| BD Charitable Trust |
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The BD Charitable Trust is Bluteau DeVenney & Company's way of sharing their success with their community. Michael DeVenney and David Bluteau established the Trust in 1999 because they wanted to make an impact beyond their successful business. "We believe in stewardship rather than ownership. We believe in giving. We believe we are here to make it better for the people who come after us", says Michael. So David and Michael decided to establish a scholarship program. "Education and continued learning have contributed greatly to our success and we wanted to impact others the same way", says David. To date, the Trust has donated $60,000 to the Nova Scotia Community College, Phoenix House and other charitable organizations. For example, their donations funded nine annual bursaries for deserving students at the Community College who have demonstrated financial need. They also provide funding for daycare programs so Community College students with children can have adequate childcare. At Phoenix House, a Halifax facility for at-risk and homeless youth, the Trust funds a program that helps kids finish high school. "We've received some unbelievable thank-you notes. Many cards from students with families saying things like, ‘Our family could never have survived without this.' It gives us a really warm feeling", says David. "We really promote to our clients that giving should be a part of every professional success or financial plan. We believe that you appreciate everything you have more when you share it. This is the message we want the BD Charitable Trust to send. Success isn't something you own. It's something you share.", says Michael. Michael and David are committed to continuing and enlarging the Trust. They are now working on establishing an Entrepreneurial School for university students that would be funded by the Trust. |