The local Rotary Club is giving residents a chance to make a difference in other people’s lives.
The Rotary Club of St. Marys has established its Leave a Legacy Foundation  as an avenue for residents to donate towards a charitable cause either in the community or internationally, though the majority of dollars will be spent locally.
Rotarian Len Hawkins says the foundation has been in the works for a number of years, noting based on the Rotary’s work and contributions in the community, forming a foundation was a natural progression. Rotary clubs in nearby communities including Stratford and London already have well-established foundations in place.
“The Rotary Club is pretty well-known organization, and most people understand what we try and do in the community,” he notes. “We just want this to be another long-term option for people who have money they’d like to donate to a worthy cause.”
Donations towards the foundation can be any personal asset, whether that is money, bonds, shares, life insurance or property. Donations can come from individuals, corporations or organizations, while individuals and even an organization can request money from the foundation.
“The money from the foundation, whether it’s the interest or otherwise, goes back into the community, because that’s where it came from in the first place,” notes local Rotary president Dave Cunningham.
He says donors have the option of designating their donation towards a specific purpose, as long as their request is within the mandate of the foundation. Designated donations must be a minimum of $5,000.
Undesignated donations, meanwhile, will go into a general fund, and be used at the discretion of the foundation’s board of directors. There is no minimum amount for undesignated donations.
The foundation board consists of five Rotary members who each have at least five years membership with the club. According to a handout from the local Rotary Club, the board, which presently consists of a lawyer, accountant, banker, publisher and business executive, have adopted a conservative investment policy, and will manage donations with an emphasis on capital preservation.
Hawkins says donations will be used for “the betterment of the community,” noting that could include just about anything, including providing relief to a suffering family, assistance with someone’s education or assistance for an underprivileged citizen.
Hawkins notes the foundation will build over time, and hopefully appeal to local residents who wish to make a difference in their community even after they’re gone. Forming a family fund, for instance, would give future generations a way to help improve the community while honouring a loved one, he adds.  
“This is something that will last a lifetime.”
The first planned project to be funded at least partly through the foundation is a rehabilitation of the green space near the parking lot on the north side of Trout Creek. The Rotary Club will be releasing details about the project in the near future.