Message from our CEO
Sometimes it’s connecting them with an expert to help solve their problem, or it’s someone going through the same thing as they are, or maybe it’s a new potential friend. Here at the Community Foundation, we’re so lucky to have these moments all the time as we get to connect charities and communities with donors and supporters.
It can be as simple as an introduction or an email about a grant opportunity. Other times, it’s much bigger and bolder.
This past month we hosted the first ever Heart of Moose Jaw, a free community charity tradeshow and a celebration of milestone donations like the Moffat Family Fund which has granted over $1.4 million to over 40 Moose Jaw charities.
The event filled the Wakamow Valley Sportsman’s Centre with charities, supporters, community members, and Community Foundation staff and students. One participant put it best when they recently commented in the Moose Jaw Express, “It’s encouraging for us to see how many people really stand behind the hard work we’re all doing here.”
It’s that same energy and appreciation we can’t wait to see on display at the 4th Annual Friendraiser. This August 13 from 1:00 pm to 3:30 pm, I invite you to leave your wallet at home and come to learn about what the charities are doing in your community. The event is full of passionate storytellers, impact reports, and collaborative ideas that spark new relationships, volunteering opportunities, and causes you may never have heard about.
You won’t be disappointed – read more about it in this month's newsletter.
Hope to see you there!
🎂 Happy 57th Birthday to the Community Foundation! 🎂
It all started 1969 when the Community Foundation was founded with an initial gift of $60,000. The goal was to sustainably support our community in the long-term. Clearly, it worked as we continue to grow and we continue to give.
The Community Foundation’s scope has grown past our Regina borders and we now have granted more than $80 million to local charities, causes, and communities.
If you are in Regina on July 15th, keep an eye open downtown. We’ll be giving away 57 cups of hot coffee from Munch Catering to celebrate!
July Events
- July 3 - Potato Festival in Outlook, SK
- July 4 - Thunder on the Prairie Parade in Odessa, SK
- July 6 - Scotiabank Charity Golf Classic in Regina, SK
- July 15 - The Saskatchewan Community Foundation Celebrates our 57th birthday! 🎂
- July 18 - Old Wives Lake Festival from 10:00am to 4:00pm in Mossbank, SK
- July 21-23 - Ag in Motion in Langham, SK
- July 24 - Craven Campground Craft, Food, and Vendor Fair at the Craven Campground
The Friendraiser is back and rolling out the red carpet
Lights! Camera! Connection!
The Saskatchewan Community Foundation’s annual Friendraiser event gathers charities and community members from across the province not to fundraise, but to FRIENDraise.
On August 13 at the Conexus Arts Centre, you are invited to join us for a free community gathering that brings together nearly 100 charities from across Saskatchewan. This year’s theme, Rolling Out the Red Carpet: A Spotlight on Community, puts these incredible organizations centre stage as we celebrate the charities and people that make our province a better place to live, work, and play.
From 1:00–3:30 pm you can walk from table to table and hear inspiring stories from local charities, learn about the current needs in our communities, and discover the impact being made across Saskatchewan. Connect with community leaders and organizations while enjoying complimentary mocktails and gourmet popcorn, as well as other local treats. Bring a friend, explore the vendors, and enjoy activities including a live painter, photo booths, and more!
As the largest charitable gathering in the province, the Friendraiser is more than an event. It’s an opportunity to make connections, build relationships, and put a spotlight on the true stars of our community!
Story Corner
This part of the newsletter is where we will highlight and celebrate new and existing funds at the Saskatchewan Community Foundation. We have more than 40 donor stories you can read today.
New Fund Story
Amrit Mavi Fund
Amrit Mavi is a founder and partner at ATA Financial in Regina. Here at the Saskatchewan Community Foundation, we often work with financial planners, like Amrit, to help their clients with their charitable giving. In some cases, the planners are also fund holders as well.
Along with his financial planning designations, Amrit also holds a MFA-P which is a Master Financial Advisor – Philanthropy designation. It allows him to help clients incorporate charitable giving into their overall financial and legacy plans. Being well-versed in the power of charitable giving, it’s no surprise that he started the Amrit Mavi Fund through the Saskatchewan Community Foundation last summer.
The Amrit Mavi Fund is a Flow-Through Fund and it was created by Amrit to respond to community needs as they arise but also help strengthen community wellbeing over time. His fund recently included a large donation to the Big Brothers Big Sisters 55 doors campaign.
While most funds at the Saskatchewan Community Foundation are Legacy Funds (also known as endowed funds), many businesses and individuals, like Amrit, find that a Flow-Through Fund suits their giving goals. With a Flow-Through Fund, you receive a tax receipt at the time of your donation, then grant funds anytime to the charities and causes of your choice. It means Amrit can quickly support charitable initiatives that can help individuals and families facing challenging circumstances, and give quickly to community organizations working on the front lines.
“At its heart, the Amrit Mavi Fund exists to help build a stronger, more caring community —
one where support can reach people when it matters most.”
-Amrit Mavi
Legacy Impact Story
The Second Lieutenant Andrew Naismith Benevolent Fund
There are many ways to honour someone who has passed away. One option through community foundations is to create a positive future for others through charitable giving.
In August 2003, Second Lieutenant Andrew Naismith was tragically struck by a car and killed while jogging near the Canadian Forces Base Moose Jaw. He was training to become a Royal Canadian Air Force pilot. Naismith left behind a wife and three young children.
The next year in 2004, the Second Lieutenant Andrew Naismith Benevolent Fund was created. The goal was to assist children of Canadian Armed Forces members killed during their service, as well as other deserving applicants in the surrounding areas. It provides financial assistance for post-secondary education.
This fund grew over time until the fund advisors felt the grant amount could meaningfully support bursary recipients. Grants went out starting in 2020.
Major Felix Hattori, who has served as Comptroller at 15 Wing Moose Jaw and as the primary Fund Advisor for the Naismith Fund since 2024, recently completed his posting at the air base.
At the Heart of Moose Jaw event, the Saskatchewan Community Foundation presented Major Hattori with a gift from Sticks & Doodles. This was a small token of gratitude for Major Hattori devoting considerable time and effort beyond the demands of his primary responsibilities. His contributions have had a profound and lasting impact on the Fund’s ability to fulfill its mission, including ensuring additional bursaries could be awarded to deserving recipients, both now and in the years ahead.
Sign, sign, everywhere a sign!
If you have noticed a few new lawn signs across Regina, you are not imagining it.
Last week, about 500 signs were placed along some of the city’s busiest streets, each with one simple goal: to start more conversations about legacy giving.
But this campaign has never been just about the signs.
Over the past three summers, our summer student team has had more than 1,900 conversations with people across Regina about giving, community, and the causes they care about most.
Those conversations have helped shape the campaign. In fact, the website listed on each lawn sign was created to answer the questions we hear most often at the door.
If you would like to learn more about the website listed on our lawn signs, please click here: YourLegacyForever.ca