In memory of Katey
Endowment fund helps the needy.
The memory of Katey Campbell continues to make a positive difference in Niagara.
Based on an influx of additional donations to, and the performance of, a fund named after the late Niagara Falls woman during the past year, the Niagara Falls YWCA and Pathstone Mental Health will receive an increase in their annual grant that is used, at their discretion, for emergency uses for their respective clientele.
The Katey Marie Campbell Fund was created in honour of the 33-yearold, who died of suicide in 2013.
She was the daughter of Wayne Campbell, a Niagara Falls city councillor, and Helga Campbell, a trustee with the District School Board of Niagara.
The 20-year endowment fund is administered through the Niagara Community Foundation.
Wayne said the fund went from $20,000 at the beginning of 2014 to almost $42,000 today.
He said the Broadway-themed fundraiser produced by family friend and city Coun. Carolynn Ioannoni in April 2014 “put a huge number of dollars in the fund.”
Campbell said because of the fund’s success, the YWCA and Pathstone, which each currently receives $600 on a yearly basis, will now both receive $1,000 a year for the next 20 years.
The YWCA provides emergency homeless shelter, food and assistance to women in poverty, while Pathstone provides treatment and services for children, youth and families who are dealing with mental-health challenges.
As the fund continues to grow, so will the annual grant to the two nonprofit agencies, said Campbell.
“How people have responded to this fund has blown us away,” he said.
“We based the decision to give the money to Pathstone and the YWCA here in Niagara Falls for specific reasons — it must be used for emergency funding to individuals, it can’t be part of operating expenses.”
For example, Campbell said the money can support someone who can’t afford necessary medication, food or travel to appointments.
He said his daughter, who had been dealing with emotional trauma and addiction most of her life, spent time at the YWCA in Niagara Falls and Katey wanted to help those in similar situations.
“She always said she felt bad for people who had to rely on that for their formal living because none of them had any money. That’s what this fund is all about, to help individual people who need the money at that point in their life, and to respect Katey’s wishes as well.”
Ioannoni said it was “devastating” to see “a family lose their child in that way” and decided to take action.
“There are so many people who struggle with mental illness and there is such a stigma around it that we need to smash,” she said.
Ioannoni said the 2014 fundraiser sold out and raised $22,000, which helped four addditional families in each organization.
“We used local, average, normal people who had a specific talent. It was not your average night out. The sponsors in the community were phenomenal. Without the sponsors, we would not have been able to raise $22,000. The community came out and they responded remarkably for a great cause.”
Ioannoni said a similar event, featuring songs through the decades, is being planned for October.
Carrie Zeffiro, executive director for Pathstone Foundation, said when the Campbells first established the fund, they asked Pathstone officials how the money could help fill an immediate need.
“The fund has a direct impact on an area that was an established need,” she said.
The larger the endowment fund is, the more interest is earned and the more the two organizations will benefit, said Zeffiro.
“The Niagara Community Foundation has had great success in growing and creating a culture of philanthropy in Niagara. And for a family like the Campbells, what they’re doing to remember their daughter will have a lasting impact forever.”
Elisabeth Zimmermann, executive director for YWCA Niagara, said the fund is “amazing” because the organization is limited in how much it can support clients.
She said there have been examples where the fund has directly helped a woman facing a health crisis.
“It helps women move forward in their lives and we’re very appreciative of it,” said Zimmermann.
“And what a wonderful way to honour Katey.”