The Community Foundation of Lethbridge and Southwestern Alberta has been gifted nearly $3.2 million through a will to support youth leadership initiatives in the region.
Hughes Bequest Creates Enduring Fund
The donation, announced Monday, comes from the estate of David and Shirley Hughes, who left $3.19 million to the non-profit organization. The funds will establish the Dr. David W. and Shirley M. Hughes Fund at the community foundation, which will provide ongoing support for youth-focused charitable activities.
Charleen Davidson, executive director of the foundation, expressed gratitude for the couple's generosity. "It's very much in line with who David and Shirley were," she said, noting their humility and desire to avoid recognition.
Supporting Youth Development
The foundation will award investment income from the fund annually to charitable organizations, projects, and activities that focus on developing youth leadership and improving the lives of young people in southwestern Alberta. Because the gift is substantial, it can fund several organizations at their full requested amount.
"Because it is really transformational, it's such a large gift, it will be able to fund several organizations at the full ask," Davidson explained. The endowment model ensures sustainability, as the foundation invests the principal and distributes a portion of the income each year.
Background of the Donors
David and Shirley Hughes originally lived in Calgary before moving to Lethbridge in 1960 to raise their three children: Brenda, Michael, and Gail. Shirley passed away on March 13, 2024, and David on October 3, 2024. The couple were well known in the community for their generosity and supported many local organizations throughout their lives.
The Hughes had established the fund in 2000 and personally chose grant recipients during their lifetime. Now, a volunteer review committee recommends applications to the board of directors for funding from the Hughes fund.
Recent Grants Awarded
Earlier this spring, two organizations received grants from the Hughes fund. Big Brothers Big Sisters of Lethbridge and District obtained $10,000 for a rural mentoring program, while Woods Homes received $15,000 toward an outdoor courtyard at its group care home. Both groups received the full amount they requested.
Davidson noted that the foundation's grant programs typically receive more applications than they can fund, but this youth-focused fund will free up resources for other groups in the region. "What they're doing is helping us not just address needs for youth but really for everyone," she said.
With non-profit organizations facing rising costs, the community foundation is seeing more applications seeking maximum grant amounts. "There's a lot of needs in the community right now," Davidson added.
Currently, the funding is allocated through the foundation's two grant programs: the Community Priorities Fund and the Rural Life Fund. When groups apply, the volunteer review committee can suggest to the board that an application fits under the David W. and Shirley M. Hughes Fund.
