Community Foundation Celebrates 10 Years of Local Philanthropy

13th May 2016

The Community Foundation for Surrey was delighted to celebrate its 10th Anniversary at a special event for donors and supporters at Ramster Hall on 28th April, kindly sponsored by Investec Wealth & Investment and Barlow Robbins Solicitors.

Guests enjoyed a drinks reception and sit down meal and heard from Chairman, David Frank and Executive Director Wendy Varcoe who thanked donors and supporters for their extraordinary support, discussed the Foundations progress to date and shared exciting future plans.

Joe Crome from Leatherhead Youth Project explained how grants from the Community Foundation’s donors have supported the local charity to grow from strength to strength.

Founding Chairman and Vice President Patrick Dowling closed the evening with a toast to the future and the next 10 years of local philanthropy.

Over the past 10 years Surrey families, businesses, trusts and individuals have been inspired to come together and invest in their local communities now and for generations to come and grants have supported projects across the width of community need.

Since establishing the Foundation has built permanent community resources totaling just under £10 million and awarded nearly £6 million in grants. In the year 2015-16 alone over £1 million was awarded in grants to local communities across the county.

David Frank, the Community Foundation’s Chairman said

This is a fantastic milestone for the Community Foundation. We would like to thank all our donors for their continuing support, generosity and desire to help projects across Surrey which are making such a difference to people’s lives.

Wendy Varcoe, Executive Director of the Community Foundation, said

This is about local people supporting other local people. The Foundation has continued to build year on year and we have ambitious plans to help even more of Surrey’s communities going forward.