Bursary Applications are now being accepted for 2012

The Community Foundation is very pleased to launch a new funding program which will provide bursaries to deserving students.

The funding for these bursaries comes from two endowment funds:

1. Sharon Amos Legacy Fund for the Arts
2. John & Kathy Scarfo Fund

Please review the criteria and application forms carefully before applying.  If suitable, applicants are welcome to submit applications for funding from both endowment funds.

Sharon Amos Legacy Fund for the Arts

Deadline for applications: March 15, 2012

Application Form

The Sharon Amos Legacy Fund for the Arts was created to provide financial assistance to individuals seeking education in the Arts.

If you have lived in Penticton for any length of time you have most likely been affected by the energy and vision of Sharon Amos.  Tragically lost on January 14, 2010, Sharon was truly a force of nature.

After enjoying a very successful career as a marketing executive in Victoria, Vancouver, and Edmonton, Sharon retired to Penticton in 1998 with her husband, Ben Amos.

As was her habit, she immediately set about changing things for the better.  This included spearheading the effort to save Okanagan Lake Park from commercial development, chairing Penticton’s Centennial Advisory Committee, and founding Many Hats Theatre Company, for which she acted and produced on many occasions.

Considering the legacy that Sharon has left in her passing, it is only fitting that the Rotary Club of Penticton should initiate a Legacy Fund in her name, to which many citizens of Penticton have already contributed.

This Donor Advised Fund allows Sharon’s husband, Ben, and her family to advise the Community Foundation’s Grants Committee in the selection of award recipients.

Dr. John & Kathy Scarfo Bursary Fund

Deadline for applications: March 15, 2012

Application Form

Born in 1924, the tenth of 12 children, Dr. Scarfo experienced many trials in his early years.  His illiterate parents immigrated from Italy in 1909 to Vancouver where they struggled to survive.  Those struggles only intensified when Dr. Scarfo’s father was tragically killed in 1931.

It was then left to his mother to raise the ten children who still lived at home.  The only compensation she received was a widow’s pension of about $42 per month.  In order to survive, all the children left school after grade 8 and looked for work, which was an extremely difficult task during the Great Depression.

In 1946, Dr. Scarfo decided to complete his high school education after which he went on to start his pre-med training.  He was only able to complete one year of pre-med at UBC before running out of funds.  He then took a year off to work and save so that he could complete pre-med.

This need to take time to save money almost jeopardized Dr. Scarfo’s admission to BC’s new medical school.  It was only the promise of support, if necessary, from Dean Gage that allowed him to be accepted into the program.  And so it was that in Dr. Scarfo’s 3rd and 4th years of medical school that he needed financial support from Dean Gage in order to continue his education.

Dean Gage supported Dr. Scarfo with money from his own pocket and Dr. Scarfo feels forever grateful for this act of generosity.  It is with this sense of gratitude that Dr. Scarfo has established his Bursary Fund with the goal of “paying it forward” and supporting other struggling students who are striving to make a better life for themselves and their families.

This redirects to the 2011 page.

2011 Vital Signs Report

For details on the entire Vital Signs process please click here.

1000 copies of the report have been printed and are available to the public.

We are distributing copies to all local charities, churches, service groups, etc. but would also love for concerned citizens to pick up a copy.

You can view the report online by clicking here.

If you would like a copy mailed to you please fill out this form:

[form order-vital-signs]

2011 Grant to Okanagan International Childrens Festival

Every year, the Okanagan International Childrens Festival hosts thousands of children and their families for an old-fashioned good time.

The quality of the entertainment is truly remarkable (especially for an area of our size) and the team works very hard to make it a success.

It turns out that they have become a victim of their own success and were literally spilling out from the boundaries of the park.  As a result, festival-goers not only fight the crowds, but it has become difficult to figure out where everything is… there’s just so much going on!

This year, the Festival applied to the Community Foundation for funding to produce directional signs that would keep people moving.

The Festival was granted $1410 for the production of these reusable, adjustable signs.  Money very well spent in our opinion.

What we, as a Foundation, love about this project is that we’re able to make a one time investment that will have a lasting impact.  In addition, the Childrens Festival provides huge, community-wide benefit year after year.

We are very pleased to have partnered with them in this way.

Welcome to our 2011 Vital Signs Headquarters

The Community Foundation of the South Okanagan is very pleased to present Penticton’s first Vital Signs report on October 4, 2011.

You can now view the completed report here.

6 months in the making, this report will be used by groups and individuals throughout the community to help make Penticton a better place to live, work and play.

Background on Vital Signs | Vital Signs Issue Areas | Vital Signs Community Leadership Team

The Latest Vital Signs News | Vital Signs Canada website |  Vital Signs on Facebook

Where are all the young people?

The good news is that the 2011 Vital Signs survey has more than 540 respondents now.  This is fantastic!

The bad news is that we have no respondents from 15-18 year olds.

