Bill Roberts photo

York Regional Police Chief Armand La Barge, King Mayor Margaret Black and former Ontario lieutentant-governor Hal Jackman introduced guests to the York Region Community Foundation and announced the foundation’s fourth founding benefactor at a gala reception at Eaton Hall Thursday.

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Teresa Latchford, Staff Writer

With the recent success of three athletes at the Beijing from the King Township area, including Eric Lamaze, who won equestrian gold, trampolinist Rosannagh MacLennan and Mac Cone, equestrian show jumper, King Mayor Margaret Black announced the town’s intention to set up a York Region Community Foundation endowment fund to help local athletes with the same dream to financially reach their goal.

“It will be the King Olympians Fund,” she said at the York Region Community Foundation reception held at Eagle Hall earlier this week. “It will be a permanent fund to support those on their endeavour, including special Olympians.”

Mrs. Black was joined by former Ontario lieutenant-governor Hal Jackman.

The foundation builds permanent, income-producing endowment funds to support registered charities across the region while creating a legacy for  donors. It pools charitable gifts to create the endowment funds resulting in grants for local endeavours including health, education, social services, arts and culture and the environment. Each donor has an active role in directing the grants.

The foundation provides a great opportunity for people who want to contribute to the community and the multitude of charitable organizations in it, he said.

Mr. Jackman, who currently owns a farm in the region, told residents at the reception it takes hard work to preserve the community feeling and generosity.

“York Region is a combination of not only municipalities but also little towns within,” he added. “In my experience, the smaller the community, the more the participation.”

Foundation chairperson Phil Mannell also announced KTI Limited as the fourth founding benefactor of the foundation, joining Enbridge Gas Distribution, Miller Thomson LLP and Markham Mayor Frank Scarpitti.

The foundation is currently looking for two more benefactors to join the list.

Dean Iwai, president of KTI Limited, made the choice to support the foundation to create a legacy for his father who founded the Aurora family business.

“We (he and his brother) wanted to pay tribute to our father who we lost a few years ago,” he said pausing to fight back his emotions. “In our hearts we knew it was the right thing to do.”

For more information about the York Region Community Foundation, visit yrcf.ca