December 2, 2023

“As a toddler rising up with a bodily incapacity, my household made certain that I had as many alternatives for journey as potential.” — Brendan Parker, recipient of the Excellent Youth Philanthropist Award.

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BIG HEARTS: In November, communities throughout Canada and around the globe rejoice Nationwide Philanthropy Day and the spirit of giving by internet hosting occasions to acknowledge the efforts of donors, volunteers, foundations, leaders, firms and others engaged in philanthropy. The day is meant to pay tribute to the good contributions that philanthropy — and people people and firms lively within the philanthropic neighborhood — have made for the betterment of all.

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The Vancouver chapter of the Affiliation of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) marked the event by presenting its thirteenth annual Giving Hearts Award at a Nationwide Philanthropy Luncheon held on the Vancouver Conference Centre.

Greater than 650 friends took within the midday hour celebrations. Led by AFP president David Love, and Nationwide Philanthropy Day Giving Hearts co-chairs Kyle Tiney, Lana Mador and Lucy Isham-Turner, the awards luncheon acknowledged 33 people and organizations — class finalists — for making a optimistic impression in our communities. Hosted by Breakfast TV’s Thor Diakow, trophies have been offered in seven classes earlier than a keynote deal with by British Columbia Lieutenant Governor Janet Austin.

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Brendan Parker, recipient of the Excellent Youth Philanthropist Award, acquired the afternoon’s first of two standing ovations from the viewers. A 23-year previous with advance Cerebral Palsy, Parker has by no means let his situation cease him from dreaming huge and residing life to its fullest. Since 2014, Parker has organized numerous fundraising drives, elevating greater than $150,000 to complement the lives of youth and kids residing with disabilities.

“As a toddler rising up with a bodily incapacity, my household made certain that I had as many alternatives for journey as potential,” mentioned Parker.  “These experiences as a toddler made me who I’m at this time, and I consider each youngster ought to have that chance regardless of their monetary means.”

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Barbara Grantham, the outgoing CEO & President of the VGH & UBC Hospital Basis, had everybody on their ft a second time. Well known and well-respected Grantham, recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award, has been a fixture of the non-profit and philanthropic sector provincially and nationally for 30 years. Throughout her tenure, Grantham has held government positions with the Vancouver Basis, Streetohome Basis, B.C. Youngsters’s Hospital Basis and the Canadian Psychological Well being Affiliation.

Beneath her management, Grantham led the hospital basis by important and optimistic change together with launching an organizational rebrand, constructing a gifted and engaged workers group, and reportedly overseeing an 84 per cent improve in income making the agency one of many prime 5 revenue-producing well being care foundations in Canada.

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Charitable giving is a household affair for John and Dana Montalbano. Recipients of the Excellent Philanthropist Award, the couple are obsessed with instilling philanthropic values of their sons Luke and Marco. Their choices as volunteers and donors are considerate and strategic. Science World, Arts Umbrella, the Vancouver Public Library, and B.C. Youngsters’s Hospital are just some of the beneficiaries. The couple’s giving additionally extends to formal training with main presents to each UBC and the College of Victoria supporting college students at every establishment.

Jimmy Chan and Felicia Fu, house owners of Nationwide Tile maintain related values. Keen about giving again, they’ve taught their younger son Riley in regards to the worth of philanthropy. Collectively, they’ve been serving to to lift consciousness and the nice work of the Canadian Most cancers Society to the Asian neighborhood. Recipients of the Excellent Small Enterprise Award, the household has donated greater than $250,000 to CCS and held management roles to encourage others — younger and previous — to volunteer and provides again.

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Others feted included David Podmore (Excellent Volunteer Fundraiser), Sandy So (Excellent Legacy Philanthropist) and CIBC (Excellent Company). CityTV’s Thor Diakow served as grasp of ceremonies on the luncheon luau.

