National Philanthropy Day Awards - 2009
Each year, the Vancouver Island chapters of the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) and the Canadian Association of Gift Planners (CAGP) honor donors and volunteers whose gifts of time, expertise and resources contribute significantly to the success of our non-profit agencies. National Philanthropy Day recognizes outstanding individuals and organizations in our community that are making a difference in the lives of others. Award recipients who have been chosen for this year’s honours are:
2009 Recipients
Generosity of Spirit Award - presented by the Victoria Foundation
G. Mickey Hajash
Mickey Hajash inspires many and leads by example. As a young immigrant from Hungary, Mickey came to Canada and has never forgotten how fortunate he was to receive a good education. Through the Donna and Mickey Hajash Foundation, the family, on average, provides 11 scholarships of $2,500 annually for students in continuing education programs in the provinces of Saskatchewan, Alberta, and British Columbia. Over the last two decades Mickey and his family have given the gifts of time and funds, totaling more than $1.5 million, to numerous community charities. Mickey has a 22-year involvement with the United Way and continues to volunteer his time doing what he loves – convincing others to help those less fortunate than themselves.
Outstanding Fundraising Volunteer Award - presented by Telus
Jeneece Edroff
At the age of three Jeneece Edroff, now 15, was diagnosed with a debilitating disease called neurofibromatosis and was told after numerous surgeries and chemotherapy that she would never walk again. But, rather than think about herself, Jeneece spends more than 800 hours a year fundraising for the organizations that have helped her. At the age of seven she set out to raise $1 million in a penny drive for Variety, the Children’s Charity. In 2007 she achieved that goal and now has raised an astonishing $1.5 million. Her new goal is to build a home close to Victoria General Hospital where families can stay when they travel to Victoria for medical services, and in just three short months she has raised $100,000.
Outstanding Philanthropic Service Club - presented by the United Way
Victoria Imperial Lions Club
The 22 members of the Victoria Imperial Lions Club certainly live their motto: ‘Ready to help!’ Although best known for fighting blindness, the Lions Club provides funds each year to help a variety of organizations, including those focused on visually challenged people. In 2006 they established the Al Hayman Memorial Bursary for Camosun College students with visual disabilities and today the endowment fund has topped $45,000. Most recently the VILC has pledged $6,000 toward special desks for the College’s current ‘Love your Learning Library’ revitalization project.
Corporate Citizenship Award - presented by the University of Victoria
Telus
‘We Give Where We Live’ is the TELUS motto, and the proof that they walk their talk is in the $137 million contribution made by TELUS, their team members, and retirees to charitable and not-for-profit organizations, as well as volunteering more than 2.6 million hours of service to local communities since 2000. The TELUS Victoria Community Board, established in 2007, has helped 85 organizations with over $900,000 in funding in the areas of arts and culture, education, sport, health and well-being, and the environment. Moreover, the company motivates others to take leadership roles in philanthropy through their numerous and innovative ‘Team TELUS Cares’ programs, all of which encourage both current staff and retirees to participate to benefit a wide variety of charitable organizations.
Click here for the Youth in Philanthropy 2009 winners
Donna Randall, Media Relations
National Philanthropy Day Committee
T: (250) 216-1956
dfr@dfrent.org
Awards Criteria
Recipient Archive
