President's Message

The Community Foundation of the North Okanagan (CFNO) has enjoyed another very positive year. Endowment Funds grew by $800,000. Funds Available for Distribution to the community this year will exceed $330,000, enabled by a stellar return on invested funds of 11.08%.

I am particularly pleased that some of Vernon's largest agencies including the VJH Hospital Foundation, the Performing Arts Centre Society and the Vernon & District Museum Society continue to express confidence in CFNO and its investment practices by placing substantial sums of money with the Foundation.

I first became a Director of CFNO in 1988. That year our Endowment Funds totaled $138,000. Today funds exceed $8.4 Million and growth is accelerating. While I believe CFNO can be proud of its progress, I believe we can do better.

Over the years I have attended many seminars on fund raising and charitable giving. The primary message of these seminars is that to raise charitable funds, you must go out into your community and ask for donations. Experience has shown that friends, business associates and clients will on the whole, respond positively to such appeals.

Our greatest challenge is the continued growth of our Endowment Funds through contributions from the community. I know there are many citizens who have prospered in their businesses, who have enjoyed the bountiful lifestyle the North Okanagan has to offer, and whom I believe might well be prepared to return something to their community.

As you read this message and the accompanying material on CFNO, I would ask you to consider a financial contribution to the Foundation. I would encourage you at this time to take the necessary steps to benefit the Foundation and your community. A gift of money, a contribution to a named fund, the making of a testamentary gift by will - all would be very much appreciated and would enable CFNO to continue to grow and better address the charitable needs of the North Okanagan Communities.

I would be remiss if I did not thank all of our Donors for their contributions, and our Board of Directors who volunteer their time and expertise in support of the Foundation.

Keith Allan, President