Endowments

Envision Financial Community Endowment

The Foundation's founding and largest endowment generates annual grants for charities serving the communities served by Envision Financial which include Abbotsford, Chilliwack, Delta, Hope, Kitimat, Langley, Maple Ridge, Mission, and Surrey. Priority is given to charities whose purpose aligns with at least one of the following Sustainable Development Goals: No Poverty, Zero Hunger, Good Health & Well-Being, Quality Education, Reduced Inequalities, and Partnership for the Goals. Charities may apply for an impact grant or a capacity grant.

Valley First Community Endowment

This fund supports charities in the Okanagan, Thompson, and Similkameen regions. Grants are available for charities serving the communities where Valley First operates including Armstrong, Kamloops, Kelowna, and West Kelowna, Keremeos, Oliver, Penticton, Princeton, and Vernon. Priority is given to charities whose purpose aligns with at least one of the following Sustainable Development Goals: No Poverty, Zero Hunger, Good Health & Well-Being, Quality Education, Reduced Inequalities, and Partnership for the Goals. Charities may apply for an impact grant or a capacity grant.

Enderby Financial Community Endowment

This endowment supports projects for the community of Enderby and Area F of the North Okanagan Regional District. Priority is given to charities whose purpose aligns with at least one of the following Sustainable Development Goals: No Poverty, Zero Hunger, Good Health & Well-Being, Quality Education, Reduced Inequalities, and Partnership for the Goals.. Charities may apply for an impact grant or a capacity grant. 

Island Savings Community Endowment

This endowment supports organizations serving communities in the Island Savings region including Brentwood Bay, Chemainus, Duncan, Lake Cowichan, Mill Bay, Nanaimo, Victoria, and Salt Spring Island. Priority is given to charities whose purpose aligns with at least one of the following Sustainable Development Goals: No Poverty, Zero Hunger, Good Health & Well-Being, Quality Education, Reduced Inequalities, and Partnership for the Goals.. Charities may apply for an impact grant or a capacity grant.

Envision Financial Employees' Endowment

This endowment grows through the fundraising efforts of employees at Envision Financial. Employees then help determine how to distribute the donations generated by this fund. 

First West Credit Union Leaders Fund

Established by the First West Credit Union Board of Directors in 2015, the Leaders Fund is designed to honour past and future leaders of First West Credit Union and/or First West Foundation who have made a significant impact on these organizations. 

Keeping A Good Thing Growing

Established by First West Credit Union in 2022 with the belief that to help communities thrive we need to invest in our charities and their future goals. The fund will focus on supporting initiatives that enhance a charities' ability to grow its capacity, programs, or services. 

Haukeland Family Legacy Fund

Established in 2013 by Gary Haukeland and Ingrid Davies in loving memory of their parents, Aud and Magne, the Haukeland Family Legacy Fund will generate annual funding for charities selected by their family.

Sally O'Sullivan Legacy Fund

Sally served on the board of First West Foundation starting in 2001 and was Chair from 2003 until she suffered a stroke in the fall of 2009. Sally passed away in December, 2012. The Sally O’Sullivan Legacy Fund will generate funding to support SideBySide Childen's Village Society which provides homes, a supportive community, and programs to help foster children and youth in need grow into caring, self-reliant adults.

SideBySide Children's Village Society Fund

This is an agency fund that generates annual funding to support operating costs of SideBySide Children's Village Society.

Peter Podovinikoff Scholarship Fund

Past president of Envision Financial, Peter Podovinikoff, established this fund to generate scholarships to students attending Kwantlen Polytechnic University demonstrating extensive community commitment.

Gord and Enrica Huston Fund

Past President and CEO of Envision Financial Gord Huston and his wife, Enrica, have chosen to support programs aiming to eradicate breast cancer with this fund, as this terrible disease has closely affected their lives and the lives of many around them.

Dewar Family Legacy Fund

Established in 2014 by Island Savings in honour of their long-time CEO, Rod Dewar, the Dewar Family Legacy Fund will generate annual funding for charities serving Vancouver Island selected by the Dewar family.

Frank Jamieson Memorial Fund

This fund was created by members of the Chilliwack Curling Club to commemorate Frank Jamieson. The fund will provide an annual bursary to a deserving high school student who is involved in curling.

Peter Bell Legacy Fund 

This fund was established by the Enderby & District Community Resource Centre Society upon receipt of a bequest from Mr. Bell. The fund will generate an annual donation to the Society in support of senior's programming in Enderby.

Ben H. Voth Legacy Fund

Established by First West Credit Union in 2011 in tribute to Ben Voth (1926-2010), a passionate community builder and founding member of the East Chilliwack Credit Union who served for 38 years as chair of First Heritage Credit Union (later became First West Credit Union). For his immense contributions to the credit union system, Mr. Voth was a recipient of the BC Distinguished Service Award. This fund supports students studying to excel in the construction industry through annual scholarships and bursaries and by providing grants to other charities supporting education in trades.

Mark Warawa Legacy Fund

Established in 2020 by the Warawa family and community friends to recognize and celebrate Mark’s passion for the environment. The Fund will carry on Mark’s commitment of celebrating local environmental grassroots activities and projects by providing annual grants to charitable organizations focused on environmental stewardship and sustainability.