When was the Community Foundation of Orillia & Area established?
The Community Foundation of Orillia & Area was officially launched on January 7, 1999. The Community Foundation of Orillia & Area was literally “Born in a Basket”. During a dinner meeting, local entrepreneur, Jim Dykes commented on his newly acquired interest in community foundations. He continued on in some length until one of those present threw $20 into the breadbasket and said, “Here’s some money – just go start one”. Some time later, Jim, along with Ken Koyama, Publisher of the Packet & Times, and Pat Campbell, Casino Rama, formed a Steering Committee, secured operating funding from the Casino, and hired the Foundation’s first Executive Director, Deborah Wagner. The Foundation was officially launched on January 7, 1999, with a $200,000 gift from Casino Rama establishing the Foundation’s Community Unrestricted Fund. The Casino issued a challenge to the Foundation to match that amount by the end of the year and they would gift another $150,000. The City of Orillia, Georgian College,
