Read the 2011 Victoria’s Vital Signs®
Victoria residents are concerned about the cost of living but love the natural amenities of their community. They are still wed to their cars for commuting, report better mental health than they did last year, but say they are involved in less physical activity.
These are some of the results from the 2011 Vital Signs®, an annual community report card produced by The Victoria Foundation. The report is a combination of public opinion and statistics that provides a snapshot of livability and well-being in Greater Victoria.
This is the sixth year the foundation has produced Victoria’s Vital Signs, which is sponsored by Island Savings Credit Union and other sponsors. Victoria’s report is one of 22 Vital Signs® report cards released Oct. 4 by community foundations across Canada.
Read the 2011 Victoria's Vital Signs® report online.
Youth Vital Signs launches at TEDx Nov. 19
Youth Vital Signs will be published as a stand-alone report this year, thanks to the sponsorship of the TELUS Community Board. The launch of the report will be held on Saturday, Nov. 19 at the TEDx Victoria Conference at the Victoria Conference Centre. TEDx Youth Day follows on Sunday, Nov. 20.
Take the 75-Hour Challenge
In celebration of its 75th anniversary, the Victoria Foundation will be hosting the 75-Hour Challenge. The challenge will run over a 75 hour period, from 9:00 Nov. 15 to noon Nov. 18. This challenge is an opportunity for the community to help grow funds held at the Foundation by local organizations. These permanent endowments help provide long term stability.
The Victoria Foundation has allocated $75,000 to stretch the funds raised over the 75 hour period within our community. Please visit our website for more information about the 75-Hour Challenge and participating charities, or to make a gift to your favourite Hosted Organization Fund during the challenge.
Learn more about the 75-Hour Challenge and participating organizations on our website.
Vital Youth kicks off a new year
The new school year saw the beginning of the Victoria Foundation’s Vital Youth 2011-2012 program. The initiative, previously named Youth in Philanthropy, offers students in seven local schools experience in granting and community leadership. Last year, over 100 students distributed $17,500 in grants to 16 local charitable organizations. Learn more about the 2010 Vital Youth grants on our website.
Learn more about Vital Youth on our website or email our Vital Youth and Social Media Coordinator: leah@victoriafoundation.bc.ca.
Welcome Victoria Foundation’s new staff members
Welcome to Stephanie Slater, our new Communications Director. She replaces Shannon Drew-Burrows. Before joining the foundation, Stephanie worked for Royal Roads University for over nine years, first as Communications Manager and then as Director of Community Relations. She holds an MBA with a specialization in management consulting and is a Certified Management Consultant. Stephanie has volunteered with non-profit organizations throughout her life, most recently serving on the board of the Broadmead Care Foundation.
We also welcome our new Finance Director, Rita Lord. Rita replaces Susan Lucato. Rita is a Chartered Accountant who previously worked at Coast Capital Savings as Director Financial Planning and Analysis and Divisional Controller. She also worked at Vancouver Island Health Authority as a Financial Analyst. Rita is an associate faculty member at Royal Roads University in the School of Business and Continuing Studies. She has volunteered with various Coast Capital supported events and other organizations that support her children’s activities.
Shannon has moved to St. Michaels University School where she is the Senior Admissions Associate. Susan has moved on to start her own financial consulting practice providing contract services to businesses and non-profit organizations. She can be reached by email: susan.lucato.cga@shaw.ca
We wish Shannon and Susan all the best in their future endeavors and look forward to working with Stephanie and Rita.
Two donor advised funds contributed to the commission of the world premier of Pacific Opera Victoria’s Mary’s Wedding
Composer Andrew MacDonald and playwright/librettist Stephen Massicotte bring Pacific Opera Victoria its first new opera commission, Mary’s Wedding in time for Remembrance Day this November. Set on the prairies and the battlefields of Ypres, Mary’s Wedding is a love letter to the power of memory and innocence, and to a generation of Canadians caught in the crucible of the First World War. Through the unique intensity of opera, we realize we are the children of Mary’s Wedding.
Students welcome Governor General
On Monday, Sept. 26 five members of the Foundation’s Vital Youth program greeted the Right Honourable David Johnston and his wife Sharon as they made their first visit to Victoria. In honor of his visit, the City of Victoria contributed $5,000 to the City of Victoria Governor General’s Youth Legacy Fund. The fund was established by the city five years ago in honour of then Governor General Michaëlle Jean’s visit, and is held at the Victoria Foundation. The fund helps support charities offering youth programs in our community.
Helping the community
Did you know that the Victoria Foundation can pass through a gift of securities to your favourite charity? Many smaller organizations do not have the capability to easily receive gifts of securities and on-line giving portals charge a fee for this service, which means the charity ends up receiving less money. We provide this as a complimentary service – 100% of your gift goes to the charity named.
Taking stock during the giving season – gifts of publicly traded securities
As the giving season approaches, you may want to consider a pass-through gift of cash or securities to provide an immediate benefit to the organizations you care about. Or you can contribute to both a pass-through gift and give some for the future through your endowment fund.
Making a gift of publicly-traded securities is an effective way to work philanthropy into your tax planning goals. Where publicly-traded securities are transferred directly to the Victoria Foundation, there is no tax payable on the capital gain. The tax receipt equals the fair market value of the securities on the date of the gift and the resulting tax credit offsets other taxes that may be payable. It is easy to do with our donation of securities form.
If you are thinking about a gift of securities, please contact us before December 5, 2011 to ensure a 2011 tax receipt. You may want to consult your professional advisor about your unique personal situation.
Reminder about year-end giving to receive a 2011 donation receipt
If you wish to make a gift of publicly-traded securities, please let us know by December 5, 2011. Donations by credit card may be made online via our website or phoned into the office at 250.381.5532 until noon on December 23, 2011. Donations by cheque must be dated December 31, 2011 and received by January 6, 2012. Our mailing address is #109 – 645 Fort Street, Victoria BC V8W 1G2. The Victoria Foundation office will be closed from 4 pm December 23, 2011 until 8:30 am on January 3, 2012. If you have any questions, please call or send us an email at info@victoriafoundation.bc.ca.
Planning your Charitable Legacy
The November 2011 Senior Living magazine features articles about planned giving including 'Planning Your Charitable Legacy' by Sara Neely, Director of Philanthropic Services on page 14.
Helping islanders reduce greenhouse gas emissions
A recent grant to Island Pathways on Salt Spring Island encourages hundreds of residents to leave their cars at home, making a safe route for walkers to school or shopping. Greenhouse gas emissions were one of the lowest scoring Victoria’s Vital Signs® indicators in the previous report.
Island Pathways, a volunteer organization, recently received a $3,000 grant towards the construction of the planned multi-purpose pathway and paved shoulder pedestrian walkways for the public use and to provide safe routes to walk and bike on Salt Spring Island.
Read more about the project and view pictures on our blog.
Strategic planning
Thank you to all who participated in our Strategic Planning Survey.
|
