The Sunset Community Foundation announced a new chair at its recent annual general meeting in South Huron.
Deb Gill was the chair for the last three years, a time she described as very interesting. There were no in-person meetings, and marketing almost came to a stand still.
“I would say that the foundation pivoted and became a flow-through for some really big grants from both the federal and provincial governments to support COVID relief,” she said.
Gill explained the way the foundation works is that they receive endowments or donations from organizations and families. All of that money is invested and then the interest from the investment is granted annually.
“Despite the fact that we’ve had a miserable year with the war in Ukraine and markets collapsing, we will be able to give more than $100,000 in grant dollars from our endowment fund,” she said.
Gill said they’re expanding more into Huron County and Lambton Shores and their plan is to expand further north to spread the word about what they do and how they can support a community.
Charlene Masschelein was announced as the new chair.
Also at the general meeting, the Sunset Community Foundation announced a $10,000 contribution to the Huron Area Newcomer Fund.
Foundation Chair Charlene Masschelein said the Newcomer Fund supports Ukrainian families who have recently arrived in Huron County. The money that was donated comes from the Ukraine Emergency Relief Fund, which was created by the Sunset Community Foundation shortly after the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
Masschelein said the Goderich Lions Club created the Huron Area Newcomer Fund in August 2022 in collaboration with the Huron County Immigration Partnership, the Goderich Ministerial Association, the Wingham Community Connectors, and other groups.
