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A Family Plan

Looking for a systematic way to give back to the community led Walter Montina, his wife Laurie and grown children Michael and Christine to sit down and develop a plan. "Over the years we've always given to a variety of charities and causes, but often in sort of a helter skelter manner," said Walter. Through a colleague at work, Walter had heard about the Lethbridge Community Foundation and read its Reports to the Community. After mulling the idea over for a couple of years, Walter and his family decided to start an Emerging Fund. "I really like the idea that the principal is maintained forever and the interest is used to support charities chosen by us," he explained. "I think that is a very

positive aspect of the Foundation."

"We decided that creating an Emerging Fund was a good way to contribute to our community. We have a certain percentage that we want to contribute to charity, and this makes it easy," Walter said. With an Emerging Fund, the donor contributes a minimum of $1,000 a year. Once the fund reaches $10,000, grants can be distributed. The Montina family has not yet decided which organizations will benefit from the fund once it matures. "We may focus on two or three causes so that the grants are large enough to make a difference," Walter mused. "Or we may just give the Foundation Board the discretion to support those causes that are in the most need."

"An Emerging Fund with the Lethbridge Community Foundation is giving us a method to plan our contributions to our community," he said. "It is a way to make a meaningful difference."

From the LCF Report to the Community 2007