According to FRED, It All Starts in the Sandbox

When the Central Okanagan Foundation published its first Vital Signs Report in October 2009, areas for action were obvious.

One of the key findings of the report was that 25 per cent of children in our area are not ready for school by the time they enter Kindergarten. In a supposedly affluent area like the Central Okanagan, that is just not acceptable.

Immediately after the Central Okanagan Vital Signs Report was unveiled, the Central Okanagan Foundation joined forces with other funders interested in taking on this issue. 

This is not the time to be operating in a silo -- this is the time to join with others in the field and work together to bring about positive change. The old saying that together we are greater than the sum of our parts couldn't be truer!


Historically, agencies have planned and worked in isolation, competing for scarce dollars and reacting to problems that already exist. The more rational approach is to focus on prevention and take competition out of the mix. The right thing to ask is “What can we jointly do to make a difference for children?” 

Not only do we need non-profits working together, we also need funders working together if we are truly going to be successful in the long-term. From this observation came the birth of the Funding Really Early Development (FRED) Table, a funders table facilitated by Success By 6. It’s an opportunity for funders such as Central Okanagan Foundation, United Way, Okanagan Kids Care Fund, government and private foundations to liaise and talk about how we are meeting the needs of local children. 

The Central Okanagan Foundation is delighted to be a founding member of FRED. As funders, we need to move away from “one-off” initiatives. What the FRED table offers is an opportunity to jointly invest in a high-impact project; have it jointly implemented by non-profits; and jointly evaluated by the investment partners. 

Through this model, each investor is able to see how their individual money made a difference -- what their role was – as well as how the project as a whole made an impact in the community. Small investments pooled together can grow exponentially, as does the positive impact for the future of children.

Community research clearly points to the need for central places in the community dedicated to meeting the needs of young children and their caregivers. FRED decided this would be the perfect focus for our first funding initiative. Through Success by 6 and CATCH (Community Action Towards Children's Health) we decided to approach local service providers as a group. The result was a joint proposal by our local child-serving organizations to work together and put children's needs above any one particular service provider's mandate.

While the idea of Family Resource Programs is not new, the partnering approach is novel. Sharing staff, volunteers, resources and synergy is what this project is all about. Affectionately dubbed Sandbox Projects, the new approach offers central places throughout the community for parents and children to come together. The programs strengthen parenting, promote social networking, reduce isolation, and promote community cohesion. They are grounded in the belief that consistent, positive parenting practices and secure, healthy parent-child relationships are fundamental factors in all aspects of healthy child development. 

With April as the big launch month, FRED has already raised $128,000 of the necessary $168,000 to enhance and expand seven programs in the coming year. We’re confident we will meet our target. Invitations are being prepared for our special “SANDBOX” announcements at seven locations throughout the area. And what do you think we’ll be serving to toast our success? … Milk and cookies, of course! 

Leanne Hammond Komori is Executive Director of Central Okanagan Foundation

Jazz Sudbury hitting all the right notes

Believing that a strong performing arts sector enriches the community both socially and economically, the Sudbury Community Foundation set out to build and support its local arts scene.

Greater Sudbury’s Vital Signs reports indicated that Sudbury was lagging behind other cities in its commitment to the performing arts. It was clear that more needed to be done, so the Sudbury Community Foundation embarked on a new leadership initiative, Jazz Sudbury, to support and promote the wealth of talent that was growing in Sudbury, and to encourage the community to get behind its budding performing arts sector.

A very warm response to Jazz Sudbury’s kickoff event demonstrated that there is a pent-up demand for jazz music in the north. Cabaret 2009 was widely attended last March and gave us confidence to push forward with the Jazz Sudbury Festival. There are so many talented artists who have moved to bigger cities to flourish. We wanted to show Sudburians that we’ve got world-class performers who need our support, and a festival to showcase our great local talent seemed like a natural decision.

The first ever Jazz Sudbury Festival, headlined by Michael Kaeshammer was held in September 2009 to rave reviews.

The success of Jazz Sudbury in its first year confirmed that people in the community wanted cultural activities and a rich arts scene. “Seeing a project that was informed by Vital Signs come to life is very rewarding and encouraging,” notes SCF president Elyse Clements.

The next step for the Foundation is bringing together a Jazz Sudbury steering committee, not only to undertake festival organization, but to develop a long-term sustainability plan for the festival that will serve the community going forward. A continuing goal of our Vital Signs report is to engage citizens and inspire leaders to act.  What better way to show others what can be done than by setting the example?

Others in the arts community have pointed to the Vital Signs report to help their cause. The Sudbury Arts Council used the indicators in Vital Signs to secure more funding for arts and cultural programs in the city – the most funding it has received in the last 30 years.

Having quality research that is readily available to all Sudburians provides an important starting point for other community organizations and active citizens. Along with the Sudbury Community Foundation, they are working towards establishing social innovation projects in Sudbury that will bring together all sectors of the community.

Carmen Simmons is Executive Director of the Sudbury Community Foundation

Every Step Counts marks first year

Every Step Count ... Especially the First Step

Every Step Counts, a unique running program founded by the Victoria Foundation and hosted at the Victoria Cool Aid Society, marked its first anniversary with a special gathering on Feb. 18.

Drawing on the benefits of running and team work to foster self esteem, confidence, energy and positive growth, the program is for individuals experiencing challenges with addiction, mental health, poverty, homelessness and other social issues.

"By committing to pilot Every Step Counts, our Board was confident it would be an excellent fit for Victoria,” says Sandra Richardson, Victoria Foundation CEO. “Today’s gathering not only demonstrates the support we have from our community partners but the faces around the room are proof of the positive impact we are having within our community.”

The program has provided a wide range of physical and mental health benefits to the participants, including weight loss, decreased body mass index and decreased waist size. As Dr. David Bell, a physician of several of the runners, put it: “I have patients involved in the Every Step Counts program. Their involvement in this
program has had a very positive impact on their mental and physical health. I believe this program has done more to improve self-esteem and integrate these people into society than most of my medical interventions and will result in lower costs to the medical health system in general and the mental health system in particular.”

Almost two years ago, the Victoria Foundation brought forward the idea of Every Step Counts and, with the support of Frontrunners, Vancity, United Way of Greater Victoria, The Jawl Foundation and the TELUS Victoria Community Board, funding was secured. Victoria Cool Aid Society was then approached to develop, house and run this dynamic and positive health and wellness program.

Participants mark running milestones after demonstrating their commitment to keeping with the program. Upon joining they receive gently used running shoes. After five runs, they earn a water bottle, after 10, they receive a certificate and a technical shirt. After 15 runs, they are outfitted with brand new running shoes and at the 25 run mark, they earn two running hats: one to keep and one to give to an individual who has helped to make “every step count."

“This program draws its strength and dignity from each individual who comes out to run or walk,” explains Gillie Easdon, Every Step Counts Program Coordinator. ”We are all equals in our running gear, which means we can leave our histories, diagnoses and financial situations at the door. That is powerful.”

Total individual runs have reached 2,500 by over 120 participants as Every Step Counts enters its second year. Participation growth levels have been steady and the program seeks to add value to participants through things like monthly wellness talks. Both refreshing and empowering, Every Step Counts continues to inspire other communities and enrich its own mandate and potential.