www.insideHALTON.com | OAKVILLE BEAVER | Thursday, May 28, 2015 | 6 Rusty Baillie a `gentle ambassador' for Oakville by Bob Mitchell Oakville Beaver Staff Spotlight "Connected to your Community" R usty Baillie is the head of an organization most people have no idea even exists, but that hasn't stopped the Oakville Community Foundation (OCF) from playing a signi cant role in helping the lives of those dealing with poverty and mental health issues. The Oakville resident will be stepping down on Dec. 31 from the CEO job he's held for the past 11 years, but he's leaving the organization in terri c shape and is most proud of one of its latest nancial endeavours. Modelled after a highly-successful similar program in Toronto, ve single mothers are currently enrolled at Oakville's Sheridan College in a Vital Grant program, funded through the OCF with funds donated by six families, among more than 140 that have either established their own foundations or have asked Baillie's group to direct their funds for them. "This is an absolutely terri c program," Baillie said. "We're taking these single moms, who are living in poverty, giving them an education and then will be working with companies to provide them with great jobs and a career upon graduation. We're transforming their lives. "The families supporting the program are excited because it's a x. In Toronto, their program has been running for about 10 years and they have an 85 per cent success rate. The Sheridan women began their education in January and we'll be continuing it forward. We're already in discussions with other companies and families to have a new group begin their education next year. "I like to use the analogy -- if we can teach these women to sh, then...." Baillie began thinking about retirement from the OCF more than a year ago and a search for his replacement is well underway. "It's been an amazing journey," Baillie said. "I've been extraordinarily Our target is not the average person. It's the generous person, or family, who wants to become philanthropic with their money, often millions of dollars. Our largest one-time donor provided $10 million, but we've recently had a donation that was, let's say, signi cantly larger. Oakville Community Foundation CEO Rusty Baillie fortunate to have been involved for as long as I have. But it's time to pass the torch to somebody new with new ideas. We're on the cusp of some really exciting times." As CEO, Baillie has been in charge of both ensuring the foundation runs smoothly and being a proactive voice for families and their philanthropic objectives. While the OCF , and others like it, primarily directs general funds to helping poverty and mental illness, families with a minimum $20,000 in their foundation can direct their funds to whatever they want. "Rusty is a gentle ambassador for so many in this community. We are indebted to him for all that he has done over the past 11 years," sad Nick Jelinek, chair of the foundation's board of directors. "His work in building bridges with our fund-holders and the needs of the charitable sector is a testament to Rusty as a person, his values and beliefs." Baillie said the foundation's biggest challenge is letting people know it exists. "We're an externally well-kept secret, but so are the other 190 foundations across the country," Baillie said. "When people learn Oakville Community Foundation (OCF) CEO Rusty Baillie will leave his post on Dec. 31 after 11 years leading an organization that few people know anything about, but has assisted many. Baillie is leaving with the knowledge that the organization has strong nancial stability. | photo by Graham Paine Oakville Beaver (Follow on Twitter @halton_photog or facebook.com/HaltonPhotog) about us and our concept, it's one of those forehead smackers for them. `Wow. What a concept.' We've grown from about 40 families, when I started, to now 145 who are able to do their philanthropic things." "Our target is not the average person. It's the generous person or family who wants to become philanthropic with their money, often millions of dollars. Our largest onetime donor provided $10 million, but we've recently had a donation that was, let's say, signi cantly larger. "Unless you're looking for us, you're not going to see us. The average person on the street likely would have no idea what we do, but lawyers, investment advisors, accountants, all know about us. Families don't necessarily need to be wealthy to start a foundation, Baillie said. "They can start with as little as $2,500 and contribute to it over time. When it reaches $20,000 they can basically run their own foundation and direct where their money will go, but we're regularly in contact with them, providing them information about programs that are in need in their own backyard. "Families who are part of the foundation want to make a difference. Many want to y under the radar. It's not about getting publicity. For them, it's often spiritual, knowing their money is making a difference, that they've done the right thing.... It's not really a hard sell for us..." The Oakville foundation directs an average of between $1.5 million to $1.8 million annually to more than 450 charities, Baillie said. When he started, it had between $10 to $20 million in usable funds. Now, it has more than $100 million. "The social safety net for our community has been getting bigger and bigger," Baillie said. Once he leaves, Baillie plans to keep busy doing volunteer work and some consulting contract work. He'll also have some time for his passion music. In the 1970s, he was a drummer in a bar rock band called Sunstone that travelled eastern Canada and Ontario for a couple of years. "I've got some friends, who are musicians, so we're going to get together and do some jamming in the garage," Baillie said. Volume 53 | Number 42 5046 Mainway, Unit 2, Burlington (905) 845-3824 Oakville Beaver is a member of the Ontario Press Council. The council is located at 80 Gould St., Suite 206, Toronto, Ont., M5B 2M7. Phone (416) 340-1981. 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