The County Foundation - Prince Edward County - News , News & Stories

Planning Your Legacy: How Gifts in Your Will Can Change Lives

Thu, 16 Apr 2026 08:04:39 -0400

Planning Your Legacy: How Gifts in Your Will Can Change Lives

On May 29th, The County Foundation is hosting an event at the Picton Yacht Club from 2:00-3:30pm for those looking to learn more about how to give through your Will and what the benefit is for the charities and causes that you care about. Join estate lawyer M. Cath Collins and Dominique Jones, Executive Director of The County Foundation, for a session on planned giving.

RSVP to Attend - Planning Your Legacy

What is a Bequest? Bequests are gifts that are made as part of a Will. Most of us (at some point) will go through the process of creating or updating a Will. A bequest is a direction that you put in your Will that says you would like to give donations and you get to decide what that looks like.

The County Foundation can work with you to develop a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to record your intentions and expectations. Nothing in the MOU legally binds you to make a gift. In the MOU, you can dictate if you want to contribute toward an existing fund or establish a new fund. You can tell us what charities or causes you want to support. We can help you develop your giving plan to ensure we respect your wishes and provide guidance every step of the way.

Learn more about Bequests & Endowments

Announcing the Valery Ross-McElroy Bursary

Wed, 22 Oct 2025 09:08:19 -0400

The County Foundation is very honoured to announce a new bursary fund in tribute of Valery Ross-McElroy.
An annual bursary of at least $1,000 will be awarded to support a female-identifying student who is graduating from Prince Edward Collegiate Institute pursuing post-secondary education studies in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and/or Mathematics) or in Community Engagement/Development.

Valery Ross-McElroy was adventurous, and endlessly generous, and believed in the power of community. Deeply rooted in compassion, she never stopped giving whether through her work or in her day-to-day life.

With the encouragement of her teachers at Prince Edward Collegiate Institute, she earned scholarships that helped her become one of the first in her family to graduate from university. She graduated from the University of Ottawa with a Bachelor of Science in biology and math, and earned a Master of Arts in Community Development from the University of Victoria.

Valery passed away in April 2025 from cancer, and is survived by her husband Jeremy and son Darcy. In honour of her generosity and lasting impact, her family established this award to help local students—especially young women—believe in themselves, chase their dreams, and carry forward the spirit of generosity and courage that defined Valery’s life.

Valery Ross-McElroy Bursary

Applications are now open

The full details of this bursary, including eligibility requirements and application process, are now available.
The inaugural recipient will be selected in 2026.

Support Valery's Bursary

If you are interested in supporting the Valery Ross-McElroy Bursary, you can:

Donate online through CanadaHelps by selecting the fund from the drop down menu.
Mail a cheque addressed to The County Foundation with "Valery Ross-McElroy Bursary" in the memo. Mailing address is 24-35 Bridge Street, Picton, ON K0K 2T0.
Send an E-Transfer to info@thecountyfoundation with "Valery Ross-McElroy" in the memo.

Recruiting Future Treasurer for Board of Directors

Fri, 26 Sep 2025 09:39:09 -0400

The County Foundation is currently recruiting a volunteer Board Member and future Treasurer as part of a 2-year succession plan.

At the Prince Edward County Community Foundation (The County Foundation) our mission is to inspire giving to our community, facilitate grants and support collaborative action to address identified community needs by linking a caring community with causes that matter.
Our goal is to ensure that the Board membership reflects the diversity, skills, experience, expertise and judgment necessary for the Foundation to carry out its objectives effectively and appropriately.
Apply now by submitting an Expression of Interest.

Submit Expression of Interest

Preferred Skills/Experience

We are especially interested in hearing from individuals with prior experience as a Treasurer who may be interested in serving in that role in the future. As part of a 2-year succession plan, the incumbent volunteer treasurer will assume the role after a cross-training plan.

Time Commitment

Board monthly time commitment: approximately 4 - 8 hours. Includes Board meetings and contributing to at least 2 committees.

Election 2025: Voting is Belonging – Make Yourself Heard!

Fri, 04 Apr 2025 14:56:16 -0400

Election 2025: Voting is Belonging – Make Yourself Heard!

Voting is a simple yet powerful way to shape our future—and your voice matters. But voting is more than a duty—it’s an act of belonging. By casting a ballot, you stand up for your community, influence our country’s direction, and help build a future that reflects your values

In Prince Edward County voting is also a chance to celebrate ourselves. While voter turnout in Canada in the last election was 62.5% of eligible voters, in Prince Edward County, 66.7% of us turned out to vote. That’s something to be proud of! But we can do even better. Let’s make this election our strongest turnout yet and ensure every voice is heard.

Vote in advance polls.

Vote by Mail.

Or take a friend or family member and vote together on election day.

Your vote matters!

Election Resources

Election Day & Early Voting: Election Day is April 28, with early voting starting Friday, April 18. Find details at Elections Canada - Bay of Quinte .
Support for Nonprofits: Nonprofits can access Imagine Canada’s election resources to help advocate for their work.
Transportation Options: Hop on County Transit for a hassle-free ride!
Key Local Issues: Learn about issues affecting Prince Edward County’s well-being at Prince Edward County Vital Signs.

The County Foundation Vision: Working together to build a place where everyone belongs and all can thrive.

Your Vote, Your Power – Protect Our Democracy

Democratic rights are under threat. Research from Oxford University and Global Change Data Lab warns that democracy is in decline worldwide. But we have the power to make a difference and show that democracy is strongest when we all participate.

Source: Our World In Data: The World has recently become less democratic

TCF Board & Committee Members: Call for Applications

Fri, 06 Sep 2024 13:40:57 -0400

Seeking Applications for The County Foundation
Board of Directors & Committee Members

At the Prince Edward County Community Foundation (The County Foundation) our mission is to inspire giving to our community, facilitate grants and support collaborative action to address identified community needs by linking a caring community with causes that matter.
Our Board of Directors is currently recruiting for volunteer Board & Committee Members. Our goal is to ensure that the Board membership reflects the diversity, skills, experience, expertise and judgment necessary for the Foundation to carry out its objectives effectively and appropriately.
Deadline to apply: September 30th 2024

Submit Expression of Interest

Preferred Skills/Experience

Based on a recent needs analysis, individuals who have some of the following capability and experiences are currently especially valued: community knowledge, understanding of not-for profit governance, legal, information technology and risk management.

Time Commitment

Volunteer Board Members attend monthly Board meetings and contribute to at least 2 Committees. Monthly time commitment is approximately 4 – 8 hours. Volunteer committee members would have an approximate time commitment of 2-4 hours monthly.

TCF Committees

Granting and Community Impact Committee
Relationship Management and Development Committee
Finance Committee
Governance Committee
Vital Signs and Community Engagement Committee

Click here to learn more about the role of each of the TCF committees.