Giving Back this Holiday Season

It’s the Giving Season. Many of us give and receive so much at this time of year.  We’re excited to share inspiration for incorporating community generosity into your giving.

As we approach the tax receipt deadline of December 31, we’re here to support your giving, too. Please feel free to call or email if you need any help with processing donations for the 2025 tax year. 

Giving Tuesday Events & Initiatives

December 2, 2025, is Giving Tuesday. It follows Black Friday and Cyber Monday and is an opportunity to focus on giving back rather than getting. Many charities have special matching or other initiatives that kick off on Giving Tuesday; make sure you check in on your favourites. 

1) Give Kindness  – Whether it’s making someone smile, helping a neighbour or stranger out, standing up for an issue, community or cause that you care about, there are many ways you can give back by being kind.

2) Give Recovery – Communities on the North Shore of Conception Bay are still recovering from the devastating wildfires this year.  Your care gives them hope and will support them as they rebuild. Give to the North Shore Fires Recovery Fund here. 

3) Give Choice – Many people like to give gift cards at this time of year. CanadaHelps has you covered with gift cards that allow the recipient to make a donation to any charity in Canada. Also great for birthdays and other celebrations. 

4) Give Local – Check out Business and Arts NL’s annual holiday gift guide to find countless local and unique gifts created by 50+ creatives from across the province. Local handcrafted gifts for everyone on your list! 

5) Give Social – We have so many community organizations that offer opportunities to give back by purchasing their goods and services. From eating at Stella’s Brasserie to ordering from Food First’s Avalon Food Hub or Western Food Hub to thrifting your gifts at Mokami’s Thrifty’s to delicious pizza at Choices for Youth’s Crust Craft Bakery, you can celebrate and give while supporting your community. 

We’ll keep adding to this list. Reach out to us at info@cfnl.ca if you have something you’d like to share.  

A Salute to Service: The Maple Leaf and Honorary Colonel Benevolent Funds

In Newfoundland and Labrador, a deep-rooted commitment to supporting military members, veterans, and their families is exemplified through two vital funds. The Maple Leaf and Honorary Colonel Benevolent Funds are more than financial support; they are lifelines for those who have faced the unique challenges of military service and its impacts on family life.

A Vision Realized: Bill Mahoney’s Commitment

The ties to the military in the province are deeply personal and widespread; many residents have friends or family members who have served, making the impact of these funds even more meaningful. At the heart of these funds is Bill Mahoney, whose military background has profoundly shaped his efforts to support these communities. His dedication is evident in every aspect of these initiatives, which have made a tangible difference in many lives.

The Maple Leaf Fund: Community Care in Action

The Maple Leaf Fund was born from the success of the 2013 Atlantic Maple Leaf Tribute Dinner held in St. John’s. The event, which raised over $800,000 and was led by Mahoney, Miller Ayre and other dedicated community leaders, did more than gather funds; it was a significant step in fostering mutual understanding and respect. “It was about connecting the community with our military members and their families,” reflects Mahoney. 2023 Annual Report Community Foundation of Newfoundland and Labrador.

The fund, administered through the regional Military Family Resource Centres, provides extensive support across Newfoundland and Labrador. It addresses the everyday struggles of military families, offering assistance in times of family emergencies, childcare needs, and other family challenges.

The Honorary Colonel Benevolent Fund: Meeting Immediate Needs

The Honorary Colonel Benevolent Fund, which started as a personal initiative of Bill Mahoney, plays a crucial role in providing immediate emergency assistance to military families. Notable for its flexible administration, the fund empowers military chaplains to deliver prompt aid in critical situations. This approach has been life-altering for many military members and their families, offering timely support when it’s most needed.

“During my conversations with the chaplains, it became clear that in emergency or distress situations, military families often need immediate financial support but face challenges accessing public funds due to strict oversight,” Mahoney explains. “They expressed a real need for quick access to emergency funds without complex application processes, for those critical moments when even a few hundred dollars can make a significant difference.”

With Mahoney’s significant personal contribution, the fund ensures rapid assistance for necessities, helping military families navigate crises with dignity and support.

