Announcing the New ‘Evans Tree Fund’ at the Elgin St. Thomas Community Foundation
Photo: Andrew Gunn and Maddie King are currently acting as consultants on the Estate of Donna Vera Evans Bushell, and stopped by the CASO Station in downtown St. Thomas recently to announce a donation of $1.25M from the Estate to the Elgin – St. Thomas Community Foundation. Sarah Groeneweg, Board Chair of the Foundation (left), and Terry Carroll, Executive Director (second from left), joined in the photo. The Community Foundation office is located inside the CASO Station at 750 Talbot Street.
Our team at young & free press is very excited to announce that the Estate of Donna Vera Evans Bushell is contributing $1.25M to the Elgin – St. Thomas Community Foundation to support a series of projects in the Elgin County and St. Thomas area. The first project is focussed on environmental sustainability. With $100,000, the Foundation will establish the ‘Evans Tree Fund’, which will be a permanent fund that supports tree-planting initiatives in the community. The rest of the funds will be allocated to launch a series of remarkable projects across Elgin County and St. Thomas — more announcements will follow soon!
Beyond our social media work and partnerships with private companies, tourism offices and business organizations, our team at young & free press function as consultants alongside owner Andrew Gunn through his consulting firm, Andrew Gunn Consulting Inc. This gives our team of teenage staff members the opportunity to provide ideas and develop special community projects!
Currently, we are the consultants on the Estate of Donna Bushell, who passed away in November 2019 in her hundredth year. Andrew and our teenage staff member, Maddie King, will be taking the lead on announcing the donations from the Estate – ultimately, more than $2.5M will be allocated to support a series of remarkable projects in St. Thomas and Elgin County! This has been an interesting task in the midst of a global pandemic, but we are thrilled to be able to help support the community at this time and celebrate the life of Donna Bushell.
Notes on the Estate of Donna Vera Evans Bushell
Donna Vera Evans Bushell passed away November 9, 2019, in her hundredth year, the last of her family. Donna’s passion was to plant trees and reminisce about her ancestors and friends while her sister Doris Evans taught music as a church organist. The oldest sister, Thelma Joiner, taught elementary school around Aylmer for forty-five years and researched local North Yarmouth history. All three sisters shared a love of their heritage as descendants of the pioneer Westlake, Penhale and Gilbert families who settled along the North Edgeware Road in Yarmouth. Their collected historical papers will eventually be deposited in the Elgin County Archives. Recently, the Bushell Estate provided funding to the Catfish Creek Conservation Authority to construct the new environmentally-friendly “Evans Sisters’ Stage” at Springwater Forest, and to the Kettle Creek Conservation Authority to establish the new “Evans Sisters’ Water Trail” at Dalewood Conservation Area. Both projects have been designed in memory of Donna, Doris, and Thelma, and for the enjoyment of local residents and visitors to the community.
Notes on the Elgin - St. Thomas Community Foundation
The Elgin - St. Thomas Community Foundation helps people to support local charities in the Elgin County and St. Thomas area in ways that are simple, convenient, and long-lasting. Through building and managing endowed funds and providing grants, the Foundation focusses on improving and enhancing our communities – the places where we all live, work, play, and raise our families. More information on the Foundation is available online at www.escf.ca
