Alix Foundation
Alix FoundationIn 1988, Judith and Norman Alix learned that Clearwater Arena needed a second ice surface. The township had received a grant from the provincial government, but was struggling to come up with the balance needed for the second rink. "Both of our boys played hockey at Clearwater, so we donated the balance. That project led to another, and then another," explains Judith Alix. Norman and Judith would hear about a need in the community, and if it was something they could help with, they did. "Norm and I were very grateful to Sarnia-Lambton for supporting our business through the years, so as Norm said, 'Whenever we’re able, we like to give back to the community.'"
In 2011, the Judith & Norman Alix Foundation was officially established to formalize the application process and ensure the family could continue to have an impact in the community for years to come. "We work closely with Lambton County Council to identify projects that need funding. While we don’t have the resources to fund every project, we are always receptive to ideas," shares Adam Alix, Judith and Norman’s nephew and Vice President of the foundation. The foundation’s goal is to help the community by donating 80% of the interest earned from the capital fund originally donated by the Alix family back into the community, while the remaining 20% is reinvested to perpetually grow the fund itself.
The Foundation supports capital projects that will have a positive impact on Sarnia-Lambton. To meet the funding criteria, organizations must be a registered, charitable organization or municipality within Lambton County, the funding requests must be for capital projects, and must benefit the community at large. "We look for the projects that can touch the most people and do the most good. We don’t have the resources to solve every problem or fill every need, but we can make a difference by shining a light on important causes and setting an example for others to get involved in their community," shares Judith.
Some of the projects the foundation has funded include the Judith & Norman Alix Wing at the Dow Centre for Youth, which currently houses Big Brothers, Big Sisters; the Bluewater Health Withdrawal Clinic, a 24/7 residential facility that offers withdrawal management services and support; and the Judith & Norman Alix Art Gallery. "Most recently we provided a donation to the Inn of the Good Shepherd to support their COVID-19 efforts. We’ve been involved in so many great projects. One of our smaller projects that I love is the portable bleacher system that provides full accessibility, so everyone can enjoy the fall fair events in Lambton County," shares Judith.
The Alix family wants to leave a lasting legacy of good works and pass the foundation on to the next generation. As Joe Alix, Judith and Norman’s son and President of the foundation, shares, "It's very fulfilling to be a part of my family’s life work and to know that my own children are growing up in a community filled with compassionate people who care about others."
Related Stories
The Overflow Café
Michele Smeets opened The Overflow Café in February 2017. Formerly The British Shoppe, the name The Overflow Café came to her in a dream. I saw the café filled with people and more lined up out the door. The café was literally overflowing, she explains. Smeets ran the name past her former
Express Employment Professionals
Jessica Martin was looking for a career change, but little did she know what she was getting herself into. "I had worked for the Ontario Government in Gaming at the Point Edward Charity Casino previously, and I was ready for a move," Jessica says. So, when Jessica was offered a position with Exp
In 1955, Ron Fenwick and Sam Beatty opened a Texaco service station. Three years later, the service station was lost to a fire, and the friends opened Beatty and Fenwick Garage at 836 Ontario Street. "My dad always enjoyed Volvos....
Motion
Doctors Luke Winegard and Brendan Carney Kilian opened In Motion: Health Wellness Fitness in January 2007. Friends since they began chiropractic school in Toronto in 2002, both knew that they wanted to start their own business. "We knew we wanted to work for ourselves, not for someone else. We wan
Related Stories
When you ask Executive Director Kerry Henrikson why she believed it was so important to create Pandas/Pans Ontario in 2014, her answer is easy. I didn't want other families to feel isolated and struggle like I did. In 2013, her son and two daughters were all diagnosed with Paediatric Autoimm
Pathways Health Centre For Children
Long before 1950, Rotarians and the Sarnia community recognized the need for local therapy in Sarnia-Lambton for children with physical disabilities. That first year, the Rotary Club provided services to 18 children in church halls and basements. 68 years later, Pathways Health Centre for Children a
Donovan Woods
Canadian singer-songwriter Donovan Woods was born and raised in Sarnia. He now lives in Toronto and spends a fair amount of time in Nashville, writing for some of the industry's biggest acts. I started playing guitar and writing songs as a teenager. I didn't really play gigs in Sarnia. I star
Esby & Soph
Esby & Soph was born from Anja Christensen's desire to find fashionable clothing and accessories for her son, Esben. The name was a combination of the names of her son and her niece. In 2013, Christensen opened an online store and it went so well that she opened a small retail shop at the corn
Own a local business in Sarnia-Lambton?
Your neighbours already want to spend money here. We just make it easy.
Become a #local Partner and we pay you 100% of every gift card members spend with you. It costs you nothing to join.
Free. Takes about three minutes.
