In 2007, we have seen our endowment base grow well beyond the one million dollar level. We are pleased to have signed a second community partnership agreement with the Vancouver Foundation and the Village of Midway. Like our first partnership fund with the Greenwood Improvement Society, the Midway fund will have grown to $100,000 by January 2008 thanks to the "matching" incentive from the Vancouver Foundation. In addition, we gratefully acknowledge the generous donation of $150,000 from the Grand Forks District Savings Credit Union. Since our inception in 1997, the GFDSCU has been an incredible support as we established a solid base for our Community Foundation. We have several new family endowments and a generous gift to the animal welfare fund. And, we wish to acknowledge the ongoing contributions made year after year by generous citizens throughout the Boundary.

As we enter our tenth year there is much to celebrate! The Phoenix Foundation of the Boundary Communities - your Foundation - has well in excess of one million dollars in assets! This would not have been possible without the passionate and dedicated service from the volunteer Board of Directors, Advisors and individuals who gave their valuable time to sit on committees and assist with other project work.

As a Board, we are committed to the health and growth of our Foundation. On February 17, the Board and Advisors spent the day with Barbara Oates-McMillan, Regional Representative of Community Foundations of Canada as she facilitated our second "Reflections: Assessing Community Foundations Practice" process.

As a result of this session we have identified key strategic goals that will direct our actions over the next two to three years to "Build a Better Boundary" for all of us.

I would like to thank the small but dedicated group of individuals who volunteer to serve as members of the Phoenix Foundation Board, Advisory Council and who sit on our Grants and Marketing Committees. Collectively, we have been able to touch the lives of many of our citizens throughout the Boundary. - Maxine Ruzicka

Renowned anthropologist, Margaret Mead once said: "Never doubt that a small group of committed citizens can change the world; indeed it's the only thing that ever has."