Fund Information


AREA Fund Policy Regarding the Asbestos Industry

The AREA Fund will not accept financial or other assistance from an organization that mines or distributes asbestos, nor will it knowingly accept financial or other assistance from any business if a portion of the revenue of that business is derived from the promotion, distribution or sale of asbestos products.


The Vancouver Foundation was selected as the community organization within which to establish the AREA Fund, due to it’s excellent reputation. The Vancouver Foundation is Canada’s largest community foundation helping people and organizations give back to communities since 1943.

Starting August 2011, the fund structure was changed to provide donors with the option of having their donation go directly to funds available for granting, or having it permanently endowed. This flexibility for the donor also benefits the fund; it will enable the AREA Fund to make meaningful grants more quickly (thereby actively supporting asbestos-related issues sooner), while still ensuring that there are permanently endowed funds that will continue to grow and generate revenue for this important work over the long-term. As the AREA Fund is just that (a fund and not an organization) there are no employees; all work done on behalf of the fund is done by volunteers. Your donation goes directly to the fund.

To learn about current projects that the AREA Fund is supporting (and potential projects that are being considered for support), thanks to your generous donations,  please click here - Projects

Our Mission - To raise funds for asbestos-related research, education and advocacy projects, and to raise awareness of the devastating effects of asbestos use.

Our Short-Term Goals - To establish and affirm strong relationships with affected organizations to raise awareness of the asbestos issue. To raise enough money to be able to help financially support at least one asbestos-related education, advocacy, or research project each year. To raise awareness of the fund and asbestos-related diseases.

The Fund Advisor, Tracy Ford, and the AREA Fund Trustees (listed below), will review all grant applications and will work together to decide how available grant money will be awarded.

  1. •Dr. Christopher Lee, Medical Oncologist — BC Cancer Agency, Fraser Valley Centre

  2. •Wayne Peppard, Retired Executive Director — BC and Yukon Building and Construction Trades Council

  3. •Larry Stoffman, OH&S Specialist — UFCW 1518 OHS Director; WHMIS Current Issues Committee; and, Former HMIRC Labour Governor

  4. •Tim K. Takaro, Associate Professor — SFU Faculty of Health Sciences

  5. •Sheila Moir, Occupational Health & Safety Officer — BC Government Employees’ Union

Information Card - The AREA Fund information card provides answers to commonly asked questions about the fund on one side and a few key asbestos-related facts on the other.
 
Overview Sheet - The AREA Fund overview sheet is a one-page document that summarizes the AREA Fund; it includes a mission statement and short-term goals.
 


Contact us at admin@areafund.ca or via Twitter.