Gift from the Heart To Local Charities

HCF
February 7, 2025

What better month than February for a gift from the Heart?

2 people holding a big cheque made out to north simcoe charities

The gift, over $102,000 from the new “Heart of Georgian Bay Community Forward Fund” administered by Huronia Community Foundation (HCF), will be shared by 26 deserving charities in our area.

Now in its second year, the HCF “Heart” fund was established thanks to a generous donation by the M. Wayne and J. Coleman family, and underscores their commitment to the future of Huronia. Grants from the fund support many important causes in our community, from Creativity in the Arts and Culture, to Education, Literacy and Training opportunities, Environmental Leadership, Food Security, Healthy Living Activities and the Promotion of Mental Health.

There’s lots of room for the fund to grow, adds Scott Warnock, HCF Executive Director. “The Wayne/Coleman Family strongly believes in the importance of supporting our local communities and paying it forward. We hope others join them, and us, in helping this fund grow every year.”

The 26 local charities sharing over $102,000 through the Heart of Georgian Bay Community Forward Fund include:

Georgian Bay Food Network – Healthy Food Purchasing
Big Brothers Big Sisters of North Simcoe – Mindful Morning
Community Reach North Simcoe – Food REACH
Midland Public Library – Digital Programming
Society of St. Vincent de Paul St. Mary’s Victoria Harbour Food Bank – Healthy Hampers
CLH Foundation – Bridging the Gap – Supporting the Dignity of Choice
North Simcoe Chapter – Habitat for Humanity Gateway North – Generation Homes North Simcoe
Askennonia Senior Centre – Healthy Minds Happy Hearts
Severn Sound Environmental Association – Hogg Creek Community Stewardship Initiative
Midland Cultural Centre – Connecting Students to Indigenous Art and Artists
Brookside Music Association – Brookside School Outreach Program
St. Theresa’s Catholic High School – Superstars Breakfast Club Program
We Are The Villagers – Villager Kids
Operation Grow – Cooking Workshops
BGC of North Simcoe (Formerly Boys and Girls Club of North Simcoe) – Smart and Healthy Snack Packs
Scientists in School – Inclusive STEM Enrichment in Simcoe County
The Guesthouse Shelter – Community Cleanup and Wellness Program
Georgian Bay Cancer Support Centre – Self-Care during the Cancer Journey
Huronia Museum – Joining the Group of Seven
Sistema Huronia Music Academy – Here We Grow Again
Society of St. Vincent de Paul St. Margaret’s Conference – Hope and Health
Warm and Cozy Children’s Charity – Break the Cycle of Hopelessness
Quest Art School + Gallery – HeARTfelt Community Connections
Christian Island Minor Hockey – Help the Kids Play
Ontario Nature – Enhancing Community Engagement in Snake Conservation in the Heart of Georgian Bay
Junior Achievement NEO – Financial Literacy Programs

Generous citizens and companies are the benefactors who fund the Huronia Community Foundation. Working with 206 other members of Community Foundations of Canada, HCF then builds financial legacies through endowments, using them to make our local community a better place to live, work and play. Since 2000, HCF has provided over $3.5 million in grants.