Ronald McDonald House B.C.’s Lana Mador and Family Services of the North Shore’s Lucy Isham-Turner chaired the 13th annual Giving Hearts Awards Luncheon in celebration of National Philanthropy Day. Photo: Fred Lee.
Ronald McDonald Home B.C.’s Lana Mador and Household Companies of the North Shore’s Lucy Isham-Turner chaired the thirteenth annual Giving Hearts Awards Luncheon in celebration of Nationwide Philanthropy Day. Picture: Fred Lee.  Picture by Fred Lee /PNG
FAMILY AFFAIR: Charitable giving is a family decision for the Montalbano Family — Dana, Luke, Marco and John. They received the Outstanding Philanthropist Award. Photo: Fred Lee.
FAMILY AFFAIR: Charitable giving is a household choice for the Montalbano Household — Dana, Luke, Marco and John. They acquired the Excellent Philanthropist Award. Picture: Fred Lee.  Picture by Fred Lee /PNG
Cited for dedicating 30 years to the non-profit and philanthropic sector, Barbara Grantham, outgoing CEO & President of the VGH & UBC Hospital Foundation, received well-wishes from friend, colleague and mentor Faye Wightman. Photo: Fred Lee.
Cited for dedicating 30 years to the non-profit and philanthropic sector, Barbara Grantham, outgoing CEO & President of the VGH & UBC Hospital Basis, acquired well-wishes from pal, colleague and mentor Faye Wightman. Picture: Fred Lee.  Picture by Fred Lee /PNG
National Tile Company’s Jimmy Chan and Felicia Fu were honoured with the Outstanding Small Business Award for their ongoing work to raise awareness of philanthropy and the Canadian Cancer Society to the Asian community. Photo: Fred Lee.
Nationwide Tile Firm’s Jimmy Chan and Felicia Fu have been honoured with the Excellent Small Enterprise Award for his or her ongoing work to lift consciousness of philanthropy and the Canadian Most cancers Society to the Asian neighborhood. Picture: Fred Lee.  Picture by Fred Lee /PNG
B.C. Children’s Hospital Foundation CEO Teri Nicholas thanked Outstanding Legacy Philanthropist Sandy So for her 30 years of support for B.C.’s kids. Photo: Fred Lee.
B.C. Youngsters’s Hospital Basis CEO Teri Nicholas thanked Excellent Legacy Philanthropist Sandy So for her 30 years of assist for B.C.’s children. Picture: Fred Lee.  Picture by Fred Lee /PNG
Vancouver Symphony’s Kyle Tiney co-chaired and Breakfast Television’s Thor Diakow emceed the annual National Philanthropy Day Giving Hearts Awards Luncheon at the Vancouver Convention Centre. Photo: Fred Lee.
Vancouver Symphony’s Kyle Tiney co-chaired and Breakfast Tv’s Thor Diakow emceed the annual Nationwide Philanthropy Day Giving Hearts Awards Luncheon on the Vancouver Conference Centre. Picture: Fred Lee. Picture by Fred Lee /PNG

Canadian Most cancers Society’s Sofia Janmohamed, Central Metropolis Basis’s Jennifer Johnstone and UBC’s Helen Nichols have been amongst 650 friends in attendance for the annual Giving Hearts Award ceremony and luncheon. Picture: Fred Lee.


We Day Celebration Dinner

YOUTH MOVEMENT: Do-gooders Lorne and Melita Segal hosted their annual pre-WE Day Celebration Dinner at their Southlands residence. Spurred on in 2007 by their children Chanel and Matthew after a transformative journey to Kenya hosted by the group’s founding brothers Craig and Marc Kielburger, WE Day Vancouver debut the next yr led by the Segal clan. A world youth motion aimed to fireplace up the following technology of leaders and changemakers to take motion to make the world a greater place, WE Day rallies happen in main cities throughout Canada and across the globe.

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As traditional big-name celebrities took to the Rogers Enviornment stage to rally and entertain the troops. Greater than 20,000 college students hailing from 1,100 colleges from across the province attended the present, incomes their approach in to the occasion by doing one thing good for native and world communities. This yr’s contributors included musicians Daya, Serena Ryder and Tyler Shaw. Hosted by tv character Jessi Cruikshank, host of Canada’s Smartest Individual, there have been additionally appearances by former businessman and Toronto Raptors superfan Nav Bhatia, and actresses Katherine McNamara and Anna Cathcart.

A couple of different contributors additionally attended the Segal’s pre-show profit dinner. They included Nobel Peace Prize recipient James Orbinski, America’s Acquired Expertise tween sensation Darci Lynne, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, the NBA’s all-time main scorer, and former prime minister of Canada Kim Campbell, who lately helped openWE Faculty, the agency’s first post-secondary establishment in Kenya for younger girls. Instilling the assumption that collectively all of us can do one thing optimistic, their messages of shifting the dialog from “me” to “we” additionally struck a chord with an older technology who gathered on the Segal residence.

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Acquainted names in giving circles, distinction makers lending their assist to the worldwide trigger included Francesco Aquilini, Gary Brown, Ronnie Negus, Pamela and David Richardson; Natalie and Amar Doman, Charles and Jura Kim, Ratana and Arran Stephens, Michelle and Marty Weinberg, Cindy and Ryan Beedie, Sophie and Shamir Alibhai, Arya and Hamid Eshghi, Penny and Marty Zlotnik, and Kyle and Janelle Washington.

