Claude Michell is a firm believer that people can change. “Regardless of what your life has been, you can change if you want to,” he says.

Michell dropped out of school in grade eight, and didn’t pick up his studies until several years later, when his life had changed drastically. While incarcerated, he obtained his GED and developed a strong interest in psychology. He was set to start university after his release, but, “I developed some nasty habits [that] followed me out onto the street,” says Michell of his experience with addiction.

Twenty-five years later, Michell is sober, employed in construction, and just four credits away from his Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Winnipeg. He’s also working toward custody of his 12-year old daughter.

“I want to be a role model for my daughter. I want to tell her ‘school is good for you’,” he says. He also wants to help others who share his struggles. After graduation, he plans to become an addictions counsellor.

“It has been hard. I’ve had to face a lot of issues. I know I’m not going back to the way I was before. I’ve always walked with my head held high and I walk with it much higher these days,” he says.

Claude is a recent recipient of the BUILDINGFoundations Bursary Program. Since 2008, Manitoba Housing has helped 36 students pursue their education goals through the program, part of Manitoba Housing’s commitment to build capacity within individuals and the wider community.

Post-secondary students who receive rental subsidies through Manitoba Housing programs are eligible to apply for the $1,000 awards, which are based on academic achievement and community service. To date, approximately three-quarters of recipients are women, and more than half are Aboriginal. Most are facing challenges such as low-to-moderate income, being single parents or being newcomers to Canada.

“It gives a person a sense of pride to think ‘I was picked because of my achievements’,” Michell says. “I’ve never heard much praise in my life. It’s nice to hear that.”

The BUILDINGFoundations Bursary Program was established in 2007 by Manitoba Housing, which entered into an agreement with The Winnipeg Foundation in 2010 to manage the fund. Manitoba Housing continues to oversee and promote the Program, accepting applications, determining recipients, and creating the annual awards event.

A committee made up of Manitoba Housing staff, community partners and past recipients select award recipients. Manitoba Housing has a long-term goal to grow the fund over time. The BUILDINGFoundations Bursary Fund is one of more than 300 scholarship funds held at The Winnipeg Foundation. Last  year these funds generated 850 awards, totalling more than $1.2 million to help local students realize their dreams.

You can help students like Claude pursue their education goals and future dreams. To make a gift to the BUILDINGFoundations Bursary Fund, visit www.wpgfdn.org or call the Foundation at 204.944.9474 (toll-free 1.877.974.3631).

On the last Friday in January, the kids at Pritchard Place Drop-In get to roll up their sleeves and hit the kitchen for a delicious adventure. For weeks, they’ve been learning about India, the country chosen for this month’s instalment of Learning About Cultures through Healthy Food, a program supported by a grant from the Nourishing Potential Fund last year. Now, they’re learning how to make samosas, vegetable-stuffed snacks popular in India. Later, they’ll have a dinner of butter chicken, loaded with red peppers, and rice. India is the latest stop on a food tour that has included Mexico, Germany, Thailand and Jamaica. Every month, a different country is drawn from a hat. Staff organize educational activities related to that country and plan a menu for the Friday night dinner.

“This is a treat for the kids, to taste different foods and learn about them,” says Dion Knol, who runs Pritchard Place, part of Andrews Street Family Centre in the William Whyte Neighbourhood. The drop-in provides a safe place for neighbourhood kids between the ages of 6 and 17, many of whom come from families where education and income levels are low. With games, activities, supportive staff and home-cooked meals, it’s an appealing alternative to gang life.

“The kitchen is always the highlight of the whole centre,” says Knol, who has worked at Pritchard Place for 17 years. Thanks to the new program, he says, kids “finally have a chance to come in and cook.” The goal of the initiative is to engage kids in food preparation, teach them about nutrition and provide healthy meals. They also gain insight into other cultures, and get a chance to try new foods.

“A big part of our operation budget goes into food,” says Knol. The centre serves an after-school snack and dinner to upwards of 20 kids every day. On the coldest days, that number could easily reach 50. The drop-in also receives food from Winnipeg Harvest, but there aren’t always healthy choices available.

“We make the most nutritious meals we can,” says Knol. “The kids are hungry.” Favourites are comfort foods like spaghetti and meatballs, chilli and soup. “Pizza night is a big one,” he laughs.

