Foundation Dinner 2010
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OF LETHBRIDGE AND SOUTHWESTERN ALBERTA
COMMUNITY FOUNDATION
We would like to thank all who took the time to support the Community Foundation of Lethbridge and Southwestern Alberta with your presence at the 12th annual Friends of the Foundation Dinner. We were very pleased to have Joan McCusker in Lethbridge to share her experiences with the Sandra Schmirler Foundation and her thoughts on How Ordinary People Do Extraordinary Things.
Every year at this event, we feature a donor and a grant recipient from among the many served by the Foundation. This year, we are recognizing Mr. John Ignatius, whose donor fund, established 25 years ago, continues to benefit youth in southwestern Alberta. We are also highlighting the impact of the Community Grants program with the story of one of the recipient organizations, the Bomber Command Museum of Canada.
I invite you to learn more about the Community Foundation of Lethbridge and Southwestern Alberta through the 2010 Report to the Community [available here]. Thank you to everyone who makes this event a success every year. Please enjoy the evening and best wishes to all of you.
[President of the Board]
Joan McCusker
Joan McCusker believes it is ordinary people who do extraordinary things. Through her experiences as a teacher, mom, world champion curler, Olympic Gold Medallist and CBC Commentator, Joan has collected a number of observations on the attitudes that propel ordinary people to build extraordinary lives. With a big smile, plenty of humour and a rinkful of Olympic examples, Joan explains the type of attitude and teamwork that builds success in every aspect of life.
Ordinary People Creating Lifelong Legacies
Mr. John Ignatius was a local rancher who created a legacy that continues to give back to the community. The TX Bar Ranches [John P. Ignatius] Fund was established 25 years ago and is a wonderful example of the power of an endowment fund.
With a $25,000 donation in 1985, Mr. Ignatius established a permanent endowment fund to support 4H Foundation scholarships. Over the past 25 years, the investment income of the endowment fund has enabled $43,000 to be awarded to deserving young people through 75 scholarships. In addition, the capital of the fund has grown to $40,000. John believed strongly in the lasting importance of a community foundation. After learning about community foundations in Lethbridge, John led the formation of the Community Foundation of Medicine Hat and Southeastern Alberta in 1992.
John will be remembered as a well-respected cowboy who enjoyed visiting his fellow ranchers and cattle buyers at auctions, telling stories over a cup of coffee. He will also be remembered by the communities of southern Alberta through the lasting legacies that he established. Many young people have been, and will be, inspired by the personal recognition, and financial assistance, of the TX Bar 4-H scholarships. The citizens of southeastern Alberta will forever benefit from the ongoing support of a community foundation for their area.
John Paul Ignatius did achieve his goal – he has made a lasting difference to the communities of southern Alberta.
This is just one example of a Donor Designated Fund. For more information on how to set up a fund of your own, or to learn about other funds, please contact the Community Foundation, or click here for more information.
Benefiting from the Community Fund
The Bomber Command Museum, operated by the Nanton Lancaster Society, is being featured tonight in recognition of the 50th anniversary of the arrival of the Lancaster bomber in Nanton. The Community
Foundation recognizes the achievements of the citizens who have built this very successful landmark. Inspired by Alberta's participation in the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan during WWII, local citizens purchased the Lancaster bomber with the long range view of preservation and interpretation of the history.
In 1960, George White of Nanton had the idea of acquiring an aircraft as a war memorial and tourist attraction for his town. After hearing that the Lancaster was to be scrapped, he, together with Howie Armstrong and Fred Garratt, purchased the bomber for $513. The trio donated the aircraft to the Town where over the next 20 years, volunteers and service clubs did what they could to keep Lancaster FM159 looking its best as millions of people drove by and the "Nanton Bomber" became a symbol for the Town.
Over the years, FM159 has witnessed countless other memorable moments as aircrew have relived their memories. These include both the battles they went through as well as happier times that forged
lifetime bonds with their fellow crew members.
This Saturday, September 25, 2010 the Society will celebrate the 50th anniversary of the arrival of the Lancaster in Nanton. The Community Foundation of Lethbridge and Southwestern Alberta is pleased to have played a role in the restoration of the Lancaster, providing grants in 1994 through 1996 for its repairs. In 2007, the Society also received a grant for fire prevention equipment for the museum.
The Community Foundation has been pleased to support this successful organization that serves such an important historical role in the community and southern Alberta.
Then
Now
Updated November 2010
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