Did you know?

More than 100 young leaders have graduated from the Youth Now program.

Each year, over 100 non-profit professionals attend our training opportunities.

Over two dozen non-profit organizations have participated in the Youth Now program.

The CCRR provides nearly 400 child care referrals per year.

On average, the CCRR hosts 30 workshops and training courses each year.

Every year, over 500 child care providers and parents attend CCRR training opportunities.

Every year, RCRG completes over 3,000 grocery orders for local seniors.

Nearly 300 seniors make use of our Better at Home services.

Our volunteer drivers complete more than 1,200 trips annually.

At least 350 people per year find a volunteer position using our Volunteer Match program.

Close to 500 volunteers support RCRG’s programs and services.

Volunteers contribute nearly 23,000 hours to our organization each year.

Each holiday season, the Richmond Christmas Fund helps more than 2,200 low-income residents.

Every year, the Christmas Fund provides over 600 children with toys, books, and sports equipment.

The Richmond Christmas Fund was first started by Ethel Tibbits, in the 1930s.

The number of Neighbourhood Small Grants we’ve awarded has increased every year since 2014.

Block parties are the most popular type of Neighbourhood Small Grant project.

Every year, the Richmond Women’s Resource Centre serves over 7,300 local women.

The Richmond Women’s Resource Centre currently offers 16 programs and services.

Nearly 60 volunteers support the Richmond Women’s Resource Centre, contributing nearly 2,500 hours per year.

Richmond is home to over 350 registered charities, all of which rely on volunteer support.

There are nearly 13 million volunteers across Canada.

International Volunteer Day is celebrated throughout the world on December 5.

There are 35 volunteer centres in British Columbia.

In 2016, the Foundation awarded 10 grants to non-profit organizations, worth a combined $59,000.

The Foundation manages $6 million in 60 Forever Funds, returning, on average, CPI plus 4%.

Between 2020 and 2022, the Foundation distributed $656,000 in grants, scholarships, charitable disbursements, and Emergency Community Support Funds.

Foundation activities result in the enhancement of our community and residents’ sense of belonging.

ROCA has raised over $21,000 for local charities.

ROCA has performed its Elementary School Concert Series to over 8,000 students.

ROCA provides mentoring and life changing opportunities for aspiring musicians.

The Richmond Arts Coalition was founded in November of 2005.

RAC co-produces the ArtRich exhibition every two years!

RAC highlights Richmond's arts events in a monthly email.

The Richmond Music School is the oldest not-for-profit music school in Richmond.

The Richmond Music School offers affordable music lessons through its diverse programming.

Our students performed 40 hours of music to welcome the Olympic athletes to the 2010 Olympic Games.

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The Finish Line

Published September 01, 2016

The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines "perseverance" as "the quality that allows someone to continue trying to do something even though it is difficult." Our definition is a little shorter: Gabi Guerrero. Since moving to Canada 13 years ago, Gabi has faced obstacles, particularly when trying to upgrade her education. But she never quit, and now, with help from the Richmond Community Foundation's Ethel Tibbits Scholarship, her perseverance is about to pay off. Here's Amanda Oye with Gabi's story.

A little bit of extra help can mean the difference between access to a life-changing opportunity and the status quo. This was the case for Gabi Guerrero, the 2016 recipient of the Ethel Tibbits Scholarship.

“[The award] was like a sign for me to continue,” she says. “I was just so ready to quit and go back to work.” Winning the scholarship provided her with the financial means she needed to continue her education and strive for a better life for her and her family.

Guerrero is exactly the kind of hard working, driven woman that the Ethel Tibbits Scholarship is designed to assist. The award is handed out each year to women in the community who wish to further their education so that they can better support their families.

Named in honour of Ethel Tibbits, a local newspaper pioneer and women’s rights activist, the scholarship was initially established by the Richmond Review. Though the paper has since closed down, the scholarship fund continues to be managed by the Richmond Community Foundation, ensuring that one or more scholarships can be awarded annually.

Guerrero, a Richmond resident since she moved to Canada from Peru 13 years ago, found out about the award through CHIMO Community Services. She was beyond thrilled to receive the news that she had won.

A single mother with three kids – a 16-year-old, a 13-year-old, and a 6-year-old – Guerrero wanted to find a better job. “I wanted to be able to pursue a higher position and a higher income,” she says. She has credentials from Peru, “but I couldn’t make it work here,” she says.

Because she was finding that not having Canadian credentials was getting in the way of her finding a better job, she decided it was time to update her education.

While it was the right decision for her and her family, her journey towards obtaining Canadian credentials has been anything but smooth. “In May 2014, I lost my job, and I had recently divorced and I was raising my three children, and all of that happened when I had just enrolled in university, so I wasn’t sure if I should have continued studying,” she says.

If all of that wasn’t enough, she faced financial difficulties as well. Her middle child was very sick at one point, and without extended health coverage, it was very expensive to get her the help that she needed. “At that point I really considered quitting my studies because I couldn’t afford to continue to pay for my studies and not work,” she says.

She applied for financial help and was granted an award at school. “That award really saved one of my semesters,” she says.

Even with financial assistance, it was very difficult for Guerrero to pay her way through school as a single mother. There were points during her schooling when Guerrero questioned whether or not continuing was feasible, but she persevered, inspired by her children. “They are my drive to make me want to improve,” she says.

By finishing her education, Guerrero hopes to be able to provide her three kids with more opportunities. “My dream is that my kids go to university,” she says. “They are not just an inspiration – they are my purpose … They are the reason why I do many things.”

All of Guerrero’s hard work is now paying off. She is set to receive a Diploma in Business Management from Kwantlen Polytechnic University in the fall, and now hopes to find a job in office management or project management.

Update: We're delighted to report that Gabi was recently hired by Humphries Construction, where she works as the Office Manager, in addition to supporting the Project Management team. Way to go, Gabi!

Photo Caption: Gabi Guerrero (centre) receives an award from Kwantlen Polytechnic University for outstanding achievement.