AFP SEO Philanthropy Awards

November 15^th is National Philanthropy Day®. Each year, our Chapter works with charitable organizations in our communities to recognize and celebrate the amazing contributions of outstanding philanthropists and volunteers.

While public health guidelines will, unfortunately, prevent us from holding our usual annual event, it was inspiring to read these stories about the innumerable differences that philanthropists and volunteers are making across south eastern Ontario.

As our Board discussed our plans for National Philanthropy Day® this year, we thought these stories helped shine a light on the amazing ways philanthropy and volunteerism help to bring our communities together even when it’s challenging to do so physically.

This week, we will be profiling and sharing these wonderful stories with you. We hope that you will join us in honouring and celebrating these amazing people and organizations.

Adam Say
President
AFP SEO Chapter

Outstanding Service Club
Lions Club of Kingston
Nominated by: Hospice Kingston

The Lions Club of Kingston has been supporting local charities and many community groups for over 80 years. Hospice Kingston has been fortunate enough to be the recipient of one of these donations in the amount of $100,000 towards the Hospice Residence and Palliative Care Centre.

The Lions Club of Kingston’s generous donation will help to fund one of the Care Suites in the new Hospice Residence. The Hospice Residence will offer an essential choice to individuals for whom dying at home is not an option. The Care Suites will be welcoming to all faiths and cultures and will provide comfort and care, to not only the individual, but to their families as well. This amazing donation has allowed Hospice Kingston to continue to move forward to build a place of compassion and care in Kingston.

The Kingston Lions Club strives to make the world a better place with kindness. They believe that kindness can change the world. The effect of kindness on an individual, a group, or a community can ripple throughout the planet. They believe in building the community up and are always encouraging others. The mantra, “Family first, work second, Lions third,” is often said when describing the flexibility of their outstanding members.

The Kingston Lions Club are unsung heroes of the Kingston community. Hospice Kingston is incredibly grateful to The Lions Club of Kingston for their generous donation to help build a hospice residence for Kingston and continued commitment to our community.

Outstanding Corporation
Leon's Superstore Trenton
Nominated by: Trenton Memorial Hospital Foundation

Leon's Superstore in Trenton has had an instrumental impact on the Trenton Memorial Hospital (TMH) in many ways. Not only has Leon’s increased the dollars raised by the Hospital Foundation, they have increased awareness and support. Leon’s creatively and generously used their advertising campaign to spread the hospital’s message.

What started as a simple partnership to "buy a bed” and donate proceeds from mattress sales has grown significantly. The program and ad campaign even inspired a local donor, who heard Leon’s owner Mike Eden on the radio, to donate one million dollars in 2017! The partnership with Leon’s and TMH has inspired many other generous donors to contribute as well. Some purchased hospital beds outright having heard the campaign, and others gave what they could to support the cause.

Leon’s Superstore also inspired other businesses in Trenton to support the hospital. Local banks hosted a fundraising event called, The Bed Raises, that encouraged their clients to raise money for the hospital. Spelmer Chrysler donated a percentage of car sales, Riverbrake and Subway donated proceeds from sandwich sales, Canadian Tire Trenton donated funds to help support the purchase of IV Pumps. And, most recently, Leon's purchased $5,000 worth of Smile Cookies from Tim Horton's that were delivered to area businesses, with a note that read, “Please pay it forward and buy more smile cookies,” which many of them did. In turn, the Smile Campaign raised nearly $40,000 in donations for the hospital.

Leon's has helped create a culture of philanthropy in our community. By doing this, more service clubs, local businesses and schools are reaching out to local charities to see how and what they can do to help make our community a better place. Leon’s has been integral in growing this amazing culture of philanthropy in Trenton.

Outstanding Philanthropist
Sam Brady
Nominated by: The Children’s Foundation

Sam Brady is an outstanding philanthropist for a number of reasons. Not only does Sam support The Children's Foundation (TCF) financially through long-term gifts, sponsorships and volunteer support, but he does the same with many other Belleville community organizations. He was the Chair of the Board of Directors at The Children's Foundation for three years and remains on the Board today. He Co-Chaired the YMCA Strong Kids Campaign, and is a long-standing member of the Belleville Rotary Club and their Students Abroad Program where he houses foreign students who are on exchange. Sam was instrumental in leading the upgrades of East Hill Park, raising the funds and the awareness for the project, which now benefits so many residents of Belleville’s East hill community.

Sam is a well-known member of the Belleville community and shares The Children’s Foundation’s passion to help shape today’s youth and provide them with the best opportunities possible. Sam has been a driving force helping families access two of TCF’s largest programs: Playing for Keeps and Camps of Hope.