A Legacy of Support and Gratitude

The Maple Leaf and Honorary Colonel Benevolent Funds go beyond financial aid; they embody the community’s heartfelt respect and support for those connected to the military. With the commitment of these individuals and sustained community involvement, these funds will continue to offer vital support, ensuring that these resources remain a reliable and steadfast source of assistance for military families. You can join this support by donating to the Maple Leaf Fund here or the Honorary Colonel Benevolent Fund here.

Learn more about how CFNL can be a partner in your generosity with the Giving Guide.  

2025 Forest Fire Recovery Funds

Forest fires are threatening communities across Newfoundland and Labrador. Many communities are evacuated, and tens of thousands more residents are on evacuation alert. Our hearts go out to everyone dealing with all of this.

To support rebuilding efforts, the Community Foundation of Newfoundland and Labrador is stewarding two Recovery Funds.

Your generosity will support communities as they recover from this disaster.   

1. North Shore Fires Recovery Fund (formerly Adam’s Cove Fire Recovery Fund) 

The north shore of Conception Bay is dealing with its 11th fire of this year. The Kingston Fire has grown to more than 10,000 hectares, forcing the evacuation of communities and destroying homes and other structures. CFNL is supporting the Town of Small Point-Broad Cove-Blackhead-Adam’s Cove to raise funds with a focus on volunteer firefighting capacity and equipment. 

On the front lines of all of these fires are members of the North Shore Volunteer Fire Department who serve communities along the north shore of Conception Bay from Small Point to Burnt Point.  Like many volunteer fire departments across the province, securing the necessary resources for safe and effective response remains a constant challenge. 

Donate Now

2. 2025 NL Forest Fires Recovery Fund

Facilitated by the Community Foundation of Newfoundland and Labrador, Community Sector Council of Newfoundland and Labrador, Municipalities Newfoundland and Labrador and United Way of Newfoundland and Labrador, the 2025 NL Forest Fires Recovery Fund is intended for long-term recovery efforts as identified by local communities when they are ready for rebuilding after emergency response. This provides funders and donors with the knowledge and comfort that their contributions will support projects that are prioritized by local communities with transparent and accountable local oversight.

Visit https://www.wildfirenl.ca/ to learn more about volunteering and critical information about the forest fires. 

Donate Now 

To give to immediate relief efforts, you can donate to The Canadian Red Cross or Salvation Army to support the vital assistance they provide to communities in times of crisis. 

CFNL is a registered charity (BN: 853376531RR0001).

Breaking the Bottleneck: Catalysts for Expansion in NL’s Community Housing Sector

Report highlights huge economic and social impact potential for community housing in Newfoundland and Labrador

Today, the Community Foundation of Newfoundland and Labrador (CFNL) and Annex Consulting released Breaking the Bottleneck: Catalysts for Expansion in NL’s Community Housing Sector. The report provides an overview of the current state of the community housing sector in NL and offers recommendations to strengthen it, particularly in relation to developing new community housing.  

The report found that Newfoundland and Labrador lags behind the rest of Canada in community housing. Community housing represents 0.3% of housing in the province compared to a 4% national average and a 7% OECD average. The report also found that there are billions of dollars in untapped economic potential related to community housing development, in addition to the proven and permanent social impacts. 

“Newfoundland and Labrador is in a housing crisis, and it’s been getting significantly worse for many years now. The community housing sector is an underutilized and proven solution to this pressing challenge in our province,” said Nicole Dawe, Executive Director with the Community Foundation of Newfoundland and Labrador, one of the partners in the report. 

“We heard from so many current and aspiring community housing organizations throughout our engagement. The sector is ready and able, they just need some more support to unlock this incredible potential in the province”, Dawe said. 

“There’s a bottleneck in the early stages of development. There’s almost no funding and organizations just don’t have the time, expertise or financial capacity to dedicate to advancing projects to increase the supply of affordable housing in their communities without these resources,” says Hope Jamieson, Founder of Annex Consulting, CFNL’s partner in the report. 

