The Annie and Isabelle Chesterfield Fund is a Field of Interest Fund at Stratford Perth Community Foundation that helps organizations and projects in the Town of St. Marys. The fund was established after the death of Isabelle Kennedy who always wanted to have a trust in memory of her mother Annie in the town she grew up in. The Fund continues to support the organizations as outlined in Isabelle's will, ensuring her and her mother's legacy will continue today, tomorrow and forever.

Supporting the Town of Listowel, while honouring a beloved husband and father.

Dale Carnegie (nee Cunningham) met husband-to-be Stephen Carnegie in Walkerton, where they both attended the old Walkerton District Secondary School. But they decided to settle in Listowel once they married, and Dale says it was one of the best decisions they ever made.

“It was such a wonderful place to raise a family,” says Dale today. “A really warm, friendly town, and so many activities for our boys. We all loved it.”

Dale had trained as a teacher in nearby Stratford, and taught elementary school before sons Geoff and George were born. Steve spent his entire career as an accountant with the local firm now called Ward & Uptigrove Chartered Professional Accountants.

Early family life was busy and happy, with Geoff and George involved with both the Boy Scouts and many community sports, particularly hockey. Steve coached sports and volunteered with the Listowel Kinsmen Club, while Dale volunteered with many church and community organizations.

When Steve passed away suddenly in 1987, Dale was left to raise two young teens on her own. She says her strong community ties were a great help, and is proud of the fine young men her sons have become.

Dale returned to her volunteer work once the boys were settled, and particularly enjoyed a stint with the Ontario Trillium Foundation. It was after this she was first approached by a Community Foundation volunteer, who thought Dale would be a wonderful asset to the Foundation board. After some thought, she agreed, and served on the Foundation board for several years.

“Back then, Tim MacDonald was Chair, and I had taught him in grade three,” she laughs. “But I was so impressed with the way he handled those meetings. I can’t give him enough praise for getting the Foundation off the ground in its early years.”

After seeing how a community foundation could help a community forever, Dale and her sons decided to make a gift in honour of Steve. The Carnegie Family Fund, established in 2009, now supports programs and projects in the town of Listowel that enhance the community and its residents.

To donate to this fund, complete the form.

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Make a difference. That’s what Sarah Proudlove (nee Hislop) and her daughter Jane Proudlove want to do for their community. Jane’s grandmother Edna raised a large family and once told her granddaughter that she wished she could have given her family and others in her community more opportunities. This comment inspired Jane and Sarah to look into ways of supporting others in need – for the long-term.Jane, who lives in Alberta, and was the Chair of the Red Deer & District Community Foundation recommended establishing an endowment fund. As one of the very first funds at the Stratford Perth Community Foundation, the George and Edna Hislop Family Fund provides support for Perth County children and families in need. “We wanted a way to remember my parents while giving people a hand up who need it,” shares Sarah.

Sarah and Jane have seen the results that poverty, mental health and abuse has on families and want to help ensure those in need receive the support they need to live happier lives. Through the George & Edna Hislop Family Fund they’ve provided funding for camp fee subsidies, skating lessons and a splash pad.

Jeff and Keltie Keller Family Fund

Supporting arts programs for kids and youth in Perth County

Jeff and Keltie Keller didn’t have much exposure to arts programs in their community. But then their six-year-old daughter signed herself up for a school talent contest, and won.

After that, it was one arts program after another. Today this young lady is finishing up a four-year degree at one of the country’s best musical- theatre schools.

“All three of our kids became heavily involved in the arts, and the skills they learned were incredible,” says Keltie. “But we knew these programs were always short of money. We wanted to help – to make sure that experience would always be there for the kids in our community.”

The Kellers decided the best way to accomplish this would be to establish a fund with the Community Foundation. Today they’re excited to watch this fund grow, and looking forward to seeing what it will support in the future.

“The Community Foundation is really the heartbeat of our community – we can’t imagine a better partner in helping us build a legacy for tomorrow’s young artists,” says Jeff.

The Jim and Laurel Laughton Family Fund is a Field of Interest Fund that was established in 2009. Jim and Laurel are both from Perth County and decided to raise a family here because they wanted the same quality of life they experienced growing up for their children. Jim has been a valued Board Member and friend of the Stratford Perth Community Foundation for many years and still volunteers on our Fund Development Committee. The Laughtons chose youth in Perth County as an area of interest for their fund because they believe that young people are our most valuable resource and know that families and youth today face many challenges. Because of their help, we can grant out to projects, causes and organizations that contribute to the physical, psychological, social and emotional well-being of youth. Two places that have benefited from this fund are Mitchell District High School and Romeo Public School.

The seven children of Keith and Frances Culliton – Catherine, Patricia, Michael, Gerald, Joan, Mary and Tim – have no end of pride in the accomplishments of their parents. This pride is particularly evident when they speak of their parents’ service to the community. Keith’s service is well known – mayor of Stratford, city councillor and board member of the Stratford Shakespearean Festival and Public Utility Commission to name a few. Sadly Frances passed away in 2016 but she was also a recognized and accomplished community leader. She was on the Founding Board of L’Arche in Stratford, the Parks Board, Horticultural Society, Children’s Aid Society Board and Chair of the St Joseph’s Parish Council. Says son Tim, "Mom and Dad are wonderful examples of busy people who still found time to give back to their community.” The Fund was created in recognition of Keith and Frances’ life long commitment to community service and supports projects or organizations that involve young people as participants in or beneficiaries of community service projects.

Supporting opportunities for disadvantaged youth

How can a caring community support disadvantaged kids? Just ask Lloyd and Nancy Robertson.

