“I started to set up my own charitable foundation, but a lawyer I knew explained that these small, independent foundations can become difficult for individuals like me to manage and administer,” says Bruce. “He connected me with the Oakville Community Foundation team to learn what they could do to support me. I also had the opportunity to meet other people with similar wishes so I could learn why they chose the route of setting up memorial funds with The Foundation.”

In 2013, Bruce established the Thyme to Thrive Foundation. The new memorial fund’s mandate was to raise funds and support research into natural alternatives to chemotherapy in the treatment of cancer, and proper diet and nutrition while undergoing cancer treatment.

Support through subsequent losses

Unfortunately, the family experienced several other tragedies and losses in the following years. Bruce reached out to The Foundation for assistance in recognizing other family members through gifts to Laurie’s memorial fund, and the team moved quickly; within hours, they developed a primarily paper-based solution to enable Bruce’s wishes, providing personalized memorial cards with donation instructions. Today, The Foundation has quick digital services that can be activated within a day to help families when they most need this type of support.

“Since I first established Laurie’s memorial fund, The Foundation has grown in many positive ways. Their systems are more sophisticated, but I’ve also been very impressed by the information they gather and provide about how we can make Oakville even stronger,” says Bruce. “They are identifying and addressing local issues such as homelessness, food security, education supports and mental illness: previously, I did not have a strong awareness of the prevalence of these issues in Oakville.”

Broadening the fund’s mandate for deeper meaning, more significant impact

Bruce hadn’t been able to get as involved with The Foundation over the years as he had initially hoped, so until recently, he hadn’t fully appreciated how much they do. He is now developing a greater appreciation of their approach to research, community and funding, which he says is very helpful as he considers the future of the fund. With The Foundation’s support, Bruce would like to build something sustainable that his sons can eventually take over and continue to run in memory of their mother.

“The Thyme to Thrive Foundation was originally focused around cancer. In hindsight, that very narrowly represented what Laurie’s life was about. As a fund, we need to grow, broaden our focus and fully represent what Laurie did while she was here: help people to live fulfilling and happy lives,” says Bruce.

“Yes, the Oakville Community Foundation takes away the administrative burden of running a memorial fund. But more than that, they help you deliver against your mandate. Small funds can have a hard time making a difference, but when you pool your resources and work with The Foundation, they enable you to amplify your impact in the Oakville community and beyond.”

“John was a self-made man who came from humble beginnings,” says April. “I wanted to honour his belief that education is the key to making change happen, and address his frustration with the barriers faced by members of the Indigenous community.”

April’s brother-in-law, Terry Jackson, who had been deeply involved with the Oakville Community Foundation for years, connected her with the organization. A key role of The Foundation is to work with individuals and families to understand their interests and find innovative ways to make their financial contributions count. April asked The Foundation team for help with creating a meaningful contribution and legacy for her late husband.

“I just told the team at The Foundation that John and I wanted to support education for Indigenous students. They completely took it from there and came back to me with a list of schools and programs we could fund,” explains April. “With The Foundation’s guidance, I decided to create an award at the University of Winnipeg.”

April selected the University of Winnipeg as a recipient because of their Community-based Indigenous Teacher Education Program, and because of the additional support they provide to students living away from home through their Access Program. Working with the Oakville Community Foundation, she established the John K. Macdonald Memorial Fund Award in Education.

“The Award was designed to go to an Indigenous student who is enrolled in the Faculty of Education and who has a keen interest in using their education to benefit their community and position themselves as a potential role model for others,” says April. “Our goal is that this award alleviates a student’s financial strains, positively influences their future and has a ripple effect on future generations.”

Since the Memorial Fund was established and awarded in 2015, April has had the opportunity to meet the recipient student, Donna, and see the difference the funding is making in her life. Donna is already teaching part-time in a school that serves many Indigenous children and is committed to making a difference in her community.

“Giving through the Oakville Community Foundation has been a terrific experience. The Foundation team manages my fund and does all of the legwork for ordinary people like me who just don’t know where to start. I’d recommend working with The Foundation for anyone trying to find a vehicle for their donated dollars and get the tax benefits of doing so,” says April.

“I’m looking forward to getting even more involved with The Foundation and more involved with the local issues. It’s a wonderful community of people working hard to make a difference, and it’s a real win-win for those of us who want to make an investment in the future, in people.”