PHOTOS: Kudos - the giving spirit in New Westminster

 

 
 
 
 
Royal Columbian Hospital Foundation board director John Ashbridge accepts a cheque for $5,000 from Jacquie Stevenson, secretary/charity committee chair with the Elks Club of New Westminster, at their annual Robbie Burns celebration. The donation will go towards the foundation's Reasons to Care, Reasons to Give campaign, aimed at raising $1.5 million to fund critically needed equipment throughout
 

Royal Columbian Hospital Foundation board director John Ashbridge accepts a cheque for $5,000 from Jacquie Stevenson, secretary/charity committee chair with the Elks Club of New Westminster, at their annual Robbie Burns celebration. The donation will go towards the foundation's Reasons to Care, Reasons to Give campaign, aimed at raising $1.5 million to fund critically needed equipment throughout

Photograph by: RCH.Contributed , The Record

Local businesses, community organizations, schools, churches and individuals all pitch in to help make a difference in a community. In The Record's Kudos gallery, check out some of the local fundraising efforts and community involvement in the city that helps everything from local schools to the hospital and more, sent in by readers.

Send your pictures to cmyers@royalcityrecord.com.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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Royal Columbian Hospital Foundation board director John Ashbridge accepts a cheque for $5,000 from Jacquie Stevenson, secretary/charity committee chair with the Elks Club of New Westminster, at their annual Robbie Burns celebration. The donation will go towards the foundation's Reasons to Care, Reasons to Give campaign, aimed at raising $1.5 million to fund critically needed equipment throughout
 

Royal Columbian Hospital Foundation board director John Ashbridge accepts a cheque for $5,000 from Jacquie Stevenson, secretary/charity committee chair with the Elks Club of New Westminster, at their annual Robbie Burns celebration. The donation will go towards the foundation's Reasons to Care, Reasons to Give campaign, aimed at raising $1.5 million to fund critically needed equipment throughout

