The Times Colonist was recognized for its long history of corporate citizenship in the community during a National Philanthropy Day awards event on Tuesday at the Empress Hotel.
The Corporate Citizenship Award, presented by the University of Victoria, recognized the daily newspaper’s long-term support of local charities.
The Times Colonist, a local institution for more than 150 years, was recognized for initiatives such as the Times Colonist Christmas Fund, which originated in 1956 as the Daily Colonist 500 Fund; Raise-a-Reader, its program that since 1998 has increased awareness and raised money for children’s literacy programs; its TC10K and Mackenzie PGA Canada tour stop sponsorships; and its partnership with the Victoria Foundation.
Five other awards that recognize outstanding individuals and organizations in the community that make a difference in the lives of others were also presented.
The United Way of Greater Victoria presented the Generosity of Spirit Award to the Hopkins family, whose son Jordon survived neuroblastoma in 2011. Team 4 Hope, the family’s philanthropic endeavour inspired by their son’s 10-year remission, has raised more than $300,000 toward neuroblastoma research at B.C. Children’s Hospital.
Gerry McQuade, chair of the Island Prostate Centre’s fund development committee, won the Outstanding Fundraising Volunteer Award presented by Coast Capital Savings.
The Provincial Employees Community Service Club, founded in 1965 to facilitate provincial government employee contributions to charitable organizations, received the Outstanding Philanthropic Service Award, presented by Camosun College.
Two Youth in Philanthropy Awards were also handed out.
Six-year-old Andrei Marti, who was diagnosed with Type One diabetes in August 2015 and has raised $2,200 for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, was presented with an award from the Children’s Health Foundation Vancouver Island.
The Edward Milne Community School Leadership Class received the other youth award, presented by Telus, in recognition of its local and national fundraising projects.
Notable initiatives include its annual Cops for Cancer fundraising campaign; the 10,000 Tonight food drive that, with the assistance of Belmont and Royal Bay schools, collected 12,000 food items in four hours for distribution to food banks; and raising $1,500 in just a few weeks to aid victims of the fire devastation in Fort McMurray.
— Times Colonist
