“This is a phenomenal gift which will benefit so many organizations and projects in our community – forever.”

The Community Foundation is honoured to have been the recipient of a nearly $1.5 Million bequest – the largest in its history.  This remarkable gift came from the estate of Kingston resident Audrey Scholes who died in November at the age of 89, and her husband Peter Scholes who predeceased her in 2007.

The couple had strong connections to many charitable organizations during their lifetime, and they planned their legacy to continue to support the causes that they care about in perpetuity.

Their gift creates the Audrey and Peter Scholes Memorial Fund to support local projects selected through our Community Grants Program that advance the arts in the City of Kingston and provide services to the community.

As long time Kingston Symphony Orchestra supporters, it was their wish that their fund support organizations performing classical music for the public and help increase the public’s understanding and appreciation of the arts.

The types of community services they expressed an interest in supporting include: providing services for Franco-Ontarians; supporting the families of prisoners; providing food, clothing and other basic supplies to persons of low income; shelter for persons of low income or in crisis; and the prevention of violence and abuse within the family.

Projects funded through the Audrey and Peter Scholes Memorial Fund will be selected through the Foundation’s competitive Community Grants Program, to which all local charities are invited to apply. (see www.cfka.org/community-grants-program/ for more information.)

“This is a phenomenal gift which will benefit so many organizations and projects in our community – forever” says the Foundation’s Executive Director Tina Bailey. “It is a wonderful legacy for a couple with such strong connection to charitable causes.  We are honoured that they entrusted the Community Foundation to administer this marvelous gift which will continue to support causes that were important to them during their lifetimes.”

The couple left an equal amount to the United Way, as well as several smaller gifts to other charities and faith based organizations that were important to them.  Having no children of their own, the Scholes created these gifts as a permanent legacy for this generous couple for whom community was so important.