Communications + Public Relations Foundation

Who We Are
The Communications + Public Relations Foundation is a not-for-profit charitable organization that:

  • is committed to increasing public knowledge and awareness of the role of communications and public relations through support to educational initiatives
  • promotes the advancement of communications and public relations as a vital function in society
  • is dedicated to the public interest

What We Do
The Communications + Public Relations Foundation, as a recognized Canadian charity:

  • accepts individual, foundation and corporate contributions towards educational initiatives nationwide and issues tax receipts
  • works with partners to develop and implement educational projects and initiatives to advance the profession
  • encourages the contribution of gifts to remember and honour public relations practitioners through the development and implementation of educational projects

The Past
The Communications + Public Relations Foundation was established in 1979 by senior members of the Canadian Public Relations Society to raise money to support educational initiatives to advance the profession such as:

  • Donation of public relations text books to public libraries
  • Sponsorship of an annual lecture at CPRS national conference
  • Publishing of a public relations reference text book
  • Establishment of the Jack Yocom Profile Collection with CPRS College of Fellows

The Present
Currently, the Foundation manages a number of initiatives established with the involvement of funding partners and is preparing for a national fund-raising campaign to expand its support to educational initiatives across Canada. Offerings include:

  • Management of the Ruth Hammond Scholarship in partnership with Mount Saint Vincent University, Halifax (2009 Recipient: Amber Lonie, Halifax, Nova Scotia)
  • Management of the Lou Cahill Scholarship in Communications in partnership with the Enterprise Group, Toronto, and Brock University, St. Catharines (2010 Recipient: Elizabeth Hibbert, Toronto, Ontario)
  • Management of the Torchia Scholarship in Public Relations/Communications in partnership with Torchia Communications (2010 Recipient: Denissa-Jalal, St. Laurent, Victoria, British Columbia)
  • Management of the Diana and Charles Tisdall Lecture in Communications in partnership with CPRS:
    • Tribute Video from 2007 Conference

      View in Windows Media    View in QuickTime

    • Substance Sells: Aligning Corporate Reputation and Corporate Social Responsibility, June 16, 2005
    • Power of Communication in Society, June 13, 2006
    • You Can't Spin Mother Nature, June 14, 2007
    • Getting Kicked While You Are Down - The Truth About Citizen - Generated News, June 9, 2008
    • Communicating Tough Messages in Tough Economic Times, June 8, 2009
    • Communications in a Policing Environment: It's Complicated, June 15, 2010
  • Management of CPRS (Vancouver Island) educational project funds with Victoria Foundation
  • Liaison with CPRS College of Fellows on Jack Yocom Profile Collection
    • Phase One Profiles
  • Launch of APEX Scholarship in Public Relations, 2011

Annual Reports
The Foundation publishes an annual report that includes an outline of its activities and its financial statement:

Governance
The Communications + Public Relations Foundation is governed by a national board of communications professionals, most of whom are CPRS members. CPRS membership is not required for board eligibility or service. Directors are elected annually at the Foundation's Annual General Meeting, in June.

Officers:
Gordon McIvor, PhD, APR, FCPRS; Toronto
Joanne Rider; Toronto
Antoine Landry, M.Sc.A, APR, FSCRP; Montreal
Jim Medeiros, CA, CMA; Toronto
 
Directors:
Nancy Arab, APR, ABC, FCPRS; Calgary
Luc Beauregard, CM, APR, FCPRS; Montreal
Barbara Lindner Coates; Vancouver
Terry Fallis; Toronto
Darlene Frampton, B.A., M.Ed.; Toronto
Elizabeth Hirst, M.A., APR, FCPRS; Montreal
Walt Judas; Vancouver
Tim Kane; Victoria
Joel Levesque, APR, FCPRS, Saint John
Melanie Lee Lockhart, M.A., APR; Winnipeg
Maureen Payne, APR, FCPRS; Calgary
Don Savaria; Regina
Amy Thurlow, PhD, MA, BPR, APR; Halifax
 
Director Emeritus:
Ruth Hammond, B.A., APR, ABC, FCPRS(H); Toronto
Executive Director:
Barbara Sheffield, B.A., APR, FCPRS; Toronto
 

The Future
The Communications + Public Relations Foundation's goal is to support public relations educational initiatives that demonstrate the power and value of public relations and communications. Initiatives in partnership with others may include endowed scholarships, awards, case study projects, symposia, endowment of university chairs and original Canadian communications research projects, among others. Your ideas and suggestions are most welcome.

These initiatives require the donation of gifts toward specific projects or the establishment of funds in memory of practitioners who have been leaders in advancing the profession. Alternatively, funds may be established to honour those who are currently being recognized for significant achievement.

Planned giving gifts are welcomed.

Contact Us
To contact the Communications + Public Relations Foundation for more information, or how you can help:

Barbara Sheffield, APR, FCPRS
Communications + Public Relations Foundation
Suite 1515
73 Widdicombe Hill Blvd
Toronto, Ontario
M9R 4B3
Phone: (416) 242-6146
FAX: (416) 242-6146
Email: b.sheffield@prmediaconnection.com

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