Victoria Foundation honours 75 years with a $75,000 gift to the Chinese Canadian community

Posted on February 2, 2011 in General

February 2, 2011 (Victoria, BC)  – There will be more to celebrate as the local Chinese community rings in the Year of the Rabbit this Thursday, February 3rd. In a tribute to the Victoria Chinese community and its rich history and in celebration of the Victoria Foundation’s 75th anniversary, the Foundation has provided an early New Year’s gift in the form of a $75,000 gift for four different projects.

The David Lam Centre at Simon Fraser University will receive $50,000 for the Chinese Canadian history project. This project is aimed at educating Canadians about the long-term and varied contributions made by Chinese Canadians to the early development and subsequent prosperity and strength of Canada.

“We are honored to provide this gift to the Chinese Canadian community,” says Sandra Richardson, Victoria Foundation CEO. “It represents an important cultural investment for our community as a whole and will create a vibrant legacy not only for our city, but for our province and our country.”

Did you know that the Chinese language collection is the largest World Language collection in the Greater Victoria Public Library system? The Greater Victoria Public Library will receive $15,000 to add to this collection as well as provide one copy for each branch of two DVD documentaries about Chinese Canadians: From Harling Point and Unwanted Soldiers.

Victoria Chinatown Community Care Foundation will receive $5,000 to support areas of greatest need for the Care Centre, including the purchase of new bedding for the residents. And another $5,000 will go to the City of Victoria for Victoria’s Chinatown. This contribution will be used to create a mural or install an art piece in Victoria’s Chinatown to feature and reflect on the abounding history of the contributions of Chinese Canadians in Canada’s first Chinatown.

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This year the Victoria Foundation celebrates its 75th anniversary. Since 1936 the generosity and commitment of donors has enabled the Victoria Foundation to fulfill its vision of connecting people who care with causes that matter®. The connections that the Foundation has with the charitable sector make us the go to resource centre for community philanthropy and they allow us to respond to the needs in our community through leadership, stewardship and granting.

For more information, please contact:
Shannon Drew-Burrows
Director of Communications
The Victoria Foundation
Phone: 250.381.5532
Email: shannon@victoriafoundation.bc.ca

Paul Crowe
Director, David Lam Centre Simon Fraser University Burnaby Office: AQ 5114 Tel.: 778.782.4664 Vancouver Office: 2446 Tel.: 778.782.5111
Email: pcrowe@sfu.ca

Adrienne Wass
Manager, Community Relations and Media Contact
Greater Victoria Public Library
250-413-0370
awass@gvpl.ca

Ms. Adelia Goodwin
Victoria Chinatown Community Care Foundation
250-381-4322