Photograph by: RCH.Contributed , The Record

 
Royal Columbian Hospital Foundation board director John Ashbridge accepts a cheque for $5,000 from Jacquie Stevenson, secretary/charity committee chair with the Elks Club of New Westminster, at their annual Robbie Burns celebration. The donation will go towards the foundation's Reasons to Care, Reasons to Give campaign, aimed at raising $1.5 million to fund critically needed equipment throughout
Helping out: Baxter Corp. recently donated $10,000 towards Royal Columbian Hospital's new multipurpose interventional suite. Pictured from left are Dr. Robert Granger, Baxter's hospital representative Shelly Stewart and B.C. business director Kevin McKim, and RCH Foundation's major gifts director Barbara Beckler. The suite is expected to expand cardiac, stroke and aneurysm care at RCH.
Helping hand: Students at Douglas College who are single parents are getting help paying for their education, thanks to an infusion of $36,500 into a bursary created specifically for them. The fund was created by the New Westminster Community Development Society which was dissolved in 2010, to assist single parents in need who are also volunteering in their community. From left to right: Scott McAlpine, president of Douglas College, Roberta Greschuk, recent bursary recipient and New Westminster resident, Patricia Genereaux, former director of the society, and Hazel Postma, associate VP external of Douglas College.
Giving back: Kingston Construction's Ken Backman (left), general manager, and Chris Backman, head superintendant, present a donation of $10,000 to Adrienne Bakker, Royal Columbian Hospital Foundation president and CEO. The Surrey-based construction firm was a Gold-level sponsor of this year's RCH Foundation SHINE Gala, which raised nearly $200,000 (net) towards a new multipurpose interventional suite that will expand cardiac, stroke and aneurysm care at Royal Columbian Hospital.
A rider tears down the trail on Mt. Prevost during the Island Cup series downhill race hosted by Cowichan Cycles last Sunday.
Giving spirit: Royal Columbian Hospital Foundation President and CEO Adrienne Bakker (left) accepts a cheque for $15,000 from Mainland Sand & Gravel Ltd. president Ted Carlson for the Surrey-based aggregate producer's presenting sponsorship of the SHINE Gala. The gala raised nearly $200,000 (net) towards a new Multipurpose Interventional Suite that will expand specialized care at Royal Columbian Hospital for cardiac, stroke and aneurysm patients. Mainland Sand & Gravel Ltd. has been a donor to Royal Columbian Hospital Foundation since 2009.
Giving: Italian Mutual Aid Society president Rino Bellini (left) and sports coordinator Salvatore Tomasello (third from right) present Royal Columbian Hospital medical imaging department head Dr. William Siu and RCH Foundation President and CEO Adrienne Bakker with a gift of $5,000 that was raised from the society's annual St. Patrick's Charity Banquet. The gift was presented in honour of the hospital's 150th Anniversary, and will go towards RCH Foundation's multipurpose interventional suite campaign to help fund an expansion of cardiac, stroke and aneurysm care services at RCH. Established in 1929, the society has 320 members and is located at the Roma Hall in Queensborough, New Westminster.
The CIBC Plaza 88 branch in New Westminster opened its doors recently with a celebration including music - courtesy of Douglas College music students - along with a BBQ, giveaways, and Trevor Linden on hand to sign autographs. During the event, branch manager Caren Uncao presented a cheque for $5,000 to Douglas College to support nursing students. Pictured are: Linda Bowyer, CIBC vice-president lower mainland; Chief Rhonda Larabee; Trevor Linden; Hazel Postma, Douglas College associate vice-president external; Carmen Uncao, CIBC Plaza 88 branch manager; Paulo Brazinha, CIBC district vice president Burnaby to Mission; New Westminster Mayor Wayne Wright; New Westminster MLA Dawn Black; and Mike Stevenson, CIBC senior vice president retail markets Western Canada.
Good works: RBC celebrated the opening of their new high-tech RBC Plaza 88 with a good deed: a $20,000 donation to the Royal Columbian Hospital Foundation, making a total of $40,000 in cumulative donations in support of RCH Foundation in the last year. The money will go towards the hospital's multipurpose interventional suite, which will expand cardiac, stroke and aneurysm care at the hospital. Pictured are RBC regional president Graham MacLachlan, Mayor Wayne Wright, RCH Foundation president Adrienne Bakker, RBC branch manager Susan Roh, RBC Dominion Securities associate advisor Steven Osachoff and RBC regional vice president Hanif Charania.
A helping hand: Kin's Farm Market recently donated $3,567 to the Canadian Cancer Society, donating the funds raised from their second annual calendar campaign. In all, Kin's has donated more than $40,000 to the society since 2009. The chain of specialty produce stores has 30 locations in B.C. and Ontario, including one in New Westminster and three in Burnaby. "Support from Kin's Farm Market and other organizations makes everything we do possible," said Jocelyn Kwok of the Canadian Cancer Society. "The funds we receive go towards cancer research, provide assistance to cancer patients and cancer patient services, and share valuable information with our communities on cancer prevention and early detection."
