The Board President Says …
December has arrived and the Holiday Season is fast approaching. The Learning Centre is preparing for the Christmas break and Santa is busy filling his sleigh with presents. I am sure all the children, tutors, volunteers and Board members have made Santa’s nice list.
To everyone, all the best for you and your families for the Holidays. I look forward to the New Year and all that it will bring to the London Scottish Rite Learning Centre in 2006.
James Sutherland
Board President
The Word From the Centre Director
It is exciting times at the Centre! At the end of August, four new tutors began their Orton-Gillingham training with Cathee. Then they started tutoring children this fall using multi-sensory interactive lessons. We also had two other openings with present tutors so in total we have been able to add six new learners. All families and children are appreciative of the opportunity and are enjoying the learning journey. Every Tuesday and Thursday, the buzz in the Centre’s reception area is energizing!
We were also able to welcome several volunteers, many of whom are university students. They willingly donate their time to help with organizational tasks at the centre such as setting up the door monitor table and chair, putting out snacks and drinks, monitoring tutoring rooms and helping to prepare tutoring materials. It truly takes a village to make the Centre run effectively and efficiently and we are ever so grateful!
Thursday, December 11th will be the last tutoring session of 2025 and we look forward to resuming on Tuesday, January 6, 2026. The entire community at the centre would like to wish everyone a memorable holiday season and an amazing 2026!
Helen Griffin
Centre Director
New Board Member
In addition to the four new Board members introduced in the September issue of The Bear Facts, we were also able to welcome Cristian Popescu. He joins Brent Patroch, Sheri Vanslack, Catherine Boate and Pauline Richards as new members of our Board of Directors.
Cristian Popescu has proudly called London, Ontario home for the past 20 years. Throughout this time, he and his family have become deeply rooted in the community, often spending their free time volunteering at a wide range of local events and initiatives. Their shared commitment to giving back reflects Cristian’s belief in the power of community involvement and collective support. He is truly delighted to join the Learning Centre Board of Directors, where he looks forward to contributing his energy and enthusiasm to the important work being done to empower students with dyslexia. Through this role, Cristian hopes to help create meaningful opportunities that foster confidence, growth, and success for every learner.
Did You know …
Signing over an investment fund to a charity, such as London Scottish Rite Learning Centre, before death, often referred to as a charitable bequest, offers several potential benefits.
- Leaving a legacy and supporting a cause can give personal satisfaction by ensuring your assets are used to further a cause that aligns with your values. It allows you to make a significant contribution, potentially supporting their ongoing operations and future initiatives. Even after your death, your investment can continue to benefit the charity.
- It provides tax benefits for your estate since charitable donations can be claimed on the final tax return. Charitable tax credits can reduce the amount of tax owed by the estate.
- It can provide flexibility as well as a measure of control. You can specify a particular amount (or percentage but this tends to become more cumbersome as the exact total value of the estate is calculated in order to ensure the correct percentage is assigned). A charity may be named as a contingent beneficiary meaning if the primary beneficiary is unable to inherit, then the charity may be named to receive the remaining asset. Conditions may be placed on the gift, ensuring the funds are used for a specific purpose.
To pursue this further, or to get more information consult with your financialplanner/tax advisor and your lawyer.
The above information is, in part, gathered from BDO