“Everyone is looking for so-called “shovel-ready” projects, but there isn’t enough support to get community housing projects in NL to the stage of shovel-readiness. Other provinces have organizations and human resources that help to navigate the development process, and funds that invest in these early stages. In the report, we highlight the need for both of these and make other recommendations to create more permanently affordable, community-owned housing across the province”, Jamieson added. 

Funding for the report was provided by the Community Housing Transformation Centre.

Report Links

• Executive Summary (PDF)
• Executive Summary + Full Report (PDF)
• Executive Summary + Full Report (Plain Text)

Media Contacts

Nicole Dawe

Executive Director

Community Foundation of Newfoundland and Labrador

ndawe@cfnl.ca 

T: 709-221-1030

M: 709-219-7865

Hope Jamieson

President

Annex Consulting

hope@annexconsultingnl.ca

T: 709-770-0546

From Curious Hands to Lasting Legacy

Tara Bryan Legacy Fund keeps the art of wonder alive in Newfoundland and Labrador

In 1992, Tara Bryan packed her life into a U-Haul – including tonnes of letterpress equipment – and drove from New York to St. John’s.

“She fell in love with this place,” remembers her sister Teresa. “And I think it made her really think about how she needed to change her life from teaching in a high school where she wasn’t really very happy to focusing on what really did make her happy.”

That decision to make St. John’s home would transform not just Tara’s life, but the province’s arts community. When she passed away in September 2020 at age 66, she left behind what many consider an irreplaceable loss: someone who was “a cornerstone of book arts in Newfoundland and Labrador,” as local artist Duncan Major puts it.

Now, through the Tara Bryan Legacy Fund, her teaching spirit and generous mentorship continue.

An Artist’s Early Gift

Tara’s artistic talent emerged early in Texas, where she was born. “Tara was drawing before she was five. That was just her thing,” Teresa recalls. “She’s drawing horses that look like horses and I’m drawing stick horses.”

But making the leap to full-time artist wasn’t easy. “There was a time when she decided she needed to be a full-time artist, and that was a hard decision because there’s no guaranteed pay cheque,” Teresa explains.

In Newfoundland and Labrador, Tara found her stride. She worked as director for a local gallery, connected with local artists, and established walking bird press – a printshop that became a training ground for emerging artists and a hub for collaboration.

Building Community Through Art

Tara’s impact went far beyond her own artwork. “She was really embedded in the community in terms of teaching,” Teresa notes. “She taught workshops. She had assistants that she taught printmaking to. She collaborated with many different local artists.”

Major was one of those assistants, starting when he was just thirteen. “I met Tara, and she was working on a book. I came in and took a look and was kind of blown away by all the gear that was in there, all this printing equipment,” he remembers. That summer job became a decade-long mentorship that shaped his own artistic practice.

What made Tara special as a teacher was her approach to creativity. “She would find pop-up cards and then dissect them and take them apart and figure out how they work,” Major recalls. “She’d try things just for the fun of it, and I took that away into my own practice, that play is really important.”

This philosophy showed up in everything she created, perhaps best exemplified by her piece Down the Rabbit Hole. The work starts as a simple package in a box, but when you follow its playful instructions – “LIFT ME” and “PULL ME” – it transforms into a tunnel book that drops open, revealing Lewis Carroll’s text spiralling through layers of hinged paper. It captures everything Tara was about: inventive, surprising, and masterfully crafted.

“She’d always sign my birthday cards with, ‘have fun,'” Major shares. “Book arts has kind of a lofty sort of ring to it, but her work was not pretentious at all. It was very much down to earth and engaging and fun.”

A Voice for Artists

Photo Credit: Marnie Parsons, Running the Goat Books & Broadsides

Tara’s commitment extended to advocacy work with Visual Artists Newfoundland and Labrador (VANL). She served as the organization’s executive director and remained an active board member and advisor throughout her career.

“When big advocacy issues came up, she would be one of the first people I would call to get her take on things, some historical context, just advice,” says Dave Andrews, VANL’s current Executive Director. “She was always there to be helpful.”

Andrews admired her approach to the often difficult work of arts advocacy. “She was always so determined. She knew if you kept at it, you could make changes over time.”

Even in challenging situations, Tara maintained her perspective. “While she had that determination, she also had this real wry humour and sense of it all, which helped me put things into perspective,” Andrews recalls.

