Written by: Wendy Rinella, CEO, Oakville Community Foundation
This week we’re launching a new research series on generosity called: the Oakville Generosity Report. Why? Because generosity is not only fundamental to the operation of our local charities but our community is built on generosity.
I often remark that If you remove private businesses, private homes, and most government buildings (not all), everything else is built with generosity. When we come together as a community and share our time, talent and treasure, we build community well-being for everyone.
Consider the generosity that has built, and continues to support, Oakville’s social infrastructure:
- Health facilities like Oakville Trafalgar Memorial Hospital, Acclaim Health’s Patty’s Place, Wellspring Birmingham Gilgan House, Ian Anderson House and ErinOakKids Centre for Treatment and Development;
- Local public and private schools through Parent-Teacher Councils, fundraising campaigns and donations;
- Sheridan College facilities and student awards;
- Public facilities like Oakville Public Library and the Oakville Centre for Performing Arts, including sponsored programs for shows;
- Recreational places like the YMCA of Oakville and every youth sports team and performing arts group including fundraisers and parent volunteers;
- Many outdoor public places like Lions Valley Park, The Canadian Caribbean Association Community and Harmony Garden at QEPCCC, and the Oakville Heritage Trails built in 2000 by OCF;
- Tree plantings by Oakvillegreen, butterfly and food gardens and conservation activities by Conservation Halton;
- All the service clubs like Oakville Rotary Clubs, Maycourt Club, Optimists Club, Lions Club, and faith groups that support community activities from scholarships to food banks to rib fests;
- And, of course, charity locations like the Lion’s Foundation of Canada Dog Guides training facility, Community Living Oakville, Kerr Street Mission, March of Dimes Jean and Howard Caine Apartments, The Lighthouse for Grieving Children, Darling Home for Kids, Oak Park Neighbourhood Centre, Salvation Army Lighthouse Shelter, Fare Share Food Bank, Oakville Meals on Wheels, Home Suite Hope, The Halton Women’s Centre and more..
In 1971, Gairloch Gardens was bequeathed to the Town of Oakville by the estate of James A. Gairdner, who requested that the residence be used as an art gallery and the remaining land become a public park. This generous bequest is now the home of the Oakville Galleries.
Generosity can range from an hour of volunteering to a lasting legacy like Gairloch Gardens. It’s fundamental to the health of our community.
I would suggest that if you show me a community with declining levels of generosity— it will be a community of declining well-being.
Oakville’s residents are generous by national standards, with a higher participation rate in donations by Oakville taxfilers and a higher median donation. However, there are trends that are beginning to gnaw at the intersection of our community’s social infrastructure and generosity.
We will explore these issues starting in our new report and we look forward to hearing from you. If this report inspires you, the GIVEOakville Fund is open year-round and the official campaign is just around the corner, as an outlet for your generosity.
Read the Oakville Generosity Report