Sam leads by example. He is giving of both his time and his financial resources, and through his passion and dedication, Sam guarantees success for the many projects he pursues in the Belleville Community and through his professional groups. He volunteers his time in any way needed in order to help his community. Without the support of people like Sam, TCF’s events and programs would not be possible. Especially during this difficult time in 2020, the need is greater for children and people in the Belleville community, and Sam has stepped up to the plate. The Children's Foundation appreciates Sam’s commitment and drive to make our community a better place.

Outstanding Philanthropist
Brian and Nancy Cosgrove
Nominated by: University Hospitals Kingston Foundation

Brian and Nancy Cosgrove gave an exceptional gift to Kingston General Hospital (KGH).

Since 1999, Brian and Nancy have supported local healthcare initiatives, including the second MRI campaign, cancer programs, and the nursing and physiotherapy teams at the Kingston Health Sciences Centre (KHSC) at Kingston General Hospital. Recently they made a significant gift in support of the redevelopment project at KHSC's Kingston General Hospital site which will allow the centre to expand its capacity and transform the care environment that will help families stay healthy and have access to world-class healthcare. In addition to this significant gift, Brian and Nancy supported the COVID-19 relief fund, further demonstrating their commitment to healthcare in our region.

Brian and Nancy’s exceptional gift was made as a thank you for the care Nancy received at KGH recently. Nancy was grateful to have received wonderful care in her home of Kingston and are hoping their gift will not only inspire others in our community to donate, but to also be aware and recognize the world-class care offered at the hospitals in Kingston.

Brian and Nancy’s gift to the hospital will have a significant impact on the Kingston community while supporting the redevelopment of Kingston General Hospital, transforming the care environment by providing modern facilities designed to deliver 21^st century healthcare.

Brian and Nancy are outstanding philanthropists and should be recognized for their exceptional generosity, leadership and commitment to healthcare in southeastern Ontario.

Outstanding Philanthropist
Daphne Franks
Nominated by: Queen’s University

Daphne Franks is an outstanding philanthropist whose longstanding support of Queen’s, along with her late husband Ned, has had countless benefits for both the university and the South Eastern Ontario region. Daphne has had a particularly strong relationship with the Agnes Etherington Art Centre. Through her interest in the arts, she has directed decades of philanthropic and volunteer support to the Agnes. Daphne's commitment to the Agnes derives from her belief in the power of art to transform our daily lives.

Daphne is a true patron of the arts and a tireless volunteer. For over two decades, she provided volunteer leadership of the Gallery Association's Art Rental and Sales Gallery, a significant annual source of revenue for the gallery through that period. She also led the gallery's volunteers and organized numerous community-building events and galas throughout her time at the Agnes.

Daphne and Ned also established a fund in the name of their late son Timothy. The Timothy C.S. Franks Research and Travel Fund provides financial support for doctoral candidates in the Departments of History and Political Studies pursuing dissertation research abroad.

Over the years, Daphne and her late husband Ned, have contributed significant philanthropic support to the Agnes, but more importantly, they have both dedicated their limited time and energies to ensuring that the Agnes continues to be an art gallery that rivals those of the large cities of North America. Through her generosity, Daphne is helping to ensure that Kingston and south eastern Ontario have full access to the world’s artistic treasures.

Outstanding Philanthropist 
Catharine and Lanny Huff
Nominated by: University Hospitals Kingston Foundation

Catharine and Lanny Huff give very generously with no desire for recognition. They hope that their philanthropic generosity will encourage others to give. They support causes and organizations that are dear to their hearts and that improve the lives of many residents in South Eastern Ontario. For example, they contributed $500,000 to Women and Children’s Health purely because their children, nieces and nephews were all born at Kingston General Hospital.

The Huffs support numerous organizations in South Eastern Ontario on an annual basis. Their philanthropic activity is truly outstanding and more than warrants this recognition. Catharine and Lanny have provided major gifts to their community over the past number of decades, since returning to their home in Prince Edward County in 1978. They are community builders - wherever they see a need, they help where they can. In addition to the University Hospitals Kingston Foundation(UHKF), the Huffs are major supporters of the Prince Edward County Community Foundation, Loyalist College, the Prince Edward County Memorial Hospital, the Belleville General Hospital, Trenton Memorial Hospital, Trenton Golden Hawks and Wellington Dukes hockey teams, the Picton Arena and Fairgrounds, the Wellington Arena, the Festival Players and other theatre groups, the Jazz Festival and numerous community organizations and initiatives through the Red Cross, Hospice Prince Edward, the Prince Edward County Syrian Refugee Fund, and the Humane Society.

While their cumulative giving support is high, the impact of their gifts over the decades cannot be measured.

