We are truly honoured to have such forward-thinking and generous supporters, who are building a stronger community for everyone, today and always.  Fundholders have established funds for various reasons, to leave a legacy, to make a difference in their community, or to ensure that an area of their interest or charity they care about receives ongoing support.  Often there is a shared sentiment – the desire to give back to the community that has given them so much.

Please see the list below for a list of fundholders within the various OCF fund types.  Following this list are two videos of fundholders sharing their charitable desires and experiences funds they established.

FUND TYPES & FUNDHOLDERS

Community Funds are a flexible way to support ever-changing community needs. You leave it up to OCF and the grants committee made up of community members to ensure the community’s most pressing needs are supported.  We fund all aspects of community well-being — arts & culture, education, the environment, health and wellness, heritage, recreation, and social services — trust the Foundation to find the groups that need money the most each and every year.

  • Founders’ Circle Fund
  • Builders’ Circle Fund
  • Alabastine-Wilkinson Family Fund
  • Dolson Family Fund
  • Doug & Yvonne Eckel Fund
  • Cheryle & Peter Evans Fund (see spotlight below)
  • Henning Hansen Memorial Fund
  • The Heroes Among Us Fund (Jean Matheson Heroes Fund)
  • Norwich Township Community Fund
  • Oxford Count Youth Fund
  • Donald Post Fund
  • Woodstock Chamber of Commerce Community Fund

Field of Interest Fund.  On your behalf, our grants committee will target gifts to address a community issue in an area important to you.

  • Tyler Arts Legacy Fund
  • Hawkins Family Memorial Fund
  • Klosler Family Fund
  • Oxford Environmental Fund
  • Oxford Manufacturers Skill Development Fund
  • George & Lorna Roberts Fund
  • Pat & Barry Smith Fund
  • WDDS Rosemary George Fund

Donor Advised Funds function like a private foundation, a donor-advised fund allows you to choose which charities and initiatives to support each year.

  • B&R George Cultural Fund (see video below)
  • Lessif Family Fund
  • William & Mary Mackesy Community Fund
  • Stevens Fund
  • Ken & Lynda Whiteford Fund
  • Dennis & Joan Vollmershausen Family Fund

Donor Designated Funds allow you to select your favourite charities, and we ensure they are supported not just once, but every year.

  • I. Patricia Brown Fund
  • Ross & Fran McElroy Fund (see video below)
  • Oxford County Library Fund
  • Frank & Marion Smith Fund

Flex Funds offers you the flexibility to meet your unique needs by combining one or more interests and fund types.

  • Joland Family Fund
  • Thamesford Lawn Bowling Legacy Fund

Agency Funds allows registered charities to building a sustainable source of funding for their organization. Anyone can contribute to an agency fund today or through a bequest in their will, allowing the organizations to concentrate on their community mission knowing that funding is available each year.

  • Children’s Aid Society Oxford Endowment Fund
  • Operation Sharing Endowment Fund

FUNDHOLDER SPOTLIGHTS & VIDEOS

The Cheryle & Peter Evans Fund

Cheryle & Peter Evans (small)

Cheryle and Peter’s dedication to making a positive change in their community and their compassion for humans and animals in need lives on through the Cheryle and Peter Evans Fund.  An initial donation of $675,000 was made through a bequest in Peter’s will.  Annual grants from this legacy fund will support animal and human welfare.

Cheryle was born on June 24, 1944, and began her Hydro One career at 18, where she eventually became a Design Construction Branch executive and led a team of 130. After retiring in 1993, she and her husband Peter moved to Woodstock, where Cheryle liked to spend her time golfing and curling. Whether it was at the Craigowan Golf Club or in Florida during the winter months, Cheryle loved to be on the greens. She was also known for her impeccable fashion taste in and out of the office.

Born on December 18, 1948, in the United Kingdom, Peter immigrated to Canada in 1957 and led a creative career as a photographer and graphic designer with Ontario Hydro. His attention to detail captured beauty in architectural design.

The Evans, who passed away in July of 2023, shared a deep affection for their Woodstock community, which they embraced wholeheartedly after moving here upon their retirement. Cheryle and Peter were known for their generous, kind, and welcoming personalities, as well as their love of giving back and spending time with their cherished pugs Jasmine and Calla. After the Evans passed, the pugs were taken care of by Mattie’s Place (mattiesplace.ca), a very small rescue organization who take on costly medical cases province-wide.  Cheryle’s nephew John and his wife Denise commented, “They were amazing in helping us in finding a wonderful foster, and then a great forever home with another senior pug.”

The Ross & Fran McElroy Fund

As early OCF fundholders, Fran and Ross McElroy have seen the Foundation grow into what it is today. They wanted to give back to the community that has given them so much, and the Oxford Community Foundation provided them the chance to do so, now and after they’re gone.

Ross and Fran are not originally from Oxford County. However, Ross does remember a time earlier in his life when he visited a farm just north of Barrie and because of that visit, he envisioned living in a smaller community. After graduating from Medical School in Toronto, Ross got a job at Woodstock General Hospital, while Fran, with a PhD in biochemistry, found work doing research at Western University in the Medical School’s Pharmacology Department. What’s more, they found a beautiful farm in 1972 that convinced them that Oxford County was where they needed to be.

Fran and Ross were struck by the abundant kindness of those around them and the generous welcome they received. They remember one neighbor in particular who came over, shook their hands, and said, “Georges, retired Jersey farmer. Welcome to Woodstock.” Fran laughs when remembering and says, “Makes you feel good.” After they moved from Toronto, Fran and Ross used to joke that by moving from the big city and plunking themselves on a farm, their main function was to provide comic relief for the local farmers.

Fran and Ross hope that Oxford County doesn’t lose its character. Fran says, “When we have guests stay over, we’re always so proud because Oxford has such a wonderful feel, and we hope it doesn’t lose that charm.”

Woodstock feels so small and intimate – they want it to keep that sense of community. With the help of the Oxford Community Foundation, Fran and Ross are able to leave a legacy of community, and support initiatives and organizations where they believe Oxford can grow – now and in the future.

B&R George Cultural Fund

Brian and Rosemary started the fund in 2006 in hopes of giving people the opportunity to enjoy the arts, whether it be funding someone’s first theatrical production or sending a child who holds great potential to music lessons. “There’s just so much talent in Oxford County that it’d be a shame not to support this work,” voiced Rosemary.

Both Brian and Rosemary have been actively involved in the arts throughout their lives. From their experiences, they recognized a need for funding of arts and culture in the Oxford community. “Arts organizations kind of work from a shoestring,” says Brian. “Therefore, if there’s any money around, they’re always looking for a helping hand, and we’re happy to be able to provide some of that by starting a fund.”

Brian emphasizes that every person in the community needs the arts, just as they need sports or academia. He believes that we live as complete people with many interests, not as individuals involved in just one activity.

OCF makes it easy to start a fund. “We’ve been very fortunate. We started this fund very small, and over time we were able to add more money to it,” said Brian, adding, “There’s a wide variety of things that people can give to. Whether it be education or the environment or whatever your particular interest is, there’s a great opportunity to have your own legacy go forward for years to come.”

We are here to help.  The Foundation will assist you in creating a fund that meets your timelines and provides you with your desired degree of impact and involvement.  For more information on how you can become involved, please contact:
Louise Wardrop, Executive Director
lwardrop@oxfordcommunityfoundation.org
226-667-6404 office | 226-232-6222 cell