Stories

Bill and Petra Cooke

Bill & Petra Cook

“You can see results of HCF’s work right here,” says Bill. “Everybody knows somebody who needs help and we get a lot of satisfaction knowing that people in our area are benefiting from the projects the Foundation supports.”

Bill and Petra arrived in Hamilton from England and Scotland (respectively) in 1964, met in Hamilton and stayed here. Bill retired from a 34-year career in the production department of The Hamilton Spectator and Petra, a nurse, was the transfusion coordinator for Hamilton Health Sciences Corporation. Active in many local organizations their three children and five grandchildren have also been firmly rooted in the Hamilton area.

In addition to being steady contributors to the Foundation’s Community Fund, the Cookes also helped build the HCF Ontario Endowment for Children and Youth in Recreation Fund and had the chance to meet with a few young grant recipients. “We were very impressed,” said Petra at the time. “It was a very worthwhile initiative and it really touched our hearts.”

When asked if they had a message for others in the community who might be thinking about directing their giving through Hamilton Community Foundation, Petra responded. “I’d say it is focused on the local community, and the results are tangible. “It’s a very accountable organization – you know where the money goes, you’re kept up to date – and it’s well run. We’re very happy with the Foundation and we’ll continue to support it – no question.”

Excerpt from 2002-2003 Annual Report