Foundations in Canada: The 2015 Ottawa Philanthropy Awards Dinner
The Ottawa Philanthropy Awards dinner organized by the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) took place on November 19, 2015 at the Shaw Centre with 300 guests present. This successful annual event is held to honour the professional fundraisers of Ottawa and some of the people they assist. For instance, Jonathan Pitre, the 15-year-old guest speaker who has a severe and terminal skin disorder, was introduced by philanthropist Dan Greenberg.
The event also paid tribute to Brian Scott, the most Outstanding Volunteer Fundraiser, who raises funds for the YMCA/YWCA and has been very active within the local fundraising community. Costco Wholesale was awarded the Year’s Most Outstanding Corporate Philanthropist Award as the company has raised millions of dollars for the Children’s Hospital in East Ottawa. The charity organization CASCO which is run by students at the University of Ottawa was also nominated by the Children’s Hospital for the $400,000 they raised last year. CASCO organizes a benefit show for the hospital each year and became involved with the hospital in 1998 after a student from the university passed away due to leukemia.
The Award for the Most Outstanding Individual Philanthropist went to Subhas and Uttra Bhargava for the financial support they have given to the brain and spinal cord research based at Ottawa Hospital. The couple has experienced a number of personal tragedies over the years, including caring for their quadriplegic daughter, who is now deceased. The Bhargava family arrived in Canada in 1983 and their donations to philanthropic foundations in Canada based at The Ottawa Hospital have been much appreciated.
The Outstanding Small Business Award was given to Mark Motors car dealership, wherein the dealership was nominated by the National Arts Centre Foundation. Mark Motors was set up by Slovenian immigrant Louis Mrak, who passed away three years ago, and so the award was gracefully accepted by his wife and four children.
Canadian foundations and donor advised funds provide donors some of the best ways to gift money to preferred Canadian charities operating anywhere in the world. By creating a funding base of donations within the foundation, it’s possible to provide long-term financial support to charities and make a greater difference.
Sources:
(Around Town: Philanthropic Awards Honour Those Who Give Back, OttawaCitizen.com)
(Ottawa Citizen : http://ottawacitizen.com/news/local-news/around-town-philanthropy-awards-honours-those-who-give-back )
