Hamilton Community Foundation - Donors - Donor Stories

Donors

Donor Stories

The Geritol Follies

This wonderful and lively group of singers, dancers and entertainers are all over the age of 60 and some are in their eighties. Their famous Hamilton variety shows are always sold out, with attendance from all over Ontario and the U.S.

In 1989, the Geritol Follies members made a decision to turn over their accumulated profits - more than $100,000 at that time - to set up a student bursary fund with the Hamilton Community Foundation. They wanted both to celebrate their own love of the stage, and to encourage talented young “rising stars” to pursue their dreams through post-secondary training in the performing arts, or in the administrative or technical side of the arts. Since then, more than 70 young people from our community have received bursaries to help them pursue their dreams in the arts.

This is a small way of returning some of the blessings and benefits we were fortunate enough to receive in our younger days. We recognize the tremendous resources a young person needs to pursue a career in the Arts, and we are delighted to be able to assist such a talented group of Hamilton youth.

Christine Hamilton,
Founder and now Producer/Director, Geritol Follies

The donors wanted to:

support young people in the arts
honour their group of colleagues
create a lasting legacy and preserve their capital
be remembered for their unique impact on seniors everywhere

Hamilton Community Foundation vehicle:

a named educational fund