ANYONELegacy CAN BUILD A LEGACY 2005 ANNUAL REPORT CHAIR AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR REPORT 2005 was certainly a year ofLegacy great We also celebrated our largest grant total accomplishments! to date - $75,657.These funds were distributed to 40 organizations that are doing Due to the generosity of donors, The great work in our community. Foundation’s assets rose $2.2 million in 2005 reaching $3.9 million in just our fifth This year’s report highlights donors’ personal and year of operation.This coupled with a 12.7 altruistic reasons for making a tangible difference per cent investment growth allowed us to in our community.The Foundation recognizes grant over $75,000 to meet community the outstanding work achieved by charitable needs. It was a successful year by all counts. organizations and acknowledges the exceptional generosity of all the donors that has led to a The Foundation understands that donors significant milestone – assets exceeding $3.9 put great faith and trust in its ability to fulfill million and growing. their charitable needs.The experience and knowledge gained through assisting donors Guelph has often been rated as one of the finest in reaching their philanthropic goals over cities in which to live. However, as a growing the past five years is earning The Foundation community, it also faces challenges. In response to a reputation for stability, permanence and current and future funding gaps,The Foundation continuity.The Foundation strives to meet continues to strive to meet emerging needs and donors’ expectations of strong governance, address critical issues in the areas of: fiscal responsibility and business ethics. • Environment • Arts and Culture We set a record in 2005, receiving $2.2 million • Education in new gifts represented in part by 23 new • Social Services funds.While almost half of this amount was • Healthcare reflected through bequests in donors’ wills, we also saw an impressive growth in the trend Our success isn’t measured in numbers alone.We called “giving while living” where donors would like to extend our thanks to board member set clear goals for strategic community Ken Boyd who completed his term in 2005. Also investment during their lifetime. thanks to Ken Hammill, a member of the original steering committee, board member and chair of We extend special thanks to the many The Foundation until May 2005. Ken’s knowledge, professional advisors who recognize the leadership and passion for our community has experience and expertise of The Foundation been critical to our success.To our board members in charitable gift planning, combined with and committee volunteers who bring a wealth of our ability to accept complex gifts.Working talent and expertise to our work – thank you. with The Foundation helps them develop Through their guidance and vision, we have made individual philanthropic plans for their wonderful progress. clients to maximize the community support and at the same time realize tax benefits. We hope you enjoy the stories of our donors and grant recipients in this report to the community. Dan Cremasco,Chair Cindy Lindsay, Executive Director 1 LegacyCOMMUNITY DONORS Building Education in Dr. Griffith A.V. Morgan Fund Our Community - A gifted academic and compassionate psychologist, Angelo and Rina Longo Fund Dr. Griffith Morgan understood how learning disabilities don’t limit themselves to school hours. The Guelph school teachers who taught As a teacher, educational psychologist, and probation Angelo Longo, his wife Rina, and their and parole officer, Griffith had seen the far-reaching first three children left a positive lasting effects of learning disabilities first hand. His wife Vi impression. After a 40-year absence, the recalls,“Griff always said that a learning disability Longo’s returned to Guelph and they wanted for a child is like having both arms and legs cut to show their gratitude to the school system off, getting thrown into the river and then being they remember so fondly. As added incentive, asked to swim upstream.” they had two grandchildren attending classes Instead of expecting the children to conform to in the Catholic school system.“That’s three the education system, Griffith spent a full day with generations, all with good experiences,” Rina his clients to discover their unique learning style says.“The teachers were so interested and and showed them how to use it to their advantage. caring in so many ways, we thought we’d His respectful approach worked wonders with the like to do something.”That something is a upset, frustrated children who arrived at his office scholarship for Wellington Catholic District for testing.Vi says,“They arrived little bundles of School Board secondary school graduates. rage, but they always asked,‘When do I come back Dr. Morgan?’” The Angelo and Rina Longo Fund is not your Griffith officially retired in 1988, but continued to average scholarship aimed at only university- see clients almost daily for 13 years afterward. bound students. Instead, this fund includes an After his death in 2004,Vi decided to continue her often overlooked gap in education by providing husband’s work through a designated fund set graduates with financial support for college up with The Guelph Community Foundation.This apprenticeship or workplace training programs. fund benefits late adolescents who have dropped “We wanted to give back,” Rina says.