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More than 350 guests gathered at the Apex in Bury St Edmunds to celebrate two decades of grant-giving that has distributed £46m across Suffolk.
Why it matters: The event highlighted the Foundation's evolution from modest beginnings with a £1m seed fund to becoming Suffolk's largest grant-maker and one of the fastest-growing community foundations in England.
The Foundation's Annual Review and High Sheriff's awards took place on Wednesday, 19 March, compered by Mark Murphy and featuring a performance by Suffolk Philharmonic Orchestra.
By the numbers:
£46m awarded to charities and voluntary organisations across Suffolk
20 years of operation since being established in 2005
£200,000 fundraising target for the new Suffolk Futures fund
The details: Keynote speaker Gavin Stone, Chief Executive of 4YP, outlined issues faced by young people in Suffolk, while High Sheriff Yvonne Gilchrist-Mason presented awards to:
What they're saying: "I am incredibly proud to be Chair of an organisation which has achieved so much in such a relatively short period of time," said George Vestey DL, Chair of Suffolk Community Foundation.
"We started from humble beginnings, launching with a seed fund of just £1m. Over the intervening years, we have become the largest grant-maker in Suffolk and one of the fastest-growing community foundations in England."
Looking forward: The Foundation has launched Suffolk Futures to mark its 20th anniversary. The fund aims to:
Support 16 to 25-year-olds across the county
Raise £200,000, which will be match funded by 50% to total £300,000
The fundraising effort is already halfway to reaching its target
"Since the Foundation was set up 20 years ago, the needs of our communities have changed," said Hannah Bloom, Chief Executive of Suffolk Community Foundation.
"We now face issues of a growing ageing population, areas of real deprivation, an increasing number of children with special educational needs and disabilities and challenges for young people who are unable to access a full range of opportunities available to them."
The bottom line: The annual review event demonstrated the substantial impact of the Foundation while setting out an ambitious vision for the future, with a continued focus on addressing Suffolk's evolving community needs.
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