Municipality of Leamington

40th Anniversary Municipal Waterfront Legacy Project Unveiling

On June 5th, the WindsorEssex Community Foundation, the Municipality of Leamington, and members of the community gathered to celebrate the unveiling of a new waterfront legacy project made possible through an investment from the WindsorEssex Community Foundation in celebration of their 40 Years of Inspiring Philanthropy.

The new Basketball Courts at Seacliff Park in Leamington is an inspiring new waterfront attraction for tourists and residents to enjoy. The Municipality of Leamington received an inquiry by the youth of their community expressing a need for basketball courts at Seacliff Park. The Municipality of Leamington has used the funding from the WindsorEssex Community Foundation to construct one basketball court and has matched the investment to construct a second basketball court. The basketball courts will provide an opportunity for youth, residents and visitors to gather for recreation and physical activity while enjoying the backdrop of one of the community’s most beautiful locations – Seacliff Park.

The Basketball Court at Seacliff Park in Leamington was made possible through an initial investment from the WindsorEssex Community Foundation and the Honey Family Foundation Fund held at the WindsorEssex Community Foundation, with the generous support of the Municipality of Leamington.

Municipality of Kingsville

40th Anniversary Municipal Waterfront Legacy Project Unveiling

On June 21st, the WindsorEssex Community Foundation, the Town of Kingsville, and members of the community gathered at Lakeside Park to celebrate the unveiling of the new and restored Gazebo part of a waterfront legacy project, thanks to an investment from the WindsorEssex Community Foundation in celebration of their 40 Years of Inspiring Philanthropy.

The new and restored Gazebo in Lakeside Park which overlooks Lake Erie, is a key element of the park in Kingsville and a focal point for residents and visitors alike to gather, rest and enjoy a beautiful community space connected to Kingsville’s waterfront.

The investment is one of several 40^th Anniversary Community Legacy Projects being supported by the WECF as the Foundation celebrated 40 years of Community Supporting Community this past year. The WECF is marking this milestone year throughout Windsor and Essex County by creating lasting legacies, working with local municipal and community partners to create projects that will invest in lasting change in Windsor and Essex County, value a sense of place and culture, and honour both local history and the future as it unfolds.

Community Services Recovery Fund

Breakfast Celebration of Successful Culmination of Projects By 51 Local Organizations

On June 25th, the WindsorEssex Community Foundation, United Way Centraide Windsor-Essex County, MP Irek Kusmierczyk Windsor-Tecumseh and local recipient organizations of the Community Services Recovery Fund met at Art Windsor-Essex to celebrate the successful culmination of their projects funded by a historic investment in our community through the Community Services Recovery Fund.

Local recipient organizations through a roundtable discussion led by MP Irek Kusmierczyk shared their success stories, impacts of the fund and discussed future and ongoing needs.

Over the past year, fifty-one (51) local community service organizations across Windsor-Essex and Chatham-Kent who are at the forefront of addressing communities’ needs have leveraged the funding provided on behalf of the Community Services Recovery Fund to make significant strides.

WindsorEssex Community Foundation

Third Annual Scholarship Breakfast

On June 28th, the WindsorEssex Community Foundation (WECF) held a breakfast gathering to celebrate over $31,000 in scholarships that have been provided to students across Windsor & Essex County this year from scholarship funds held at the WECF. The event brought donors and scholarship recipients together at the Essex Golf and Country Club to celebrate the achievements of these students and thank fund holders for their investment in our young people and their future.

Affordability of post-secondary education is a top priority for citizens of Windsor and Essex County, according to the 2022 Vital Signs® report. Semiannually, the WECF conducts the Vital Signs® survey, gathering the thoughts and opinions of the residents of Windsor and Essex County in eleven key issues areas, including Learning. Access to affordable post-secondary education has long been top of mind for survey respondents.

This year, the WECF awarded a total of over $31,000 in scholarships to 16 students. The WECF’s scholarships support deserving students from across a diverse array of backgrounds, interests, and fields of study. From Criminology, Human Kinetics, Video Game Design, Dental Assisting, Electrical Engineering, to those pursuing a career in Biomedical Sciences, Business, and Computer Sciences; the WECF is proud to support these committed scholars as they strive towards their educational goals. Please join me in congratulating our Scholarship recipients:

Allie Lesperance and Matthew Lebouef: 2024 Recipients of the Constable John Atkinson Memorial Scholarship

Raeanne Schroder: 2024 Recipient of the Elaine & Harvey Snaden Fund Martha Reavley Community and Leadership Award Scholarship

Lilly Pieczonka and Amanda Atroun: 2024 Recipients of the Father Matt Sheedy Scholarship

Kellen Smyth, Emma-El St. Pierre, Aaron Berg and Cecilia Guenther: 2024 Recipients of the Gale & Irene (Knister) Taylor Scholarship

River LeBreton-Saunders: 2024 Recipient of the Larry Welsh Memorial Scholarship



Heidi Rawlings: 2024 Recipient of the Harding Electric/Morris & Ruth Harding Memorial Scholarship

Maria Zalewski: 2024 Recipient of the Kolody Family Memorial Scholarship

Erin Alaers and Paige Wyatt: 2024 Recipient of the Sharon & Gary Kelly Scholarship

Alexander Tran and Alan Bui: 2024 Recipients of the Shawn Boxe Memorial Scholarship

These students’ dedication combines with the generosity of our scholarship donors and the support of the Foundation to create a system of support and uplift young scholars throughout our community. Each one of the scholarship funds held at the WECF begins with a unique story, and in turn becomes part of the stories of the students whose educational aspirations it supports.

WindsorEssex Community Foundation's

Call for New Committee Members

The WindsorEssex Community Foundation is looking for new Committee Members to fill their Finance & Governance Committees!

Inspiring philanthropy is what we aim to do.

Are you or someone you know interested in making a difference within our community?

Send us an email at info@wecf.ca to apply today!

Community Impact Grants... COMING SOON!

The Community Impact Grant (CIG) Program is an annual granting program offered through the WECF. CIGs can provide up to $15,000 in funding for projects or programs that create partnerships, tackle important Vital Signs issues, and those that will make a lasting impact on the Windsor and Essex Community.

OPENING UP IN JULY 2024.

• July 2024: Community Impact Grants... Coming Soon!