National Philanthropy Day salutes healthcare generosity

AHS’ philanthropic partners nominate more than 20 organizations & individuals for awards

Story by Amelia Schofield

This Monday, Nov. 15, many charities and non-profits will celebrate National Philanthropy Day — a special awareness day led by the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) — to recognize philanthropic individuals and organizations across North America.

Once again, AFP is hosting award programs across Alberta to recognize and celebrate the exceptional people who give so generously. Several of Alberta Health Services’ own philanthropic partners are taking part this year by nominating more than 20 individuals and organizations for awards.

“The COVID-19 pandemic has challenged us in many ways, but no matter what we come up against, Albertans continue to show extraordinary support of our healthcare system,” says Dr. Verna Yiu, President and CEO of Alberta Health Services.

“Thank you to our philanthropic partners for your continued kindness and generosity toward our patients and healthcare providers across the province.”

This year, our philanthropic partners are recognizing the following nominees through AFP’s National Philanthropy Day:

• The Aldous and Kvisle family — In 2016, Daina Kvisle lost her mom Dianne to glioblastoma (GBM) brain cancer. Two years later, Daina received the same diagnosis. The Aldous and Kvisle family and the Alberta Cancer Foundation came together to change the landscape of brain cancer in Alberta through the creation of the Kvisle Fund for GBM. This fund raises awareness and money to assist in advancing treatment and research for GBM, while supporting families facing this disease.
• Amar Randhawa and family — Amar Randhawa’s passion for giving back comes from his family’s own experiences with cancer. Following the passing of his mother, Gurmeet Randhawa, his family honoured her by gathering donations for the Alberta Cancer Foundation. Their story inspired many of their family and friends, and they ultimately collected nearly 300 donations from across Canada.
• Benjamin and Joshua Coggles — In 2016, the Coggles family began donating to the Stollery Children’s Hospital Foundation when their oldest son, Benjamin, fundraised at his birthday party. Benjamin continued to host fundraisers and in 2018, his little brother Joshua joined in. Through their efforts, the boys are learning the importance of giving back at a young age, by helping all kids to live long and healthy lives.
• Big Gifts for Little Lives — In 2017, Lindsey Kemp and Christine Post founded Big Gifts for Little Lives. Since then, the pair have been raising funds for the Stollery Children’s Hospital Foundation through runs, craft markets and other events. All dollars raised through Big Gifts for Little Lives have helped support pediatric heart transplant research projects through the Women and Children’s Health Research Institute.
• Breaking the Silence Committee — The committee behind Breaking the Silence was brought together by grief. Following the loss of a friend to suicide, they were inspired to start the Breaking the Silence walk/run to help change the stigma around mental health. Since 2015, the event has raised significant funds for mental health across the province through the Mental Health Foundation.
• Calgary Produce Marketing Association — For more than two decades, the Calgary Produce Marketing Association (CPMA) has generously supported the Alberta Children’s Hospital Foundation. CPMA’s contributions have included raising funds through their highly anticipated Fall Harvest Produce Sale and volunteering for the Foundation’s annual Caring for Kids Radiothon. Their support over the years has touched all areas of care and research at the Alberta Children’s Hospital, and has made a life-saving, life-changing difference for countless children and families.
• The Cotter family — In 2016, Richard Cotter and his family co-founded their annual fundraising event, the Courage Ride for Rehab, for the Glenrose Rehabilitation Hospital Foundation. Funds raised from the event have supported state-of-the-art equipment, such as a computer-assisted rehabilitation environment, which creates a safe, controlled, therapeutic learning environment for military, other first responders and civilians requiring rehabilitative care at the hospital. In addition to the Courage Ride, Richard has also previously served as a foundation board member.
• Debbie Coleman and Robert (Rocky) Rauckman — For the past 26 years, Debbie Coleman and Robert (Rocky) Rauckman have served as committed volunteers to the Red Deer Regional Health Foundation. The couple’s get-it-done attitude and genuine passion for supporting healthcare have proven instrumental in the success of the Foundation’s Festival of Trees. With their support, the Foundation has raised millions of dollars through this event for new equipment at Red Deer Regional Hospital Centre.
• Edmonton Civic Employees Charitable Assistance Fund (ECECAF) — Since 1996, the ECECAF and its participants have given to the Alberta Cancer Foundation. During that time, their donations have supported two revolutionary pieces of technology, a positron emission tomography (PET) MR scanner and a made-in-Alberta linear accelerator (Linac) MR machine. Both have helped to change the lives of patients undergoing cancer treatment at the Cross Cancer Institute.
• Edmonton Firefighters Burn Treatment Society — Since 1977, the Edmonton Firefighters Burn Treatment Society has raised funds and awareness for research, treatment and recovery of thermal injuries. Their exceptional efforts have raised millions of dollars in support of the University Hospital Foundation to advance care for patients at the University of Alberta Hospital’s Firefighters Burn Treatment Unit.