Giving kids: New Westminster Bantam C3 hockey team coach Brian Tuccori sent in this shot of his team from a recent fundraising effort they organized. At the start of the season, the team of 13 and 14-year-olds were asked to choose a charity to help raise money for and they unanimously picked the Breast Cancer Society of Canada. On Feb. 18, they spent more than four hours selling pink cookies outside the Walmart in Queensborough to help with their goal. In all, they raised $1,133.57. Pictured is the team along with their coaches Kevin O'Quinn, Andrew De Boer and Brian Tuccori.
One at a time: Representatives from Thrifty Foods, Buck Brand Oranges and the Royal Columbian Hospital Foundation were on hand this weekend to kick off the One Buck At A Time campaign. From February 15 to March 13, $1 from the sale of every four-pound bag of certified organic Buck Brand Navel Oranges will be donated to the hospital foundation nearest the Thrifty Foods store where the purchase was made. The four-week campaign is expected to raise funds for the Royal Columbian, Delta, Peace Arch, Fraser Valley Health Care, Eagle Ridge and Lions Gate Hospital Foundations - as well as seven hospital foundations on Vancouver Island. Pictured are (from left): Michael Mockler, Thrifty Foods director of produce operations; Dr. Jay Charania, Royal Columbian Hospital; Eleanor Ryrie, manager of corporate sponsorships, Royal Columbian Hospital Foundation; John Ashbridge, board member, Royal Columbian Hospital Foundation; Mary Lou Babcock, Buck Brand Oranges; Lisle Babcock, Buck Brand Oranges; Ray Mattinson, Manager, Thrifty Foods Sapperton.
Clean it up: Members of the World Mission Society Church of God came together in New Westminster on the weekend to do a street clean-up project as part of the world environmental clean-up campaign organized by the church. The group, which originated in South Korea, has been recognized for its volunteer efforts in the past, including a presidential award from President Barack Obama. The Vancouver branch of the church is located in New Westminster.
Businesses supporting health: Members of the New Westminster Sapperton Business Association donated $12,000 - proceeds raised at the 2011 Sapperton Day Street Festival - to Gordon Stewart, director of leadership giving for Royal Columbian Hospital Foundation. From left: Ron Boorman, president and founder of Boorman Archery School; Gord Hobbis, owner of Cap's Bicycle Store; Guy Ciprian, owner of Koala Organic Wine Imports; and Marnie Kurylo, owner of Savvy Space Solutions.
Helping the hospital: Royal Columbian Hospital Foundation's Feroza Gova (far left) receives a cheque for $9,476 from the owners and managers of eight Shoppers Drug Mart locations in Coquitlam, Port Moody and New Westminster from their Tree of Life campaign. The funds will benefit the RCH Foundation's campaign towards the multipurpose interventional suite, which will expand cardiac, stroke and aneurysm care.
A little sparkle: Andrena Greavette and Anne Fraser, performing members of the Vaudevillians, presented a donation to Douglas College vice-president of external relations Hazel Postma. The Vaudevillians hosted a fundraising event in November at the Surrey Arts Centre in support of the bursary for performing arts students at Douglas College. Three students received cheques and more than $7,000 was added to the perpetual fund that supports the bursaries. To date, the group has raised more than $70,000.
Community member: Thrifty Foods store manager Ray Mattinson (holding cheque) is joined by his store employees to present Royal Columbian Hospital Foundation president and CEO Adrienne Bakker (centre) with a cheque for $4,859 that they raised through a social media campaign, pumpkin sales and barbecues. The funds will be used to help build a Multipurpose Interventional Suite that will expand cardiac, stroke and aneurysm care at RCH.
For the babies: New Westminster Gizeh Shriners (left) Ed Scott, president-elect; (third from right) Desmond Sharp, president; (second from right) Paul Johansen, Hospital Representative; and (right) Donovon Tyers, Secretary, present a cheque for more than $6,000 to Queenie Lai, Royal Columbian Hospital neonatal intensive care unit health services manager, and Dr. John Blatherwick, RCH Foundation board director and Honorary Colonel 12 Vancouver Field Ambulance. The gift was used to purchase a warm air scale for the hospital's NICU. The warm air scale gently warms premature babies while they are being weighed to help prevent body heat loss. Using a regular scale may cause premature babies to suffer from cold stress, from which it takes the baby a long time to recover. Over the last 20 years, the Shriners have donated more than $250,000 to the hospital.
Having fun and helping out: The New West Carollers raised more than $800 and 360 pounds of food during their recent food drive for the Greater Vancouver Food Bank.
Giving spirit: Members of the Burnaby-New Westminster Team of the Buddhist Compassionate Relief Tzu Chi Foundation present Dr. Albert Chan, Director of Cardiac Catheterization Laboratories and Interventional Cardiology at RCH, with a cheque for $30,000 in support of RCH Foundation's $2.8 million Multipurpose Suite campaign. The funds will help expand cardiac, stroke and aneurysm care at RCH.
Seeing stars: Starlight Casino recently donated $1,200 to the Royal City Youth Ballet. Pictured are Lui Garcea, executive manager marketing and Larry Ho, executive general manager, both of Starlight, with Colleen Dixon, director/treasurer and Neil Lyons, director, of the Royal City Youth Ballet.