STAR PLAYER: The NBA’s all-time leading scorer Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was one of the special participants at Marc Kielburger’s WE Day dinner and rally. Photo: Fred Lee.
STAR PLAYER: The NBA’s all-time main scorer Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was one of many particular contributors at Marc Kielburger’s WE Day dinner and rally. Picture: Fred Lee.  Picture by Fred Lee /PNG
Former Prime Minister Kim Campbell was one of the special guests at do-gooders Lorne and Melita Segal annual pre-WE Day Celebration Dinner. Photo: Fred Lee.
Former Prime Minister Kim Campbell was one of many particular friends at do-gooders Lorne and Melita Segal annual pre-WE Day Celebration Dinner. Picture: Fred Lee.  Picture by Fred Lee /PNG
Chantal Segal sparkplugged the idea for her family to bring WE Day to Vancouver 12 years ago. Segal joined WE Day staffer Bryanna Baker and guests for the celebration dinner at her family home. Photo: Fred Lee.
Chantal Segal sparkplugged the concept for her household to convey WE Day to Vancouver 12 years in the past. Segal joined WE Day staffer Bryanna Baker and friends for the celebration dinner at her household residence. Picture: Fred Lee.  Picture by Fred Lee /PNG
America’s Got Talent tween sensation, singer and ventriloquist Darci Lynne performed at the intimate pre-WE Day dinner. The next day she would join a group of celebrities who addressed 20,000 students the next day at Rogers Arena. Photo: Fred Lee.
America’s Acquired Expertise tween sensation, singer and ventriloquist Darci Lynne carried out on the intimate pre-WE Day dinner. The subsequent day she would be a part of a bunch of celebrities who addressed 20,000 college students the following day at Rogers Enviornment. Picture: Fred Lee. Picture by Fred Lee /PNG

WE DAY co-founder Craig Kielburger welcomed former trainer, mentor and Nobel Peace Prize recipient James Orbinski from Medical doctors With out Borders to his WE Day Vancouver festivities. Picture: Fred Lee.


Diane Forsythe Abbott Crabtree Nook Lunch

PROMISE KEPT: An finish of an period, Diane Forsythe Abbott’s Crabtree Nook Charity Luncheon lately concluded with expensive family and friends members gathered to pay tribute to the 89-year previous who based the occasion by probability 25 years in the past.

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A story as previous as time, Abbott discovered herself locked out of her automotive on a blustery December winter night time in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside. Searching for refuge, she wandered inside YWCA’s Crabtree Nook, a transition home for ladies fleeing violence and abuse. The prospect encounter in 1995 with different girls in search of a secure place to remain blossomed into an enduring friendship with the agency. Studying of their plight that night, Abbott vowed she would return and ship residents a beautiful Christmas.

And did she ship. Beginning with an impromptu luncheon with buddies at Dealer Vics, her humble lunch would sparkplug an annual Christmas custom spanning 1 / 4 of a century. Over that interval the charitable nooner staged at Dealer Vic’s, Delilah’s and for the previous decade at Hy’s has been a fixture on the vacation calendar, drawing main women like Lily Lee, Leslie Diamond, Marlene Cohen, Fran Belzberg and others, to the trigger. Since its inception, the vacation heartwarmer has increase greater than $2 million for Crabtree. A capability crowd crammed the room one final time to lift a glass and pay tribute to Abbott and all her efforts.

LEADING LADY: Diane Forsythe marked her charity luncheon’s 25th anniversary with friends and family including Ingrid Abbott and Marlene Cohen. Photo: Fred Lee.
LEADING LADY: Diane Forsythe marked her charity luncheon’s twenty fifth anniversary with family and friends together with Ingrid Abbott and Marlene Cohen. Picture: Fred Lee.  Picture by Fred Lee /PNG
Hy’s restaurateur Neil Aisenstat hosted the final YWCA Crabtree Corner charity luncheon. Community leader and philanthropist Lily Lee has attended all 25 ladies lunch. Photo: Fred Lee.
Hy’s restaurateur Neil Aisenstat hosted the ultimate YWCA Crabtree Nook charity luncheon. Group chief and philanthropist Lily Lee has attended all 25 women lunch. Picture: Fred Lee.  Picture by Fred Lee /PNG
YWCA’s Jenna Fair and Cynnie Woodward fronted the tribute lunch to Diane Forsythe Abbott. Photo: Fred Lee.
YWCA’s Jenna Honest and Cynnie Woodward fronted the tribute lunch to Diane Forsythe Abbott. Picture: Fred Lee.  Picture by Fred Lee /PNG

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