Stratford Perth Community Foundation certified as living wage employer

The Stratford Perth Community Foundation is the latest organization to certify as a living wage employer, the United Way Perth-Huron announced Friday.

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“Central to the community foundation movement is a shared vision that no one is left behind,” Stratford Perth Community Foundation executive director Heidi Culliton said. “Living wage certification upholds our foundation’s ongoing commitment to provide our employees with fair and competitive pay for their important work.

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“We believe that when individuals thrive communities become more resilient and connected.”

The Stratford Perth Community Foundation is a philanthropic matchmaker and local funder. With a personalized approach to building community funds, the foundation works with donors to create legacies that leave a lasting imprint on their community.

As a registered charity, the foundation operates with a unique forever model. Donations are pooled and invested with earned income distributed as grants to local community service organizations. Endowed assets held by the foundation have grown to $9.5 million with more than $3 million distributed in grants with local impact.

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“We thank the Stratford Perth Community Foundation for certifying” United Way Perth Huron executive director Ryan Erb said. “An important part of building a stronger region is making sure workers are paid a living wage so they can take part in the life of the community. We appreciate the foundation’s commitment to their employees and the place we call home.”

The Perth-Huron living wage of $22.75 per hour reflects the local cost of living and is calculated annually using local data. It considers the living expenses of a weighted average of family types including a family of four, a single parent and school-aged child, and a single adult, once government transfers and deductions were considered. Everyday expenses in the calculation include food, housing, utilities, clothing, childcare and transportation.

For more information about Perth-Huron’s living wage, visit perthhuron.unitedway.ca.

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