We really need to hear from these people so if you know any, please ask them to complete the survey by clicking here.  The average completion time is about 8 minutes, but that’s for older people who are not as tech-savvy as the youngsters!  I’m sure 15-18 year olds can answer the questions even faster!

So please pass on the word.  This is their chance to be heard!  Fill out the survey here!

2011 Grant to the Centre of Excellence at Okanagan College

Donna Lomas, Regional Dean; Paul McCann, President of CFSO; Ross Saunders and Cory Nelmes – Okanagan College Students Union representatives; Aaron McRann, Executive Director of CFSO; Jim Henderson, President – Okanagan College Foundation and Chair – Centre of Excellence Campaign

The Okanagan College Centre of Excellence is an impressive undertaking that has given Penticton a truly remarkable building that will be used to educate and inspire students for generations.  Because of its importance to the life and vitality of Penticton, the Community Foundation felt it was essential to be involved in the project.  The Foundation’s grant of $6564 for the purchase of gym equipment met our grant criteria, while also allowing us to be a part of this lasting legacy.

Not only does the Centre of Excellence offer cutting edge environmental studies, but the gym (available for students and staff) is equally impressive.  Filled with cutting edge equipment that would surely be enough for a professional sports team, students using this gym will have no excuse for being out of shape.  The equipment is all new, covers every conceivable exercise, and is in a well-lit, inspiring environment.

The Foundation is happy to have been a part of this project and we look forward to working with the College more in the future.

2010 Grant Stories

Agur Lake Camp securing visitor safety

The Agur Lake Camp Society has done amazing things… with many more amazing accomplishments yet to come. This year, the Society applied to the Community Foundation of the South Okanagan for funding to build a perimeter fence around their property.  read more…

BC SPCA upgrades it’s dog run area

This year the Community Foundation made a significant grant to the BC SPCA in Penticton.  The dog run area for the centre was in dire need of upgrading.  read more…

We’re doing it for the kids!

The 2010 Children’s Festival was another huge success and the Community Foundation of the South Okanagan was happy to play a small part.  The Festival applied to the Community Foundation for funding to purchase a marquee tent to house the ticket sales at the entrance to the event.  read more…

Dragonfly Pond Society helping children get moving!

Dragonfly Pond has a variety of programs for children with complex needs, many that make the children as active as possible within the limitations of their illness.  The Community Foundation of the South Okanagan is honoured, this year, to support the work of the Dragonfly Pond Society by helping with the purchase of two special-needs bikes that will allow young children to enjoy the thrill of riding a bike.  read more…

CMHA Photo Voice

The Canadian Mental Health Association of the South Okanagan Similkameen applied for a grant from the Community Foundation of the South Okanagan to support the unique Photo Voice project.  Photo Voice is “a tool to give voice through photography to individuals who are marginalized”.  read more…

Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Okanagan

Of course, we all remember the struggles of puberty, but teens today live in a world that may be the most challenging we have ever experienced.  Teens are constantly inundated with images and storylines that reinforce that “they are not good enough”.   Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Okanagan offers Go Girls! Healthy Bodies, Healthy Minds,  a group mentoring program designed to address the physical activity, balanced eating and positive self-image needs of young girls, age 10 – 12.  read more…

400 respondents in 2 weeks!

Wow! Are we ever excited at the response to the Vital Signs Survey! Published only on-line to date, more than 400 people have completed the survey in the past two weeks.

Obviously, Pentictonites care deeply about their community!  But we do need to keep the momentum going and get at least 1000 responses.

We have noticed that a relatively small number of young people have completed the survey, so if you have young adults in your life please urge them to take 8 minutes (yes, that’s all it takes) to have their say about Penticton.

The online survey can be accessed here.  The paper survey can be downloaded here.

Also, please check out our Vital Signs Facebook page.

For more details about Vital Signs check out these pages.

Jane Shaak, Shatford Centre; Tom Lawrence, True Colour Paint & Window; Aaron McRann, Community Foundation; Ken Sewell, Summerland Tim-BR Mart; Michelle Stefan, Summerland Asset Development Initiative

Today’s Penticton Herald has a great article about Benjamin Moore and the company’s efforts to support local charities.  They have partnered with Community Foundations of Canada and the Community Foundation of the South Okanagan to provide paint and funding to two local charities for the restoration and rehabilitation of their buildings.

This year’s recipients are the Shatford Centre in Penticton and the Summerland Asset Development Initiative (SADI) in Summerland.  The local Benjamin Moore partners are Tom Lawrence from True Colour Paint and Window in Penticton and Ken Sewell from Summerland Tim-BR Mart.

Benjamin Moore chose to partner with the Community Foundation because of it’s wealth of local expertise and contacts.  The Community Foundation was used to help spread the word about the Community Restoration Program and also provided insight during the application review process.

The Community Foundation of the South Okanagan would like to applaud Benjamin Moore and it’s local partners for their commitment to making a difference in the local community.  It has truly been a pleasure working with them on this project.

You can view the full press release here.