Outstanding Philanthropist
Alan Rottenberg
Nominated by: Queen’s University

Alan Rottenberg is the visionary and donor behind the Queen's Career Apprenticeship: Kingston program. This program places graduates from Arts and Humanities degrees from Queen's University with local Kingston (and surrounding area) businesses who are looking to employ bright, young and capable minds. Alan funds four out of 12 months' salary for each apprentice (up to $4,000).

Alan watched his sons and their friends graduate from Queen's University with liberal arts degrees and struggle to find meaningful jobs that did not require a minimum of three to five years of experience. Alan was inspired to find a solution to this challenge. His vision is to encourage local businesses to look beyond their typical talent pool and see the potential in these new graduates. This program is run in collaboration with the City of Kingston and Kingston Economic Development Corporation who want to see these students stay and work in Kingston. As the architect for this Queen's Career Apprenticeship program, his generosity and dedication to accelerate the careers of young professionals has fueled remarkable change.

The program has successfully placed 32 graduates in positions across Kingston over its three-year run (so far), and Alan has committed to growing that number in 2021. Since inception, the program blueprints have been adopted by other cities and institutions across Ontario (of which Alan has helped fund). This expansion and collaboration with other institutions across Canada are giving more opportunities for young Kingstonians to come home and develop a meaningful career. It is not an overstatement to say that without Alan's passion and generosity, this successful program would not exist as it does today.

Outstanding Philanthropist
David Sharpe
Nominated by: Queen’s University

David Sharpe is committed to the teaching and learning of Aboriginal and Indigenous Law, and his generous support helps to ensure the Faculty of Law at Queen’s University becomes a centre of excellence in these fields.

Through his financial stewardship, Queen’s Law established the Chief Don R. Maracle Reconciliation/Indigenous Knowledge Fund. This is a three-year program that will integrate Aboriginal knowledge and wisdom into the academic environment and develop connections between Indigenous and non-Indigenous scholars. David is also leading an initiative for Queen’s Faculty of Law to recruit and hire an Indigenous legal scholar and to engage in an ambitious fundraising campaign to endow a Professorship in Indigenous Law.

David is a member of the Mohawks of the Bay of Quinte located between Kingston and Toronto. He is the former Chair of the Board of Governors of the First Nations University of Canada, and he serves as a Board member of the economic development corporation for Eabametoong (Fort Hope) First Nation, a community located approximately 300 kilometres northeast of Thunder Bay.

Also a member of Queen’s Board of Trustees and Chair of the Queen’s Law Dean’s Council, David’s passion and support greatly contribute to enabling Queen’s and its Faculty of Law to play leadership roles in the project of reconciliation that will redefine Canada in the years to come.

Outstanding Volunteer Fundraiser 
Karen Crichton-Cadeau
Nominated by: Kingston Interval House

Karen Crichton-Cadeau has been an outstanding volunteer fundraiser with Kingston Interval House (KIH) for several years and exemplifies everything the organization stands for. She started fundraising for KIH through the International Women's Week event, She Creates. She not only helped with the event, she also donated half of her personal proceeds to KIH (while on maternity leave!). 

Karen went on to create another event, Girls Night Out, for KIH several years ago. This event is an evening out for women where they can network, take part in an auction and enjoy a night of fun with their peers. This event has raised over $30,000 for Kingston Interval House in the few short years it has been running. Karen personally plans and runs this entire event (in May and November each year).  

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic this year, Karen quickly switched the Girls Night Out event to an online virtual event. It was a huge success and helped to engage KIH and its supporters during a difficult time. Karen has also volunteered her time on various community committees and has helped to organize International Women's Week events with KIH.

The engagement, dollars raised, and publicity generated from Karen's efforts provides support to KIH that it would otherwise not have access to. The funds from this event help to ensure that Kingston Interval House continues providing programs and services to women, children, and youth so they can move towards a future free of violence and oppression.

Outstanding Volunteer Fundraiser
Liz Lehtinen
Nominated by: The Children’s Foundation

Liz Lehtinen is an active Board Member and an outstanding volunteer fundraiser for The Children’s Foundation in Belleville. She has been the Chair of their Guardian Angel Gala committee for the last two years. She is also their champion for bringing programs into local schools and is a reliable and generous volunteer.

Liz and her husband Eric own a local business in Belleville and are huge supporters of The Children’s Foundation, including sponsoring, donating and volunteering. Liz is not only involved with the Board of Directors and almost all committees, but she also finds time to volunteer to be involved with the Belleville General Hospital Foundation, YMCA and many more organizations. She is a wonderful advocate for the Belleville community and is a cheerleader promoting the programs offered by The Children’s Foundation to local families.

