On April 30th, a crowd of more than 100 people gathered at Rivendell for the Donor Appreciation Reception and Annual General Meeting of the Bowen Island Community Foundation (BICF). The standing room only event was a wonderful celebration of giving – and community engagement on Bowen.
Board Chair Soren Hammerberg explained that the Foundation’s mission is “to contribute to the quality of life on Bowen Island by building endowments, making strategic grants and inspiring community leadership.” He went on to highlight some examples of the Foundation’s work in these areas over the past year: the 2014 Giving Campaign raised $150,000 towards building BICF’s endowment funds – more than double the amount raised in 2013. Further, grants made by the Foundation to community causes totaled a record $58,000 in 2014. And community leadership was demonstrated through the Vital Conversations event and the development of a Youth Council, an initiative sparked by the vision of a donor who recognized the need for mentorship and assistance to youth on the island.
“This work, and our ability to make a difference on Bowen, is made possible by the generosity of our donors,” said Hammerberg. One such donor, local realtor Barry Thomas, attended the AGM celebration to present the Foundation with a cheque for $1,500.
Three grant recipients shared their stories, illustrating the direct impact donations received by the Foundation are making in the community.
Youth worker John Stiver, who received a grant to provide both gym time and nutrition and cooking classes for youth, expressed his appreciation. “The kids absolutely love the cooking classes, and now, because the gym is open, they have somewhere to go. This grant has made such a difference for youth on the island,” he said. Holly Graff expressed gratitude for the grant she received, in partnership with Bowen Heritage, to develop a “Garden Gateway” at the entrance to Snug Cove – a project that recently earned her a Community Service Award from the BC Society of Landscape Architects. Her initiative has captured the imagination of many islanders who have pledged to donate their time and expertise to assist with garden construction. And finally Shelagh MacKinnon of the Little Red Church explained how the Helping Hand Fund offers an emergency response to Bowen Islanders facing extraordinary circumstances, supporting many families and individuals on Bowen through times of crisis.
Thank you to all who attended and made the evening such a success! www.bowenfoundation.com
