Community Foundation of Orillia and Area

07/27/2026

Scientists in School is thrilled to be partnering with the Community Foundation of Orillia and Area to bring complimentary, hands‑on STEM workshops to 240 children and youth in the months ahead!

Together, we’re igniting curiosity, sparking creativity, and inspiring young minds to become confident critical thinkers—all while having a whole lot of fun exploring the world of STEM.

Here’s to learning, discovery, and the next generation of innovators!

07/27/2026

🎉We thank the Community Foundation of Orillia and Area for their generous grant donation so that we could add new Wonderbook picture books to our collection!

Stop by the Ramara Centre branch (or place a hold online to pick up at Brechin) to browse our collection of these wonderful books. Perfect for busy families on the go, these picture books include an audio version to listen to.

https://simcoop.ent.sirsidynix.net/client/en_US/Ramara/search/results/?qu=wonderbooks

05/27/2026

05/27/2026

The Community Foundation of Orillia and Area (CFOA) held its annual general meeting and spring grants ceremony on Friday, May 22, celebrating another year of strong growth and community impact.

As part of the event, the foundation awarded $61,650 in grants to 26 local organizations, supporting a wide range of programs and services that benefit residents across Orillia and the surrounding area. Funding was distributed from the Smart and Caring Communities Fund and the Ontario Endowment for Children and Youth in Recreation Fund.

This year’s grant recipients represent a diverse cross-section of the community, with funding supporting initiatives in youth development, food security, arts and culture, health and wellness, and community services.

Organizations receiving funding include:

The Sharing Place Food Centre
The Salvation Army
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Orillia & District
Orillia Public Library
Orillia Youth Centre
Scientists in School
United Way Simcoe Muskoka
Simcoe Muskoka Family Connexions
Arts Orillia
and many more charitable organizations

During the AGM, the foundation also highlighted its continued growth and long-term impact. In 2025:

• The foundation’s endowment grew to more than $27.3 million;
• Nearly $1.3 million in new funds were added;
• More than $648,000 was granted to more than 50 local charities; and
• Total granting since inception now exceeds $4.25 million.

The foundation’s investment portfolio achieved a 10.2 per cent return in 2025, further strengthening its ability to provide sustainable, long-term support to the community.

“The Community Foundation plays a unique role in our community,” said Michael Gordon, chair of the board of directors. “We connect donors who want to make a lasting impact with the local organizations doing essential work. Our focus is on building permanent endowment funds that will continue to support this community for generations to come.”

Unlike front-line charities, the CFOA acts as an intermediary — managing and growing endowed funds, then distributing grants annually to support local priorities and emerging needs.

View the full annual report here:https://www.communityfoundationorillia.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/2025-annual-report.pdf

03/19/2026

Your next great read just found its voice!

Thanks to a generous grant from the Community Foundation of Orillia and Area, you can now borrow a C-Pen Reader from the Library. Simply glide this small, handheld, easy-to-use device over printed text and it reads the words out loud as you go, helping make books, documents and other printed text accessible.

With multiple language options, adjustable reading speeds, and a headphone jack for private listening, the C-Pen is a practical tool that can provide independence for language learners, those with visual challenges or dyslexia, and anyone who benefits from hearing text read aloud!

Available now through our Library of Things: https://tinyurl.com/53bhw2rw

03/09/2026

The Community Foundation of Orillia and Area is accepting Grant Applications for the following funds:

- The Smart and Caring Communities Fund enables the Foundation to respond to areas of need within our community in response to applications received from local community organizations.

- The Ontario Endowment for Children and Youth in Recreation Fund was established to provide a stable, ongoing source of funding to address the recreational and cultural needs of young people. Some examples of the kinds of programs that will be considered for support are after-school cultural and recreation programs, community sports initiatives, and neighborhood playgrounds

Applications close at 3 pm on Friday, April 17.

Find out more and apply: https://www.communityfoundationorillia.ca/spring-grants/

03/04/2026

Our 2025 Annual Report is now live! View it here: https://www.communityfoundationorillia.ca/annual-reports/

12/08/2025

👀Have you noticed something different in the Children's Area?

❤️The library received a grant from The Community Foundation of Orillia and Area. With the grant we were able to purchase new programming tables - with wheels! Having tables that easily move around has been incredibly helpful. We have been able to use them for so many different programs since they are easy to rearrange.

Thank you Community Foundation of Orillia and Area!

If you are interested in supporting the library please contact us at 705-325-5776.