Who We Are Lyle Shantz Hallman was a generous philanthropist who worked to make a lasting difference in the lives of the people of his home community of Waterloo Region. The Lyle S. Hallman Foundation, founded by Lyle in 2003, continues his tradition of giving to areas that he believed were important. The foundation’s philosophy is to invest more in prevention and early intervention than in tertiary approaches. Our support goes to projects working upstream, before problems occur, rather than downstream. We believe strongly in engaged philanthropy. To us, this means maintaining a close and active relationship with grantees over an extended period of time, and contributing more than just funds. We may help an organization connect with the right expertise; we may advocate on their behalf to government or other stakeholders. Underpinning this concept is the creation of a safe and frank relationship where both parties are open to honest dialogue and problem solving.