From Grief to Growth

When Tara died suddenly, those closest to her struggled with how to honour someone whose influence had been so profound. For Teresa and the family, the answer became clear.

“We all mourn in a different way,” Teresa reflects. “And for me and my family, I think it is doing this fund… It’s a way of honouring her and continuing her legacy, really.”

The Tara Bryan Legacy Fund partners with VANL to sponsor the annual Tara Bryan Endurance Award, renamed from VANL’s existing award to honour her memory. “The award is specifically for consistent dedication, commitment of an artist to professional practice and to sustained creative output and performance,” Andrews explains. “And obviously that exemplifies Tara quite well.”

Hands-On Learning

The fund also brings visiting artists to the province annually for workshops in bookbinding, letterpress printing, and other book arts techniques. Major helps lead these sessions, which consistently sell out, attracting participants from beginners to experienced artists.

“Education was always really important to her,” Major notes. “She was a great teacher, and she didn’t only mentor me, she mentored many others.”

In today’s digital world, the hands-on nature of book arts offers something particularly valuable. “As people try to find a way to create meaning in the modern world, it’s really rewarding just to work with tools and to come out with a finished product that you can hold,” Major explains. “The nice thing about book arts is that it can engage a lot of senses, both in the making and in the experiencing too.”

Looking Ahead

Photo Credit: Julie Kilpatrick

What would Tara think of having a fund in her name? “I think she would be gobsmacked,” Teresa says. “At the same time, she would probably say, ‘no, no, wait, wait. You need to do this over here.’ She was pretty headstrong.”

Teresa’s vision for the fund extends far beyond her own involvement. “To me, success is when the artist workshops continue after we’re all gone… that in 20 years or 30 years, that it has some chance to continue.”

For Andrews, the fund celebrates someone who truly succeeded against the odds. “She was totally dedicated and constantly working and very successful on multiple fronts, bookmaking, painting, all kinds of different ways,” he reflects. “And also, she made a go of it in a province that’s not easy to make a go of living as a professional artist… She really exemplifies that aspect of it, so that’s what we want to celebrate with the award.”

Through workshops that spark curiosity, an award that recognizes dedication, and partnerships that strengthen the arts community, the Tara Bryan Legacy Fund ensures that her most important lessons live on: that art should be accessible, collaborative, and above all, fun.

—

Follow the TBLF on Facebook to find out about upcoming workshops and events. You can donate to the Tara Bryan Legacy Fund here. Learn more about how CFNL can be a partner in your generosity with the Giving Guide.  

Strengthening the Community Sector: Thriving Non-Profits in NL

The Office to Advance Women Apprentices faced a common dilemma in the nonprofit sector: how to generate revenue while staying true to their mission. For fifteen years, they had never charged admission to their annual gala. But after participating in the Thriving Non-Profits (TNP) program – a comprehensive revenue diversification education program – they took a new approach: introducing ticket sales while maintaining accessibility through special rates for apprentices. 

The result? Over $9,000 in new revenue from tickets and sponsorships – money that will directly support their mission of increasing employment opportunities for women in skilled trades. 

This transformation exemplifies the impact of the TNP program, brought to Newfoundland and Labrador through a partnership between the Community Foundation of Newfoundland and Labrador (CFNL), Community Sector Council of NL (CSCNL), Scale Collaborative, and the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador.

A New Approach to Financial Sustainability 

“After reading hundreds of grant applications, we consistently saw revenue diversification as a major challenge for local organizations,” explains Nicole Dawe, Executive Director of CFNL. “We recognized that in addition to funding, our sector needed capacity-building support to create sustainable revenue strategies. We’re really grateful to be part of the partnership that brought this solution to the province after seeing other Community Foundations’ success with this program across the country.”

The program’s first Newfoundland and Labrador cohort brought together eleven diverse organizations from across the province, from animal welfare advocates to historical societies, each grappling with the challenge of financial sustainability. Over six months, participants explored nine revenue diversification strategies: social enterprise, donations, grants, fee for service, events, leverage, contracts, partnerships, and assets. The program was developed by Scale Collaborative and was delivered in NL with the Community Sector Council of NL through its Social Innovation Lab. 

