Beaver Staff
The Community Foundation for Lennox & Addington has partnered with three local donors to establish a trio of new endowment funds that will generate grants in perpetuity to drive turnaround in three critical areas: health, poverty, and the environment.
Inspired by the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals, the funds have been aptly named: the Good Health and Well-Being 180° Fund, the No Poverty 180° Fund and the Environmental Action 180° Fund.
In 2019 the Community Foundation for Lennox & Addington worked with stakeholders from business, government, the health sector, social services, community groups and the volunteer sector in order to examine community well being as defined by the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The foundation says from those meetings three main areas of concern were identified: health, poverty and climate change.
“The activity of producing a Vital Signs report is very important to us”, explains Bob Childs, executive director for the Community Foundation for Lennox & Addington. “The report allows our communities to identify their priorities and then those become the catalysts for the Community Foundation to mobilize partnerships and resources that will address each priority. The 180° Funds will do that for us. We’re asking community members to donate $180 annually to The 180° Fund or funds that they are most passionate about.”
Online donations can be made through https://www.cffla.ca/180funds/.
Shannon McCaffrey and The McCaffrey Team have donated the seed funding to establish the Good Health & Well-Being 180° Fund.
“At McCaffrey Realty Inc. our team is so grateful for the support we’ve received over the years and we are dedicated to giving back to this remarkable community,” said McCaffrey in a release. “We are honoured to support those who have supported our mission to uphold good health and well being.”
Shaune Lucas of the Downtown Napanee Business Hub has provided the initial funds to establish the No Poverty 180° Fund.
“I am a team guy and I have always preached that the team is not as strong as its strongest link, it is only as strong as its weakest link and we need to have our communities move together as one so there doesn’t become a big gap between those who have not and those who have,” Lucas said in a release.
Mike Bossio, former MP of Hastings-Lennox and Addington and environmental activist has established the Environmental Action 180° Fund.
“Protecting our environment is the challenge of our generation and it’s up to us to lead the fight for life on land, the fight for life below water and the fight against climate change,” Bossio said in a release. “We can make critical contributions right here in our home communities.”
The foundation is also seeking donations from local businesses and have put together three different options based on their financial resources if they would wish to contribute.