Lloyd Robertson grew up in Stratford as the youngest of ten children from two separate families and didn’t have an easy time of it. “My dad was 60 when I was born, and became ill when I was 10. My mom was also sick, and eventually they were both hospitalized,” says Lloyd. “I became almost a transient foster child, but learned right away who was there to help when you needed it most.”

For young Lloyd this was a combination of siblings, neighbours and friends, and he quickly got a sense of being part of a larger community family. “Everyone took me under their wing,” he remembers. “Even the fellow who drove the bread wagon would take me along on his rounds. He’d give me 25¢ to run a loaf of bread or a pie up to Mrs. So-and-So’s front porch.”

Lloyd’s community-based family expanded when he made some lifelong friends at Stratford’s local high school. These included a young fellow whose stepdad happened to own CJCS, the local radio station where 18-year-old Lloyd landed the interview that launched his career in broadcasting. Meanwhile, Nancy Barrett was also growing up in Stratford, although in less daunting circumstances.

“We loved it,” she remembers. “My family didn’t have a car until I was 18, but the town was small enough and friendly enough that my friends and I just walked everywhere. It was so pretty, and there was always so much to do.”

Lloyd and Nancy began dating in their senior year, and married in 1956. By this time Nancy had completed training as an elementary school teacher, and Lloyd was moving into television.

Over the next 60 years, the couple raised four daughters and lived in communities across Canada. But they never forgot their roots, and they still visit Stratford as often as they can.

“When we found out about the Community Foundation, we knew instantly we wanted to set up a fund,” says Lloyd. “And we specifically wanted to help youth who needed to know their community was behind them.”

Nancy agrees. “We feel so lucky to have grown up here, and wanted today’s kids to feel that same level of comfort and support. We’re so glad we can help.”

We’re thrilled to help Lloyd and Nancy support their hometown – thank you both so much.

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“Our family believes in returning something to the community that has been so good to us,” said Peter Mansbridge and Cynthia Dale on initiating the Mansbridge Environment Fund. “Stratford and Perth County are beautiful, an area that people the world over love to visit. Hopefully the Fund in its small way will help worthy environmental projects keep it that way.” As well as serving the intended purpose of giving back to the community, the Mansbridge Environment Fund will also ‘give forward’ as future generations will benefit from the positive environmental changes that will result. Grants from the Mansbridge Environment Fund will support a variety of environmental organizations and causes.

After spending over 40 years in real estate finance, local philanthropist Alric (Ric) McGratten is making his retirement all about helping children and youth.Recently Ric set up the McGratten Children’s Fund at the Stratford Perth Community Foundation (SPCF) to assist children and youth in need. “During my career I had lots of opportunities to volunteer with organizations that involved children – minor sports, community associations and charities such as Habitat for Humanity,” notes Ric McGratten. “From this experience I was able to appreciate that a simple act to help a child can have such a positive impact on their life – children are our future.” Ric continues to be motivated by his volunteer work. He’s been able to witness a child's delight when they first learn to stand up and glide on skates, score their first goal in soccer and get their first hit in T-ball. Participating at Habitat for Humanity allowed Ric to take families on a visit to their Habitat house while under construction and let children see their bedrooms and choose their paint colours. “A child's reaction is sincere, honest and is the true definition of joy – that’s my inspiration,” adds Ric.

The Meulensteen Tire Environment Fund is a field of interest fund that was established in 2009 within the Stratford Perth Community Foundation.  This fund was created by brothers Steve and Dave Meulensteen, they believe that supporting environmental causes is a smart choice and a way they can give back to their community. The goal of the fund is to not only have an impact now but to also create a means to support the environment in the future. Grants from this Fund support environmental projects in North Perth and in the past have given to Maitland Valley Conservation Authority and the Municipality of North Perth.

The North Perth Sports for Kids Fund is a Field of Interest Fund that was established in 2009 at the Stratford Perth Community Foundation. This fund was the brainchild of Amy Gangl, Program Coordinator of the Municipality of North Perth who felt there was a need for a fund to help local families with the costs associated with playing sports and joining recreational activities. The seed money came from the bequest of a North Perth resident, the late Jean Oke, who also saw a need to help youth and children in her community. Over the years the citizens of North Perth have supported this fund and it continues to grow! The funds can be accessed through the Salvation Army North Perth to assist families with costs associated to sports and rec activities.

In 2016, the City of Stratford made history by hosting an International Amateur Theatre Association event – the first time an event like this had ever been held in North America. For 10 days, the 14th World Festival of Children’s Theatre brought together the world’s best in children’s theatre. Over 200 young thespians between the ages of seven and 15 rocked the stages of Stratford, participating in performances, workshops and academic events exploring the theme “My World, Our Planet.” This fund will provide support for local children and youth arts programs and projects. “We wanted to do something that would continue to inspire and engage generations of young people around arts, theatre and culture – today, tomorrow, forever,” shares Dave Bean, Treasurer of the 14th World Festival of Children’s Festival.

The Reading Fund is a field of interest fund that was established in 2005. Reading has always been important to local community enthusiast Dr. Harry Brightwell. He has stated, “As children, my sisters and I watched our mother, whose formal education ended before grade eight, gain a great deal of enjoyment and education from her reading.” Inspired by their mother, Harry, and his siblings all became avid readers themselves, especially one of his favourite sisters Marion. After she passed away, Harry decided to create a fund dedicated to reading and literacy in her memory. Since the creation of this fund, it has supported many organizations like the Stratford Public Library and the St. Marys Public Library.