Issue link: http://digital.canadawide.com/i/987827
City of Vancouver Archives 1 4 | V A N C O U V E R F O U N D A T I O N | 1 9 4 3 - 2 0 1 8 Vancouver Foundation – Community Inspired from the very beginning … 1940s Vancouver businessperson and philanthropist Whitford VanDusen dreams of establishing an enduring charitable support structure for British Columbians who have emerged from an era of scarcity and loss. Retiree Alice MacKay cares about women in need in her community and wants to give her savings to help. These two individuals connect at the start of something special – Vancouver Foundation – created to support the Vancouver Welfare Federation's Community Chest in perpetuity. 1960s British Columbians began to see more complex issues arise in neighbourhoods across the province, as Indigenous communities were displaced, disparities among wealthy and poor grew, and youth began to carve new pathways in careers and education. Solutions weren't always obvious. The root causes of social issues were poorly understood, and while many early research and programming e‚orts may seem clumsy by modern standards, it was in this era that donors and charities began to ask bigger questions about the world around them, and advocate loudly for learning, study and research, in search of answers. 1950s It was a boom time – babies, big cars, big hearts, and knowing your neighbours – and Greater Vancouver citizens wanted to do more, give more, share more with those in need. Vancouver Foundation too expanded its mandate to support a huge increase in demand from Vancouver donors to support the needy across a wider spectrum of charitable interests. 1970s All things change, including the leadership of Vancouver Foundation. Our Chair, VanDusen, steps down from service in 1977 after 34 years. Another change at Vancouver Foundation sees community volunteers – all experts in their Želd – invited to support grantmaking decisions as members of specialized advisory groups. New Fields of Interest grants emerge to collectively address issues like child poverty, equal rights, cultural development, and more. B.C. charities responded with more complex projects and programs across a spectrum of issues that now included rape prevention, Indigenous language research, youth rehabilitation, and immigrant support.