In 2020 Chris Kurz established the Chris Kurz Fund to continue his charitable giving by creating a legacy fund to support healthy snack programs for students in Listowel, Ontario.

The family of local chef Dave Persad created a Fund in his memory to help inmates at the Stratford Jail gain critical work and life skills to succeed after their incarceration. Dave, a classically trained chef, practiced his craft for 23 years at the Stratford Jail – understanding early on in his career that restaurant life was not always conducive to family life. During his time at the Jail he mentored and trained many of the inmates. He knew that everyone did not have the same opportunities in life – something that inspired him to make a difference. Dave often noted that even a small success during imprisonment was a chance for an inmate to change his life on the outside.The devoted husband and father was also proud of his additional accomplishments at work as a Crisis Negotiator, Critical Incident Stress Debriefer and Mediator within the Ministry of Corrections. The Dave Persad Fund, will provide support to inmates at the Stratford Jail through the John Howard Society – an organization focused on assisting individuals who have become involved in the Criminal Justice System that Dave liaised with during much of his career at the Jail.

Donald Hicks and Clifford Hicks Remembrance Fund will provide support for South Huron District High School's student and community activities that aim to engage, inspire, and encourage innovative ideas to uphold the spirit of Remembrance Day and honour local men and women who served and sacrificed for Canada.

Created in memory of Florence Kehl, the founder of the Stratford House of Blessing, this fund will provide annual support to the organization that meant the world to her.

Geoffrey Neigh was well-known within his community and an active member of the Stratford Kiwanis Club. After his passing in 2017, his wish to establish the Geoff and Marion Neigh Fund to support the important work of the Club was realized.

The John Mavity Hockey Legacy Fund is a Designated Fund that was established in 2013 at the Stratford Perth Community Foundation. Lieutenant John Mavity was a dedicated firefighter with the Stratford Fire Department for 27 years, whose passions in life was his family, his friends, his work and hockey. So it was only natural after his passing for friends and family to start a fund in John’s name to help local children who would otherwise not have an opportunity to play hockey. This fund provides hockey registration bursaries for families in which registration fees are a financial barrier to their child playing hockey. The John Mavity Hockey Legacy Fund is facilitated yearly through The Salvation Army Stratford Canada.

The St. Marys Imagination Library Fund supports the St. Marys Imagination Library program through Dolly Parton's Imagination Library. Through this program, registered children under five in St. Marys will receive a free book each month to encourage early literacy.

Initiated by siblings Jim Henry (Stratford), David Henry (Ottawa), Don Henry (Listowel) and Jane Morley (Waterloo) this fund was the result of the Henry family’s vision of how best to honour the memory of their parents, Sid and Margaret Henry. Sid and Margaret, active and long time residents of Listowel, were dedicated to volunteering and giving to the community. The annual beneficiary of income from the fund is the North Perth Community Hospice. Because of the Henry family’s belief in the value of education, the fund income will be applied specifically to the costs of educating Hospice staff and volunteers, and for community education workshops. “We’re very grateful to the Henry siblings for initiating this fund in support of the Hospice,” said Hospice board chair Sara Trainor. “It’s a wonderful way to keep the memory of Sid and Margaret and their acts of caring alive in the community.”

Supporting hungry kids in Stratford and Perth County schools.

Chris and Courtney Teahen had always supported charities that helped hungry children overseas. But it wasn’t until their daughter (now a teenager) started grade one that they became aware of hungry kids right in their own backyard.

“She’d come home with stories of classmates who’d had no breakfast – or maybe had ice-cream for breakfast – because that’s what was in the fridge,” says Courtney. “I was unsettled. But when I asked my adult friends in the school system, they confirmed that basic, healthy food is a real need for a lot of families.”

Meanwhile, Chris was looking for ways to mark the 20th anniversary of their company, Teahen Construction. Together, Chris and Courtney settled on creating a giving program to support the community where they live and work.

Right away, their friends and colleagues were eager to help, and Teahen Construction’s popular charity golf tournament was born. This event supports the Teahens’ giving program, which provides nutritious food and basic hygiene supplies to local schools, and funds a scholarship program for local teens interested in the construction or skilled-trades industry. So far it’s raised more than $83K.

Safeguarding a successful giving program for tomorrow
After a while, Chris and Courtney began thinking about building a future for their program. They were worried about who would keep it going if they were ever unable to do it  themselves.

“It was such a relief when we met Heidi,” says Courtney. “She took all the mystery out of establishing a named fund, and explained that anyone could do it – you didn’t have to be a gigantic corporation. So that’s what we did.”

The Teahen family now holds two named funds within the Foundation, and both continue to receive proceeds from the golf tournament. One fund supports school-based nutrition programs, and the other supports the scholarship.

“We’re thrilled to have these funds housed within the Community Foundation,” says Courtney. “This way they’re here forever, supporting the kids who need it the most.”

Thank you, Chris and Courtney!

The Wightman Family Fund established in 2020 was created to support local youth hockey programs in Stratford and Listowel.  This fund will ensure local hockey will have support today, tomorrow, and forever.