Our Foundation

Investing in our Future

The Foundation for Niagara and Hamilton area Christian Schools
(Established 1997)

“To enable our children to grow, in the love of our Lord Jesus Christ, in the knowledge of the Father’s world and in the love of others.”(Based on Luke 10:27)

The foundation for Niagara and Hamilton area Christian Schools (FNHCS) was established as a long-term solution to Christian school funding. Originally named the Niagara Christian Education Foundation, it was established as a federally incorporated public foundation in December 1997 by the following independent Christian schools:

Beacon Christian Schools, St. Catharines
Covenant Christian School, Smithville
Dunnville Christian School
John Knox Christian School, Fruitland
Smithville District Christian High
Wellandport Christian School

In September, 2008, the foundation was joined by six sister schools from the Greater Hamilton area:

Brantford Christian School
Calvin Christian School, Hamilton
Dundas Calvin Christian School
Hamilton District Christian High
Jarvis District Christian School
Trinity Christian School, Burlington

Historically, independent Christian schools have relied on short-term fundraisers to balance their budgets and minimize tuition increases. For decades, these efforts were effective in meeting the immediate needs of the schools, but, by the mid-1990s, school boards had begun exploring other avenues of sustainable funding. A Christian school foundation, with endowments and other permanent or flow-through funding, was seen as a credible, long-term solution and the FNHCS was born.

The Foundation’s goal is to gather funds in the form of outright charitable gifts, bequests in wills and trusts, memorial gifts on behalf of loved ones, and gifts of real estate, securities, life insurance, deposit agreements and charitable annuities. General Endowments, as well as several Named Endowments, have been established for each of the 13 member school societies, including ones for Smithville Christian High School. Planned and estate gifts directed to an appointed school are invested, and the earnings generated from the gifts provide funds for tuition reduction, bursaries, programs or capital expenditures such as building additions or major renovation projects.

A planned gift is a way to express encouragement and appreciation for Christian schooling. It is an enduring expression of support to ensure that a Christ-centred education will continue to be affordable for future generations.

Henry J. Koornneef, Executive Director since October, 2001, administers our Foundation and promotes the planned giving program. Henry is a fully qualified Certified Financial Planner (CFP) and a fully qualified Certified Senior Advisor (CSA). Henry is always available to provide honest, independent advice on the topics of estate planning, planned giving or tax-efficient gift planning. He is equipped to work with your other current advisors to develop a plan that is best for you.

To contact Henry Koornneef or to read more about the Foundation, visit the FNHCS website at http://www.schoolfoundation.ca/index.html
To read more about the business name of the Smithville Christian High Foundation, visit http://www.schoolfoundation.ca/obn2.html

The students, staff and families of Smithville Christian High School are grateful for our Foundation and its many supporters. They are a blessing to our school.