• Extra Life Edmonton — Over the past 10 years, Extra Life Edmonton has built a successful in-person gaming event to raise funds for the Stollery Children’s Hospital Foundation. In 2020, they hosted an equally exciting 24-hour virtual gaming event. Extra Life Edmonton is part of a North American fundraising program that benefits local children’s hospitals. Edmonton’s chapter has long been recognized as a leader for their innovative ideas and fundraising efforts.
• Festival of Trees volunteers — For the past 37 years, thousands of community volunteers have helped make the University Hospital Foundation’s Festival of Trees a reality. The unwavering dedication from every volunteer has allowed the Foundation to host this annual community celebration and raise much-needed funds for almost every area of care at the University of Alberta Hospital site.
• Gino Ferri — Gino Ferri and his family’s history with the Glenrose Rehabilitation Hospital began more than 30 years ago when a family member was diagnosed with autism. To show their gratitude, Ferri and his family has sponsored the Glenrose Rehabilitation Hospital Foundation’s Courage Awards since 2015. The Foundation hosts these annual awards to honour patients who have overcome exceptional odds to achieve their rehabilitation goals.
• Grace Maier — As the Director of Geriatrics at the Glenrose Rehabilitation Hospital, Grace Maier has served as an exceptional community ambassador for the Glenrose Hospital and Foundation for the past 20 years. Her commitment to supporting the Foundation through their employee giving program and other campaigns highlights her passion and deep connection to the patients and care provided at the Hospital.
• Jessica Janzen Olstad — In 2016, Jessica Janzen Olstad’s young son passed away after being diagnosed with Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA). Following this life-changing experience, Jessica established the Love for Lewiston Foundation in honour of her son, which raises funds to help SMA families in Alberta. Jessica, along with her husband Ronnie, have provided significant support and advocacy through the Alberta Children’s Hospital Foundation to advance research, provide programming and fund equipment for children with SMA. This ensures newborns get a faster diagnosis and earlier interventions, leading to a brighter future.
• Kimberley Homes — For almost 20 years, Kimberley Homes has avidly supported the University Hospital Foundation through their commitment to improving the lives of people living with inflammatory bowel disease, Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. Since 2004, they’ve generously sponsored the Kimberley Homes Golf Classic and made significant donations toward non-invasive options for diagnosis and treatment of patients with these conditions.
• The Honourable Laurie Hawn — Since 2010, the Honourable Laurie Hawn has been a passionate and dedicated supporter of the Glenrose Rehabilitation Hospital Foundation. During that time, Hawn has served as a board member and sat on numerous committees, while also working alongside two other past board members to co-organize the highly successful Courage Ride for Rehab in support of the Foundation.
• Martin and Shirley Larson — Martin and Shirley Lawson have, together, supported health and healthcare in the Edmonton community for more than 30 years. As longtime donors to the University Hospital Foundation, Martin and Shirley have made many significant donations toward stroke care, cardiac care, Alzheimer’s Disease research and more. In addition to their support of the Foundation, Shirley has contributed many hours as a volunteer at the University of Alberta Hospital.
• Norma and Wahab Ali — For the past 10 years, Norma and Wahab Ali have generously donated significant funds to the University Hospital Foundation in support of the Mazankowski Alberta Heart Institute. As well, Norma serves as a powerful ambassador for the Foundation and often shares her experience as a cardiac patient to inspire others to show their support.
• Ryan and Allison Pomeroy — Ryan and Allison Pomeroy have been champions of the Stollery Children’s Hospital Foundation for many years. Ryan has volunteered his time as a past board member, as well as toward the Foundation’s fundraising efforts. Most recently, the Pomeroys pledged their support toward the new Grande Prairie Regional Hospital’s neonatal and pediatric intensive care units. Their generosity will help ensure children have access to the best healthcare possible, close to home.
• Sine Chadi — As a renowned philanthropist and volunteer, Sine Chadi has donated and raised millions of dollars on behalf of many worthy charities. In 2018, he served as the fundraising chair of the Glenrose Rehabilitation Hospital Foundation’s Write the Future capital campaign. He and his family also made a generous gift to the campaign and the Chadi Centre for Pediatric Rehabilitation was named in honour of their contribution.
• Synergy Group of Companies — As committed supporters of the Stollery Children’s Hospital Foundation, the Synergy Group of Companies have demonstrated their dedication to philanthropy, corporate responsibility and children’s mental health. Most recently, Synergy supported the Foundation’s campaign to bring integrated mental health services to the Stollery Children’s Hospital Emergency Department. This campaign will increase mental health supports for children, youth and families by expanding urgent helpline support, and creating a separate clinic space to increase timely access to nurses, social workers, therapists and psychiatrists.
• University of Alberta's Engineering Head Shave — Originating in 2003, the University of Alberta’s Engineering Head Shave has become an annual event proudly put on by the Engineering Students’ Society at the U of A. Over that time, students have come together to successfully raise hundreds of thousands of dollars for the Alberta Cancer Foundation.

AHS is grateful to our philanthropic partners and their generous network of donors, sponsors and volunteers for their support of healthcare across the province.

— Written with content contributed by foundations