By Pepper Parr
June 7th, 2106
BURLINGTON, ON
The weather could not have been better.
The lake was resplendent.
And there were three or four dozen of the elected and the movers and shakers in the city gathered at the Discovery pond
We had all been invited because were “friends” of the Burlington Community Foundation – the organization that stepped up and did the heavy lifting when we were hit with that disastrous flood in 2014.
Colleen Mulholland, President and CEO of the foundation, took to the podium said we must have an idea about why we’re here. “But first”, she said “I’d like to ask you to turn to your right. The person next to you might trust us to manage their family’s endowment that funds much- needed health services.”
“ Now turn to your left, there might be a non-profit leader who helps ensure that at-risk Burlington youth get the counselling services they so desperately need.”
We were being taught the importance of helping each other. “You are all brand ambassadors because you trust us to make change happen.”
Mulholland went on to explain that “17 years ago, a small group of people took action. They saw a need for something greater than themselves. Rallying together, they created our city’s first-ever home for sustainable giving and gave us our name – Burlington Community Foundation.
Almost two decades later, said Mulholland, we’re now most commonly referred to as BCF. Each and every day, we still follow a path our founders would recognize, making vital connections between charitable giving and thousands of local community members.
Our sole purpose has been consistent from the start. We help Burlingtonians give with confidence. Whether it’s your first or 100th gift, we take the guesswork out of giving.
We were all brought together to see the new Burlington Community Foundation brand and to hear from the people who give and the people who receive
Our vision explained Mulholland, inspires us to inspire others. We thought about what the act of giving itself – why do people give? How does giving make people feel? What can we do to make giving easier?
At some point in life, leaving one’s mark becomes important for many people.
The new logo has three waves represents the positive ripple effect that starts at the exact moment when someone decides to make ANY gift of ANY size. And as the center for giving in Burlington, we help strengthen the ripple effect of your giving.
Along with the logo is a new tag line: Give brilliantly!
Two simple words that speak to why we’re here and what we do. Every day, we help people give brilliantly – to make the most of their giving by building legacies, addressing vital community needs and supporting areas of personal interest.
At that point a large round version of the logo was floated on the Discovery pond.
In closing, we understand the difference we make is greater when people work together…and that’s why we are calling upon each and every one of you to help Burlington Foundation make some bigger waves starting today.
Tim Hogarth can tell you quite a bit about giving. It was his dad, the late Murray Hogarth who formed the Burlington Community Foundation. He was active in the Hamilton Community Foundation and flt that Burlington was ready for its own. He wrote the first cheque and has been writing cheques every since.
He passed that habit along to his sons. Tim expressed the habit when he said giving is part of my family’s DNA. Before Burlington had a community foundation, my father Murray saw the opportunity for one organization to take the guesswork out of local giving.
Like many donors, he had a deep need to give and saw that a new community foundation could be the start of something big for Burlington. From day one, the Foundation provided our family with tangible and meaningful ways to leave our mark right here, in the city we are so proud to call home.
Two years ago at BCF’s annual gala, I had the pleasure of seeing my parents, Diana and Murray Hogarth, be honoured as the 2013 Philanthropists of the Year. My parents were honoured to be recognized for their outstanding community leadership, volunteerism and consistent financial gifts within Burlington.
For decades, my family has made giving a priority. It’s something that I grew up with…as well as something that every Hogarth family member proudly instills in every generation.
Burlington Community Foundation understands how important it is for every gift to make a real difference. We trust BCF to collaborate with community leaders, agencies and other organizations to ensure that our family’s gifts and grants directly impact people’s lives.
We also trust BCF to make gifts of any size that will amount to real change in the lives of Burlingtonians. I’ve seen first-hand how passionate and generous Burlington donors are – and I know that the Foundation is poised to make even more change in our great community.
The organization got to see the new branding – we also got to see how the Community Foundation works and the people who sit at the board room table and work to have the endowments grown and the funds put where they are most needed.
It was another milestone in the life of the community. Not something you see all that often.
