If you are afforded any vacation time this year, I’ll venture you’re eager to take a few days or weeks off this summer to enjoy the sweltering weather we’ve had. Maybe you’ve made family plans to peruse a bounty of cultural, artistic, or educational events this region has to offer every year.
For me, I was so pleased last weekend to attend the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria’s 35th annual Paint-In, where Moss Street was swarmed with tens of thousands of festivalgoers keen to explore the works of over 160 Island artists. The street was alive with colourful chatter, music, food and of course plenty of paint!
I’ve also kept in mind that while there are so many concerts and festivals to choose from in the coming months, many events are by our region’s charities and non-profits, in support of their causes. Indeed, these organizations are the beating heart of our community all year round.
I’m grateful for all our generous community members taking care to include philanthropy in their summer holiday plans. This season, it’s especially important.
The latest State of B.C.’s Non-Profit Sector report released in June found that civil society is under more pressure than ever. Organizations are grappling with skyrocketing inflation costs and service demands, while continuing to face declines in revenue and volunteerism, among other things.
The sector’s growing need for support is palpable within the Victoria Foundation’s walls. This month, we announced record distributions for our flagship Community Grants Program: over $6.1 million in grants to a staggering 252 organizations. $1.3 million of the funding is coming from the Government of BC’s Community Prosperity Fund.
Thanks to you, all this generosity will make a remarkable difference in the year ahead. Now, I encourage you to keep up the compassion, as Victoria has proven itself to do time and time again.
If you’d like to feel good about supporting your community while enjoying the summer, there are plenty of activities — from making shell-laced sea lanterns out of mason jars at the Maritime Museum, to enjoying live French music in Plaza Franco with La Société francophone de Victoria.
You could take your children to the Gorge Waterway Nature House, where there’s a fascinating aquarium and other wilderness activities that promote a healthy environment. Also, the avant-garde Intrepid Theatre is presenting the annual Victoria Fringe Festival this August — that’s certainly one not to miss.
Finally, you could round out your summer with a hand (and a fork) for those without a home. Our Place Society’s 10th annual Hungry Hearts Gala will be held on Sept. 21. There you can sample culinary delights and network with some of the island’s top chefs, with the proceeds toward Our Place’s new long-term addiction recovery program for women.
Greater Victoria is renowned for its summer festivals and events, and social purpose initiatives permeate our local event schedules. What a reminder of how philanthropy touches us all, even on vacation.
We’re fortunate to access such a rich menu of summer activities that support all facets of community wellbeing. Let’s keep the momentum going strong!
Sandra Richardson is CEO of the Victoria Foundation.
