The theme of this year’s report — A Place to Belong — illustrates not only the ways in which Hamiltonians are working to build stronger and more inclusive communities, but also the connection between people and place.

The wraparound cover and unique photographic style exemplifies that connection. Julie Bérubé, Tony Lemma, Fatima Mesquita and Autumn Getty are graduates from each of the last four years of HCF’s Neighbourhood Leadership Institute. The “NLI” is a leadership and skill-building program that nurtures people’s talents, values and interests to transform their neighbourhoods and communities.

It’s a remarkable expression of how people, place and belonging are intertwined.

Learn more about the Neighbourhood Leadership Institute here.


LOCAL ACTION FOR PEACE

Ray Cunnington’s passion is peace. And he believes that individuals, not just nations, create the conditions for peace both locally and around the world. He’s a perfect example of putting that idea into practice.

Ray has a long history of peace initiatives. At age 96 he recently published a book on peace called Towards Less Adversarial Cultures. The previous year he was awarded the Hamilton-Burlington-Brantford YMCA Peace Medal. Three years ago, he established a fund at Hamilton Community Foundation to provide support for Culture of Peace Hamilton, a United Nations-backed group which works with others in the community to promote non-violence locally.

Read more about Ray’s passion for peace here.

TUTORING PROGRAM HELPS STUDENTS MAKE THE GRADE IN THEIR NEW HOME

Using everything from fraction games and make-your-own-book projects to soccer tournaments and campus tours, Empowerment Squared’s Homework Circle is helping newcomer youth imagine a brighter future through education.

The program is supported by ABACUS, HCF’s 10-year initiative to increase high-school graduation and post-secondary access in Hamilton. Through ABACUS, the Homework Circle will provide one-on-one tutoring, mentoring and academic goal setting to remove educational barriers for as many as 100 at-risk and newcomer middle school students each year.

Click here to read more about how the Homework Circle changes kids’ lives.

REGIMENT ENSURES ITS LEGACY

The Royal Hamilton Light Infantry’s long and rich history in this community now has another tie: a permanent endowment fund at Hamilton Community Foundation.

Known as the “Rileys,” RHLI is a professional, combat-capable army reserve regiment. It is the oldest combat infantry regiment in the Hamilton-Burlington area.

Read about the RHLI Endowment Fund here.

GIVING WITH CONFIDENCE: LOSANI FAMILY FOUNDATION FUND

Shelly Losani didn’t expect that being engaged in responding to community needs would feel so natural — and so important.

After years of family and corporate giving she says the feeling she has when she visits an organization and meets the people they are helping is more than satisfaction: “It’s a feeling of yes of course — this is how it should be.”

Read about the Losani Family Foundation Fund here.

CANADA 150 FUNDING HELPS HAMILTONIANS BE THE FACE OF CHANGE

Canada’s history when it comes to Indigenous people is nothing to be celebrated, but an HCF grant is working to help Hamiltonians heal and move forward together.

In partnership with the Community Fund for Canada’s 150th, HCF is supporting 43 wide-ranging projects across Hamilton that inspire understanding, build healthy communities and engage a broad and diverse group of people.

Read more about I Am Committed here.

HIGH QUALITY END-OF-LIFE CARE

Linda Hutchinson is ensuring that high standards continue in hospice and palliative care — a legacy that began with her father, Dr. Bob Kemp, a passionate crusader for quality end of life care. He played a critical role in bringing palliative care and the Dr. Bob Kemp Hospice into existence in Stoney Creek/Hamilton.

Click here to read more about Linda Hutchinson’s newly established fund.

BISTRO PUTS JOB SKILLS ON THE MENU FOR THOSE LIVING WITH MENTAL ILLNESS

Look behind the stainless steel prep counter at The Rainbow’s End Bistro and you’ll find a pot of gold — a meaningful job for those with lived experience of mental illness.

The Bistro anchors the busy food court at St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton’s West 5th location. With a focus on serving healthy, high quality food, it’s a social enterprise providing training and employment for those living with mental illness.

Read the full story about Rainbow’s End here.

CONNECTING COMMUNITY ONE MEAL AT A TIME

It’s a cold and rainy Saturday morning, but inside Neighbour 2 Neighbour’s Hamilton Community Food Centre on Limeridge Road West, everyone gets a warm welcome.

The centre is the first of its kind in Hamilton and only the eighth in Canada—a place that’s changing the food system through the power of a great meal cooked with love and eaten with others.

Click here to read more about the new Community Food Centre.

Click here for the full annual report in PDF.

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