What is the South Georgian Bay innovation fund?
Our Vision
The South Georgian Bay Innovation Fund aspires to see the region become the nature-based wellness capital of Ontario. Through our grants we activate and accelerate new and innovative community initiatives towards that goal. We foster collaboration between people and organizations with shared passion for our vision and the desire to act on it.
We know the winning formula from experience: An innovative idea + social entrepreneurs as champions + an outcome-focused plan with milestones and resources required + some seed capital = positive change, always!
The fund includes two parts. The endowment fund is a permanent legacy for the community, generating sustainable income for grants year after year, forever. The companion flow-through fund provides access to funding if an important project appears that needs more immediate investment.
Over the next five years, we invite others to create their own funds in their areas of interest. With a goal of building a capital pool of $10 million this ‘philanthropy collective’ will generate sustainable funding for the community, forever. We may have different charitable interests, but we share a common belief that fostering innovation and working together are powerful drivers for creating transformative change.
A Permanent Legacy
Founders
Larry and Barb Hall
The Halls have deep roots in South Georgian Bay. Since the late 1960’s their family has actively skied at Alpine Ski Club, leading to a permanent move to Ravenna in 2001.
The Halls have always been involved and supportive of the community. Early on Larry was Chair of the Community Policing Committee in the Town of the Blue Mountains. At the same time, Barb was a leader and Instructor for the Heart & Stroke Cardiac Rehab program at the Collingwood Hospital. Larry and Barb are among the founders of OslerBrook Golf Club, were owners of the former Collingwood Fitness, Squash and Wellness Centre (now MVMT) and are constant contributors to many charitable causes in the region.
Five years ago they established the Wellness Innovation Fund at the Collingwood General and Marine Hospital Foundation and along with several Persons with Parkinson’s, the South Georgian Bay Living Better with Parkinson’s program.
They are true community builders, believing that putting together the right people with the right resources leads to innovative progress for improving quality of life in South Georgian Bay.
“As great as South Georgian Bay is, its communities and leaders are poised to make things even better. Our contribution — take the learnings from our social entrepreneurship journey to create and fund a new initiative, the South Georgian Bay Innovation Fund.”