Howe Island Community Fund

In the 1970's Glenys Elliott bought land on Howe Island and built a house for her retirement. While living out of the country it burned to the ground and so on her return she built another house, moved in, and spent many blissful years living in “paradise” until health issues forced her to the mainland. However, she has never forgotten the wonderful times and the wonderful people on Howe Island and wanted to give something back in return.

Glenys has created a Howe Island Community Fund under the auspices of the Community Foundation of Kingston & Area. Anyone who supports the aims of the fund can donate or leave a bequest to the Howe Island Community Fund. It will truly be a gift that keeps on giving.

Grants from the fund will be given to charitable groups in the Howe Island area to fund projects that would benefit the community of Howe island. Any resident on Howe Island is eligible. Those not residing on Howe Island are eligible if their project will enhance the quality of life on the Island in some way. Individuals are encouraged to approach a registered charity or the council on the Island to act as an intermediary for their application. Applications will be accepted during the Community Foundation's fall grant rounds, commencing in 2012 and all applications will be reviewed by the Foundation's Grants Committee.

Glenys believes that the fund would be able to provide funding for projects such as:

• developing public access to the waterfront
• beautification of the island
• development of recreational facilities
• children’s recreational activities
• arts & culture projects in the community
• health projects
• heritage and history projects

Glenys hopes that after the Howe Island Community fund has achieved a level of $50,000 a sub fund, the Howe Island Scholarship Fund, will be created to fund scholarships applications for post secondary education to children of full time residents of the island. Unspent money from the scholarship fund would flow back into the Howe Island Community Fund. 

Past volunteer projects that would have benefited from such a fund include the planting and decorating of the Howe Island Christmas Tree, the design and installation of the township sign, the creation and maintaining of flower beds at both ferry docks, and the building on the island of a public access boat ramp.