The Maranger Family Fund

Community is vitally important to Peter and Beverley Maranger. The Stratford couple is well known for the time they spend volunteering to help improve the lives of people in Stratford , Perth County and beyond. So it was only natural that, when they learned of the Stratford and Perth County Community Foundation, they decided to create the Maranger Family Fund.

When Peter and Beverley first heard of the community foundation they thought it was only for the very rich. They were excited to learn the foundation lets people create an endowment fund with relatively small amounts of money. But that's not all that impressed them. That the fund is an endowment appeals to them. The fund itself is not depleted; only the interest is used for grants. Granting happens through an application process, something else they like. Grants support a broad range of causes and sectors - education, health, arts and the environment, to name a few - another plus.

Another feature that attracted the Marangers was the ability of the donor to direct grant income to a specific field of interest or specific charity. The Marangers decided against a narrow focus and instead chose to create an unrestricted fund which gives the Foundation maximum flexibility in responding to current and future community needs anywhere in the county. Peter explains, "The needs of today may not be the needs of tomorrow."

Peter and Beverley expect the fund will become an important part of their family's philanthropy and a great option instead of gifts for occasions, such as birthdays or anniversaries, and instead of flowers for funerals. Just as Peter and Beverley have been mentored by family members and others in giving and volunteering, they hope their example will be a good role model for their four children - Jesse, Justin , Frances and Cole.

While establishing the fund is a natural extension of the Marangers community-mindedness, they remain devoted to the other charities they support directly through their financial gifts and volunteering.

Beverley sums up their philosophy this way, "Our goal is to think beyond ourselves and if everybody did that, think of what would be accomplished."

*Pictured from left: Justin, Cole, Frances, Jesse, Peter and Beverley. Photo by LAF's Photography