4-H Ontario is proud to unveil the Gilfillan Endowment Fund.
Established by Catherine Chornoboy, this $20,000 Legacy Fund, which is in her maiden name, will go towards supporting membership fees involved with 4-H for the child or children of a single parent or grandparent living in a low-income status.
The investment income earned on the Gilfillan Fund will be designated annually to provide a 4-H experience that will greatly benefit a child.
Chornoboy has seen the tremendous positive effects the program has had on each of her three children who have all graduated from 4-H as part of the Wellington County 4-H Association.
Chornoboy’s children took part in various exchanges and clubs such as cooking, sewing and cattle.
Her youngest Cassandra was a 2011 4-H Ontario Ambassador and remains involved as a volunteer in her local association.
“As well as the youthful life skills that they learned, they met a lot of good social contacts which I think is equally important to the intellectual side of their growth development,” says Chornoboy.
A divorced mother herself who raised three children and has been involved in numerous volunteer endeavours throughout her life, Chornoboy fully appreciates the efforts and financial limitations of being a single parent and wanted to create this fund to let families know they are not alone.
“I want families to know that somebody cares for them and is willing to give them a bit of help,” she said.
“If they need it financially then I want the family to have it and even if they have resources themselves, I want them to still benefit from this so they can save some money.”
The official announcement of the Gilfillan Fund will be made at the 16th Annual Ontario 4-H Foundation Golf-West Tournament taking place at Victoria Park East Golf Club in Guelph on May 26.
Chornoboy will be attending the event to speak about her newly established Legacy Fund and what 4-H has meant to her family.
The Golf-West Tournament, sponsored by Ontario Mutuals brings golfers together for a day of fun and networking in support of youth programming with 4-H Ontario.
Tournament registrations are still being accepted until May 13.
For more information on the tournament visit www.4-hontario.ca/golf.