For the Trinity Historical Society, founded in 1964 to safeguard the area’s heritage, the program sparked a major shift in perspective. “The exposure to the various topics has facilitated ‘out of the box’ thinking for new revenue opportunities rather than simply maintaining the status quo,” shares Sharon Jeans, Secretary-Director. The Society now views its historical assets not just as artifacts to protect, but as resources that could generate lasting income to support their mission.

Nicole Holland, Regional Tourism Development Officer at Green Bay Regional Tourism Association, found the program transformative for their new organization. “The program has proven itself to be an invaluable resource to secure the best practices in moving us forward not only with strength but sustainability,” she shares. This growth was supported by the program’s one-on-one coaching component, where experienced mentors helped translate learning into action. 

Building Resilient Futures 

 “We are in awe of the impact Thriving Non-Profits has had on our inaugural cohort, but it does not just end at the organization level,” reflects Colin Corcoran, CEO of CSCNL. “These organizations have validated the need to invest in the capacity of our sector by expanding their revenue generation toolbox with a view of financial sustainability. By building a more resilient community sector which can take better control of its resources, we can respond to changes in demand and contribute to more vibrant communities. Instead of doing more with less, how can we get to doing enough with enough? That is the question we at CSCNL are actively exploring, including what comes next for positive sector transformation.”  

Looking Ahead 

Congratulations to the first NL Cohort of Thriving Non-Profits. We can’t wait to see the community impact that will grow from your investment to strengthen your financial sustainability. With the success of the first cohort, plans are already underway for future programs. Stay tuned to CSCNL for more. 

“We know that many organizations in the community sector are seeking to increase their capacity,” said the Hon. Andrew Parsons, KC, Minister of Industry, Energy and Technology. “The Thriving Non-Profits Program has helped organizations explore different revenue-diversification strategies through workshops and coaching sessions. Participants finished the program with an organizational action plan for revenue diversification. This plan will allow the organizations to operate more strategically and confidently, strengthening their resiliency. The Provincial Government recognizes the indispensable value the community sector provides, and my department was proud to partner on this important project.”

Through the Thriving Non-Profits program, these partners are helping create a future where community organizations can focus less on survival and more on impact. As the first cohort graduates and new organizations prepare to begin their journey, one thing is clear: Newfoundland and Labrador’s community sector is embracing a new way of thinking about revenue generation, impact, and community service. You can read the full Impact Report on the positive difference this initiative is making here. 

The first NL cohort of the Thriving Non-Profits Program was funded by the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador’s Department of Industry, Energy and Technology and CFNL’s Community Fund. The Community Fund allows CFNL to support communities across the province to respond to pressing challenges and opportunities. You can learn more about donating to the Community Fund or becoming a fund holder that supports the Community Fund here. 

Collaborations bring incredible value to our community. Learn more about the partners: 

Community Foundation of Newfoundland and Labrador

Community Sector Council of Newfoundland and Labrador

Government of Newfoundland and Labrador

Scale Collaborative 

Check out Thriving Non-Profits to see how it can support your organization or region. 

CFNL Recruiting New Board Members (Deadline March 23)

The Community Foundation of Newfoundland and Labrador (CFNL) is building an enduring legacy to strengthen the quality of life in our province.

CFNL is recruiting 2-3 members to join its board of directors. New members have an exciting opportunity to shape an organization with national relevance while grounding it in the beauty and strengths of people who care about Newfoundland and Labrador and the place that’s given us all so much. 

Sharing Your Gifts

Our Board works as a team, and each member has different experiences and skills. We are looking for the following to add to the existing board’s strengths. 

• Experience/knowledge with legal and regulatory matters concerning not-for-profit corporations and charitable foundations
• Individuals living in or with connections to communities outside of the Northeast Avalon

All Board members should have the following:

• 5-10 hours per month to dedicate to CFNL work over a 3-year term
• A commitment to creating spaces of inclusion and belonging in their personal and professional lives. 