Thanks to the Nourishing Potential grant, kids at Pritchard Place now have a chance to expand their culinary horizons. “One day we made a lentil soup. We’re using stuff that their moms and dads aren’t having at home. It’s giving them experience of the flavours of the world,” says Knol. “I spent a lot of years in restaurants and my father was a chef, so cooking is a passion. But even I’ve never tried some of these things before.”

Andrews Street Family Centre was one of 28 organizations that received Nourishing Potential grants last year to provide healthy snacks and meals to Winnipeg children and youth. For more information about Nourishing Potential, or to make a gift to the fund, please visit www.wpgfdn.org/nourishingpotential.php or call 204.944.9474 (toll free 1.877.974.3631).

Samuel H. Gilfix established his named fund at The Winnipeg Foundation in 1982 to benefit six organizations working in health related areas. Gilfix was a successful Winnipeg businessman and an active community member. Born in Russia in 1902, his family immigrated to Canada in 1905. He died in 1988 at the age of 85, leaving a generous contribution to the Foundation through his estate.

Recently, The Winnipeg Foundation made a grant from the Samuel Gilfix Fund in support of a Caregiver Video Project.

Canadian Virtual Hospice created the videos, which provide a teaching tool for educators and support family and professional caregivers. The short, simple videos aim to teach quality care for those who cannot care for themselves.

The strength of the videos is that they are available online and are easily accessible to caregivers. When Mr. Gilfix established his endowment funds, home computers were uncommon, and only a few people had ever heard of the Internet. His gift continues to make innovative impacts in the health community year after year… forever. That’s an act of kindness that benefits us all.

Which local charity holds the largest collection of contemporary Inuit art in the world? If you know the answer, you could have earned a point for your favourite charity during Charity Pop Quiz. The Quiz was intended to celebrate The Winnipeg Foundation’s 91^st anniversary, enable charities to share information about themselves, and support Winnipeg’s charitable sector.

After 10 days of trivia questions, and more than 4,000 submissions, the Quiz has ended. The five charities who received the most points during Charity Pop Quiz, and will receive $910 awards are: Caddy Lake Girl Guide Camp, Healthy Start for Mom and Me, Chai Folk Ensemble, Rainbow Harmony Project and Green Action Centre. These charities received between 220 and 650 votes each in an outpouring of community support!

Each of the nearly 100 other participating charities, (participating charities were identified as those who received at least one point during the Quiz) were entered into a random draw for five additional $910 awards. Our CEO Rick Frost drew the names on April 26: The Winnipeg Foundation’s 91st anniversary. Community Unemployed Help Centre, Siloam Mission, Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre, Manitoba Council for International Cooperation and Ndinawemaaganag Endaawaad Inc were all drawn from the overall participant entries in the Quiz.

We had a blast organizing and delivering Charity Pop Quiz for our anniversary and hope it also helped you learn more about some of the great charities in our city. Thank you to all who participated or sent us anniversary wishes. We look forward to many more years of supporting the community.

The first Charity Pop Quiz entry came in on April 16, 2012 at 12:10 a.m., just 10 minutes after the Quiz began. The entry earned one point for Rainbow Harmony Project, a charity that provides an opportunity for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered (GLBT) persons and their supporters to sing together.

In less than 72 hours, we have received more than 1,000 entries, allocating points to approximately 60 Winnipeg charities through Charity Pop Quiz. Each of these 60 charities is now eligible to be randomly-selected to receive one of five $910 awards. The draw will take place on The Winnipeg Foundation’s 91st anniversary: April 26, 2012.

The five charities with the most points will also receive $910 awards. On day three of Charity Pop Quiz, those spots were held by Healthy Start for Mom and Me, Girl Guides of Canada – Caddy Lake Girl Guide Camp, Rainbow Harmony Project, S.P.L.A.S.H. Child Care Inc, and Green Action Centre. Close behind were Society for Manitobans with Disabilities and Victoria General Hospital Foundation. The charities with the most points may change as the Quiz continues.

Charity Pop Quiz is an online trivia game developed to help celebrate The Winnipeg Foundation’s 91st anniversary and help local charities share fun, quirky or little-known facts about themselves. Participants earn points on behalf of a local charity by answering a trivia question on The Winnipeg Foundation’s Facebook Page. The Quiz runs April 16 – 25, and the results will be announced on April 26, The Winnipeg Foundation’s 91st anniversary.