Without Liz’s endless support and dedication, The Children’s Foundation of Belleville and Hastings County would not have the success that it does with special events. Without pioneers like Liz blazing the way, the successes of The Children’s Foundation would not be possible. Liz makes the Belleville community a better place with her compassion, empathy and wonderful heart.

Outstanding Volunteer Fundraiser
Evelyn Maizen
Nominated by: University Hospitals Kingston Foundation

Evelyn Maizen embodies excellence in philanthropic leadership and has a relentless commitment to benevolence in both giving and volunteering. She steadily invests her time and talent to energize existing audiences for the work of healthcare philanthropy at University Hospitals Kingston Foundation (UHKF), while reaching out to new audiences with a spirit of creativity to inspire the healthcare donors of tomorrow.

Whether Evelyn is decorating cookies at a Smile Cookie Day event, hosting a hospital redevelopment education session at her home, or working to strengthen UHKF’s face-to-face fundraising efforts, her uplifting presence, and willingness to participate across the organization at all levels, boosts the morale of staff and volunteers alike. She brings new and fresh fundraising ideas to the table, always looking for ways to keep the conversation for supporting the hospital open.

As a Board Member she sets fundraising goals for herself and is utterly fearless when it comes to inviting others to do likewise. Through her own gifts and gifts that she has inspired, she has helped to facilitate in excess of $1 million in government funding for hospital redevelopment. As a volunteer, she has raised more than $150,000 in major gifts and identified many planned giving opportunities. Evelyn is also the kind of person who drops by the UHKF office and delivers homemade goodies for the staff as a thank you for all their hard work.  

She has direct impact with community members, donors, physicians, the hospitals and UHKF staff. Evelyn’s involvement with UHKF is something to be admired, and celebrated. Outstanding only begins to describe how incredible Evelyn is and just how meaningful her work and dedication is to the UHKF organization and they are fortunate to have her support.

Outstanding Volunteer Fundraiser
Dr. Robert Reid
Nominated by: Queen’s University

In addition to his own work as a medical practitioner, Bob has been a long-time organizer of the Queen’s Medical Student Bursary Golf Tournament. Bob believes in the power of philanthropy to change someone’s life. His longstanding commitment to the tournament is driven by his fundamental belief that worthy, talented people should have access to an excellent medical education at Queen’s University, regardless of their financial limitations. His ability to harness the talent and goodwill of people and organizations year after year to host a successful tournament is a testament to the level of commitment that Bob is able to encourage and cultivate in others.

Bob has also been instrumental in securing pharmaceutical company support for the Obstetrics Memorial Program. Bob is passionate about promoting knowledge in obstetrics and gynecology, the department in which Bob specialized for over 40 years of his career. He utilized his relationship in the obstetrics and gynecology world to ensure that the Memorial Day program at Queen’s, which has been going on for over 40 years, was always well supported through sponsorships.

From his days as a medical student at Queen’s, Bob has shown leadership, commitment, and determination. Starting with his first gift to Queen’s University in 1977, Bob has been a tireless fundraiser. He has always led with his own philanthropy and encouraged others to do the same. His ability to mobilize his colleagues and friends is evident in the success of the Queen’s Medical Student Bursary Golf Tournament. Through his leadership, this annual event has garnered $850,000 in support of the Bursary Fund. Even more importantly, through his volunteer work, he has encouraged others to show critical philanthropic support for funding medical bursaries, which allow worthy students the opportunity to join the medical profession based on their hard work and talent, and not on their personal ability to finance their education. Through his noble efforts, Bob has left an indelible mark on generations of medical students and practitioners, a truly remarkable legacy.

Outstanding Youth in Philanthropy
JayLynn Akey
Nominated by: The Children’s Foundation

JayLynn Akey is a deserving recipient of the Outstanding Youth in Philanthropy Award. She has been volunteering with The Children’s Foundation since she was 14 (she is now 17) and is a delight to have around. She sets an example for her peers, and for others, and spreads the good word about how important it is to give back to the community. She provides the message to kids that it is okay to ask for help and that places like The Children’s Foundation want to help.

JayLynn has helped The Children’s Foundation in a variety of ways. JayLynn has sold treats at McHappy Day, as well as distributing purple ribbons on Go Purple Day. She has helped at the Ken Sykes Run/Walk event and has helped to prepare gifts or goodie bags at Christmas for children involved with Highland Shores Children’s Aid. JayLynn’s example of dedication to volunteering has helped provide The Children’s Foundation with multiple other high school students getting involved and volunteering their time too.

JayLynn is an outstanding student, volunteer and friend to The Children’s Foundation. She is the perfect example of what it means to overcome challenges and grow. She promotes the organization in the community and recruits other teens to get involved. She makes The Children’s Foundation very proud excited to see all of the things that JayLynn will accomplish in the future.