NOTE: Applications from people living anywhere in Newfoundland and Labrador or who live outside the province and have strong connections to NL are welcome. Meetings are conducted remotely or in a hybrid format. CFNL supports board members from outside the NE Avalon with travel costs to attend one meeting in person per year. Meetings currently take place on Wednesdays every other month, over the lunch hour (NT). CFNL does revisit its board meeting timing on an annual basis. 

Share Your Interest By March 23, 2025

We ask all applicants to answer these questions as part of their expression of interest:

1. Why are you interested in CFNL’s mission and its work? 
2. Tell us what skills and experience you can contribute to the Board. See above for a list of current priority skillsets and backgrounds. 
3. How do you commit to creating spaces of inclusion and belonging? 

Submit your expression of interest by March 23, 2025. You can use any of the following formats:

• 1-2 page letter – submit to info@cfnl.ca
• 5-7 minute video recording – submit to info@cfnl.ca as an attachment or link.
• A recorded conversation with the Executive Director by phone or Zoom (approximately 20 minutes) – contact Nicole Dawe at ndawe@cfnl.ca or (709) 221-1030 or book a time here before March 21. 
• Optional – Submit a resume or CV. 

All applicants will be notified within six weeks of the deadline. Successful applicants will be brought forward as a slate of nominations at CFNL’s AGM in early May 2025. 

About The Community Foundation of Newfoundland and Labrador

The Community Foundation of Newfoundland and Labrador’s (CFNL) vision is thriving Newfoundland and Labrador communities where everyone belongs. We realize this by inspiring generosity in those with Newfoundland and Labrador on their hearts and connecting them with diverse resources, ideas and people to invest in the possibility of this place together.

Established in 2001, CFNL stewards more than $2.5 million in philanthropic investment for the benefit of the province, has facilitated granting of over $4 million since 2017 and leads community knowledge initiatives like NL Vital Signs. We’re part of Community Foundations of Canada (CFC), the national network for Canada’s 200+ community foundations that, combined, stewards $7 billion in resources and reaches 90 percent of the country’s geography.

With open minds and hearts, CFNL serves as a bridge to connect resources, ideas and people to make our hopes for this province a reality now and into the future. Our work takes place in three areas:

1. Donor Services – Flexible and tailored stewardship of funds for individuals, corporations and charities.
2. Granting – Making grants from funds stewarded by CFNL and through granting partnerships as part of the Community Foundations of Canada network. 
3. Community Leadership – Connecting diverse people, ideas and resources through initiatives like NL Vital Signs and participating in a wide array of local, regional and national conversations about the community sector and philanthropy.  

Apply for Free Housing Development Supports – Deadline March 7

Giving Back this Holiday Season

It’s the Giving Season. Many of us give and receive so much at this time of year.  

We’re excited to share some inspiration for community generosity. We’ll keep adding to this list. Reach out to us at info@cfnl.ca if you have something you’d like to share.  

For more inspiration, listen to CBC NL’s The Signal from Giving Tuesday to hear CFNL’s Executive Director, Nicole Dawe, and other guests share many ideas about how to give back this holiday season. 

As we approach the tax receipt deadline of December 31, we’re here to help with supporting your giving, too. Please feel free to call or email if we can support you.

Giving Tuesday Events & Initiatives

December 3, 2024, is Giving Tuesday. It follows Black Friday and Cyber Monday and is an opportunity to focus on giving back rather than getting. 

Many charities have special matching or other initiatives that kick off on Giving Tuesday; make sure you check in on your favourites. Online giving is going to be especially important for all charities this year as organizations across the country paused direct mail campaigns because of the Canada Post strike. Many charities receive a large portion of their donations during the final two months of the year. Pay special attention to your email and social media for special opportunities to give back. 

1) Give Kindness  – Whether it’s making someone smile, helping a neighbour or stranger out, standing up for an issue, community or cause that you care about, there are many ways you can give back. Here are 50 acts of kindness ideas to get you inspired. 

2) CanadaHelps Gift Cards  – Many people like to give gift cards at this time of year. CanadaHelps has you covered with gift cards that allow the recipient to make a donation to any charity in Canada. Also great for birthdays and other celebrations. 🙂

3) Creative Gifts for Everyone – Check out Business and Arts NL’s annual holiday gift guide to find 230 local and unique gifts created by 78 creatives from across the province. Local handcrafted gifts for everyone on your list! Whether you’re looking for something contemporary or a bit more traditional, this gift guide includes items for every age, style and budget.

