
One great example we have been able to support is Countryside Preschool on St Stephens Road. This preschool has been operating for over 40 years. A new feature children love is an outdoor covered workshop area (pictured), the result of the collaboration last year between parent volunteer labour and grant support from SPCF for materials.
Did you know that Countryside offers a weekly free drop-in “Stay ‘n Play” program for preschoolers and their caregivers? Imagine bringing your child to this wonderful drop-in program, yet not being able to participate because you are mobility-challenged and in a wheelchair. This year Countryside requested support from SPCF to create wheelchair accessibility, and with funding support, SPCF is pleased to help Countryside honour its commitment to offering free and accessible enjoyment of the facility, furthering its philosophy of “learning through play.”
Many folks across Canada choose to contribute to community foundations, happy knowing their charitable gifts today, and especially the legacy gifts made through their estate plans, will be prudently managed for the future to support their local communities. What will the needs in our community be next year, or 20 years down the road? No one knows for certain; what is certain is that the permanency of the SPCF endowment fund will ensure support to help meet those needs. A gift today will support the Saanich Peninsula now and in perpetuity.
Your Community. Your Gift. Your Legacy. Enriching the lives of residents on the Saanich Peninsula, both for today and for the future. For more information, visit www.sp-cf.ca.