Sandra Schmirler Foundation advisory board member and two-time Canadian Women's curling champion Robin Wilson (centre) presents Royal Columbian Hospital (RCH) Foundation major gifts officer Lisa Rosales (left) and RCH neonatal intensive care unit manager Queenie Lai (right) with a cheque for $31,050 for a fetal monitor. The monitor will be used by RCH's maternity program to carefully monitor a premature baby's heartbeat while in the uterus, including during labour.
Sew it up: Honour House president Alan De Genova, centre, receives 10 hand-made quilts from the Blue Mountain Quilter's Guild, presented by Carol Lifford and Joanne Reagh. The fabric for the quilts was donated by the guild and Reagh and Lifford spent four months designing, seaming and quilting the quilts - which each represent about $350 in time and material. Honour House is a 10-4oom residence that provides free temporary accommodation for the families of Canadian Forces and first responders (ambulance, fire, law enforcement) while members of these services are receiving care in Metro Vancouver.
Sewing up help: Last year, the Sew What Quilters group donated 162 quilts to social services at Royal Columbian Hospital in New Westminster and donated 64 quilts to the Japanese disaster relief. The group of 16 quilters meets every other week from September to June for quilting and camaraderie. Pictured are (front row, seated) Norma Jean Clarke, Vivian Rhodes, RCH social worker Cheri King, Ada Backe, Margaret Simpson and Jeannine Huff. Standing are Sharron Jan, Joan Harrison, Mary Ann Cox, Donna Geggie, Christel Radandt, Val Boida, Cathy Saunby, Melba Campbell, Marcia Graves, Sylvia Yeomans and Joan Annan.
Happy to give: E.C. "Ted" Eddy presented Jessica Wilkins of Calgary and Graeme Boendre of Sherwood Park with the Dr. Edward C. Eddy and Mrs. Ruth Eddy Memorial Scholarship in Veterinary Medicine at the University of Calgary awards night held on Sept. 22. This is the fourth set of recipients for the award since Eddy endowed the scholarship five years ago.
For the kids: Ted Eddy, director-at-large for the Quayside Community Board presents a $100cheque to Lesley Cole, manager seniors and youth services, from sales of hisphoto greeting cards at the fifth annual Quayside Festival and Sale tohonour the first anniversary of the Youth Centre.
Cycling for a cause: New Westminster's Norm Sluis joined more than 250 cycling enthusiasts and event volunteers from across B.C. on Sept. 10 and 11 for the BC Lung Association's 27th Bicycle Trek for Life and Breath. Sluis was one of six New West trekkers who took part, many of whom return annually for the popular two-day, 200-km ride through the Fraser Valley to raise funds in support of vital lung health research, programs and clean air initiatives. So far the 2011 event has raised more than $170,000, contributing to the total $5 million raised during the event's 27-year lifespan. Sluis alone raised more than $600 for the cause. Post-event fundraising continues until October 3, and organizers expect the final tally to reach upwards of $200,000.
Helping out: Telus community ambassadors/Fraser Valley Club (from right) Linda Jackson, Olga Harman and  Eleanor Campbell present Royal Columbian Hospital Foundation vice-president Laurie Tetarenko (left) with a cheque for $11,240 from the Telus employee charitable giving program to help fund critical equipment needed throughout Royal Columbian Hospital.
Lucky stars: Starlight Casino is adding a Vegas-touch to the major annual fundraiser for student aid at Douglas College. In addition to being a $2,500 sponsor of A Class Act, Starlight will host a blackjack table where guests at the Oct. 29 event can make a donation and play to win prizes. Left to right: Sarah Lock, development officer at Douglas, Sam Oan, executive manager and Larry Ho, executive general manager at Starlight and Hazel Postma from Douglas College.
Helping out: From left, Fraser River Pile and Dredge Inc. president and CEO Tom Lively and vice-president of major projects and business development Mike Bevan-Pritchard presented Gordon Stewart, RCH foundation director of leadership giving, with a cheque for $5,000 recently. Celebrating its 100-year anniversary, the New Westminster-based marine construction and dredging contractor was a silver-level sponsor of RCH Foundation's SHINE Gala. The gala raised more than $200,000 towards RCH's new multipurpose suite, which will provide care for 1,400 more patients waiting for cardiac, stroke, and aneurysm treatments in the Fraser Health region.
Helping hands: Lohn Foundation director Loyd McNicol (right) presents a cheque for $5,000 to Royal Columbian Hospital's cardiac catheterization lab manager Jackie Murray to help fund a multipurpose suite at RCH. The new suite will provide care for 1,400 more patients waiting for cardiac, stroke, and aneurysm treatments within the Fraser Health region.
In thanks: Johnny Michel, managing director for CBC British Columbia, accepts a certificate of thanks from Royal Columbian Hospital Foundation CEO Adrienne Bakker to recognize CBC's generous partnership for the RCH Foundation's 2011 SHINE Gala. The gala raised more than $200,000 towards RCH's new multipurpose interventional suite which will provide care for more than 1,400 cardiac and stroke patients each year.
 
 
 
 
 
 

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