A Mother’s Gift: The Andrea Powell Memorial Scholarship shapes futures at Holy Trinity High

At Holy Trinity High School in Torbay, a new scholarship is doing more than easing the financial burden of post-secondary education – it’s creating a lasting bridge between a mother’s legacy and young women’s futures.

The Andrea Powell Memorial Scholarship, established following Andrea’s sudden passing in 2017, awards $10,000 to female graduates pursuing Science, Technology, Engineering, Math or other related field of education. But its origins lie in something deeper than academic support.

A Legacy of Supporting Women

“Andrea was always in the background, always there supporting,” says Jason Kelly, Andrea’s husband. “She was really passionate about young women getting ahead. That’s why we dedicated this scholarship to female students – I know that’s what she would have wanted.”

The selection process looks beyond a candidate’s academics to consider community involvement and leadership – qualities that defined Andrea’s approach to life. 

Community Rallies Together

The scholarship’s foundation began with overwhelming community support. An initial celebration of life event raised nearly $50,000, helping create the scholarship, a family room and emergency room equipment at the Health Sciences Centre’s Intensive Care Unit. Kelly’s band, Last Plaid Heroes, also continues this support through benefit concerts. “We’ve gotten tremendous support from the community of Torbay and really the Northeast Avalon,” says Kelly. “It just shows how close the community is when there’s a real need.”

Making a Difference, One Student at a Time

This year’s first recipient, Aysia Gallant, embodies the scholarship’s dual emphasis on academic achievement and community service. From fifteen applicants, a committee of school and family representatives selected Gallant based on criteria beyond academics. “It’s about congeniality, what you do for your community, whether that’s through sports, volunteerism, anything really,” Kelly explains.

For Gallant, now studying Primary Care Paramedicine at the College of the North Atlantic, the award carries both practical and personal significance. “I was shocked when my name was called,” she recalls, noting how the financial support has eased family tensions about education costs. “It means less work on my mother trying to pay for all of it,” Gallant explains. “We had this never-ending battle about me wanting to help with the costs.”

As a member of the Pouch Cove Volunteer Fire Department for nearly two years, Gallant demonstrates the kind of civic engagement that defined Andrea’s own life. Her vision extends beyond emergency response to advocating for better patient care. “I’ve always loved helping people,” she says. “I want to be a patient advocate, ensuring they get the care they need. I don’t want them to just be treated as a regular patient without making sure they’re actually okay.”

Beyond Financial Support

To honour Andrea’s memory, Gallant had her school backpack embroidered with “In Memory and Honour of Andrea Powell” – a gesture that touched the Kelly family. The connection between recipient and donors continues to grow, with Kelly sending encouragement on Gallant’s first day of classes.

The scholarship’s impact extends beyond individual recipients. At Holy Trinity High School, it has sparked increased interest in community involvement among students. The school’s guidance department has noted how the scholarship’s criteria encourage students to think beyond academics and consider their broader role in society.

Kelly and his sons keep Andrea’s memory alive through family dinners on special dates like Mother’s Day and her birthday. The scholarship represents another dimension of this remembrance. “It’s a little bit of good coming out of something horrible that happened to our family,” Kelly reflects. “We’re not just touching that one individual that’s getting the scholarship; it’s their family, too.”

Looking Ahead

The next scholarship will be awarded in 2028, coinciding with the graduation of Kelly’s younger son from Holy Trinity. While fundraising continues for the second award, Kelly acknowledges the initiative’s eventual conclusion. “We’ve done a lot over the last few years. By 2028, we’ll be 10 or 11 years into it, and that’s good. Andrea’s memory will live on.”

Through this scholarship, young women pursuing STEM education carry forward not just financial support, but the spirit of a mother who believed in their potential and the power of giving back to community.

—

You can donate to the Andrea Powell Memorial Scholarship here. Learn more about how CFNL can be a partner in your generosity with our Giving Guide.