Dear Editor,
Last week, the Bowen Island Community Foundation held its Annual General Meeting at Tir-na-nOg, which included a truly festive celebration of our first 10 years of community leadership and philanthropy.
At the AGM, the Board of Directors announced a special “5X5” grant initiative for 2014 that will make five x $5,000 grants available to community groups. This $25,000 initiative is part of what Bowen Islanders generously donated during our most recent giving campaign. The Foundation will supplement these special 2014 grants with community grants and scholarships from our endowed funds.
To help us to prioritize how the “5X5” and other grants will be awarded, the Foundation is hosting a forum of community leaders on May 31, an event we call 'Vital Conversations'. I look forward to reporting on the outcomes of that forum later in the spring.
On another note, and on behalf of the Foundation Board of Directors, I want to publicly recognize the extraordinary community service of our retiring Chair, Joyce Ganong. As befits the Foundation's philosophy, Joyce has worked tirelessly behind the scenes for the past eight years to help make Bowen a better place to live.
Our AGM really was a wonderful celebration. I also want to publicly thank the performing guests who helped to rock the festivities: Lorraine Ashdown, “Rapper Extraordinaire” David Cameron, Peter Clarke, Ralph Keefer, and Peter McLean.
Soren Hammerberg
Chair, Bowen Island Community Foundation