“And out of school, are unemployed and at risk.Through a special program that draws upon this age’s scholarships to apprenticeship programs need to form groups, selected youths participate were needed most.” in practical life skills training, and expeditions designed to build confidence and teach the values The Longos first heard of community of respect and co-operation.These outings have foundations when they lived in Cambridge serious results. Ninety per cent of the program and Angelo’s business set up a fund to provide participants get off the streets and return to school. scholarships to technical schools. Having returned to their hometown, the Longos are Norman Earl Webb Fund It’s hard to believe a strong community can be built once again giving back to their community. from cardboard, but philanthropist Norman Webb, Despite protests that they’re “just an ordinary founder of ABCO Box and Carton Company, family,” their fund will do extraordinary things, constructed a legacy that will outlast brick and and their generosity will extend to the next mortar. His $929,000 donation will permanently generation and beyond. 2 COMMUNITY DONORS fund a variety of community projectsLegacy in Guelph Cremasco Financial Fund and surrounding area. It seems nothing is forever — except perhaps creating a legacy fund. Eight years ago, the parents’ Born, raised and self-made in Guelph, Norman group Richard and Susan Cremasco founded for supported various community organizations Downs Syndrome folded.Through their business, throughout his 98 years.When it came time to the Cremasco’s continued the group’s popular make out his will, he wanted to direct wealth dances to raise money for Sunrise Therapeutic back to the community, but had difficulty Riding and Learning Centre and Rainbow Day deciding what organizations to support. Also, Camp. Despite generating $25,000 with the last predicting what projects would need the most two dances, they are rethinking their approach. funding in the future, and determining what To ensure they help children no matter what the constituted fair distribution was a challenge.So future brings, the Cremasco’s created a fund with he turned to his lawyer,Bob Berry,for guidance. The Guelph Community Foundation.“We wanted Bob suggested Norman create a legacy fund to be proactive,” Richard says.“I didn’t want to wait with The Guelph Community Foundation and until I died and do it in my estate.” At the end of its leave the details of how the money should be first year, the Cremasco Financial Fund will send 35 distributed to The Foundation.“It took Norman underprivileged children to Rainbow Camp.The only about 30 seconds to decide,” Bob says. Cremasco’s know the difference a week at camp “Norman identified the issue. I presented a can make and that difference is detailed in letters solution, which he immediately adopted. It of gratitude from the school principals who was that simple.” selected the children, as well as thank you t-shirts “autographed” with campers’ handprints. Not only did the fund take the guesswork out of giving back to the community, it ensures A financial planner himself, Richard never realized Norman’s donation will meet the community’s how easy it was to set up a fund with The changing needs now and forever.While some Foundation until he took the time to understand of the donation is distributed at the discretion it.“Setting up your own foundation is detailed of The Guelph Community Foundation,Norman’s and complicated, and it frightens people away. granddaughter Julie helps The Foundation There’s a real opportunity within The Foundation select specific projects that interest the Webb to obtain those same objectives easily. It’s the family,ensuring Norman’s generosity maintains way to go.” family ties. Environmental Legacy Fund “We do not inherit the earth from our ancestors; we borrow it from our children.” This age-old belief confirms the fact that we have a significant responsibility to preserve, conserve and enhance the natural resources of our earth.The challenge to protect our environment is pressing. With its commitment to create a stronger and more vital community,The Guelph Community Foundation, in partnership with the J.W. McConnell Family Foundation has created the Environmental Legacy Fund to support projects that protect and restore the environment of Guelph and area. Beyond plans on paper and volunteers in action, projects to restore and protect the environment need funds to realize their full potential.