Our “THANK YOU” Newsletter — May 2011
ANOTHER $100,000 RAISED TO CELEBRATE MURRAY’S 100 YEARS!
At the 3rd Annual Pinehurst Club™ Breakfast, we celebrated the Legacy
left by MURRAY DRYDEN, Founder of Sleeping Children Around The World. Murray
would have been 100 years old in 2011 (he passed away in 2004), and he and
his wife, Margaret, left three tree farms and the Dryden home in their will
to SCAW. The tree farms were sold for $3,000,000 and this became SCAW’s Legacy
Fund. The house on Pinehurst Crescent in Etobicoke continues to serve as SCAW’s
home office.
The Pinehurst Club™ Goal for 2011 was to add another $100,000
to the Legacy Fund and this goal was reached thanks to all the members of The
Pinehurst Club™ (everyone who supported the breakfast is a member!).
Actually, it appears that over $120,000 was raised bringing the total amount
provided to SCAW’s +Legacy Fund to over $330,000 in the past three years. The
interest from the Legacy Fund pays for all of SCAW’s expenses so that SCAW
can continue to be known as THE 100% CHARITYTM. On behalf of SCAW, its volunteers,
and the organizers of The Pinehurst Club™ Breakfast, we say THANK YOU
for “KEEPING MURRAY’S DREAM ALIVE”.
EIGHT CORPORATE SPONSORS PAY THE FREIGHT!
The Pinehurst Club™ is blessed to have eight Corporate Sponsors. Each sponsor
contributes $5,000 and these friends cover the expenses (breakfast, room, audio-visual
equipment, speaker) of the event.
TD COMMERCIAL BANKING and EVANS MARTIN sponsored
our first breakfast and have returned for the 3rd year in a row. BMO CAPITAL
MARKETS, RGA INTERNATIONAL, SCOTIABANK GROUP, SKILCOR NORTHBUD, and MACGREGORS
MEAT & SEAFOOD have all returned for the 2nd year in a row. And, we are
pleased to add EFG WEALTH MANAGEMENT CANADA. as our newest corporate Sponsor.
To
our Corporate Sponsors, we say “THANK YOU FOR KEEPING MURRAY’S DREAM ALIVE!”.
For
information on Corporate Sponsorship, please contact JOHN HERCUS at ‘johnh@macgregors.com’
NEIL KEEPS EVERYONE AWAKE!
How many people do you know who are able to get people laughing and clapping
(remember the ‘one clap’?) at 7:30 a.m.?
For the 3rd year in a row, NEIL
AITCHISON has been our one and only Master of Ceremonies at The Pinehurst
Club™ breakfasts. Many supporters who purchase seats and tables for the
event want to know if Neil is returning as our M.C. When we say “yes”, they
say – “I’ll be there!”
Once again, we say THANK YOU to Neil for keeping the
program interesting, humourous, lively, and on time. Neil donates his services
freely to The Pinehurst Club™ and we are pleased to announce that he said
“yes” for 2012!
TAMARA KAFTALOVICH – SPEAKS FROM HER HEART!
In February of 2011, TAMARA KAFTALOVICH travelled to India as a member
of the team that would be distributing 4,000 bedkits in the Belgaum area
of India.
As well travelled as Tamara is, she was not totally prepared
for all the things that she saw and experienced in India while giving out
bedkits to needy children on behalf of SCAW donors. Tamara, who has provided
pro bono work for SCAW on behalf of MAVERICK PR, told the audience how
her recent experiences in India have changed her life and how she now looks
at things differently.
Perhaps the hardest aspect of being a 5-minute speaker
is communicating what she saw and felt over a two week period in a speech
lasting no more than 5 minutes.
At the end of Tamara’s presentation, we
all knew that 4,000 needy children and their parents/guardians had a profound
effect on Tamara and her future. Thanks, Tamara, for helping to “KEEP MURRAY’S
DREAM ALIVE!”.
ROD BLACK ASKS “WHY NOT?”
ROD BLACK, our Keynote Speaker, started his message by relating his version
of Foster Hewitt’s play-by-play of the winning goal of the famous 1972 Canada-Russia
series.
It was entertaining and certainly got the attention of all those
attending the breakfast. However, Rod’s key message was not about the sports
world. It was about answering “WHY NOT!” when you are asked to get involved
in helping out those who are less fortunate than yourself.
When Rod was first
asked by a charity to go to Africa, he was skeptical. When he did go and
saw firsthand what others were doing to help the needy, he asked himself
“WHY NOT!”.
We say “Thanks” to Rod for his inspiring message and for encouraging
members of The Pinehurst Club™ to get involved and to continue to “KEEP
MURRAY’S DREAM ALIVE!”.
MAURICE KOWANETZ – 2011 RECIPIENT OF “THE PINEHURST AWARD”
One of the highlights of The Pinehurst ClubTM Breakfast is the presentation
of THE PINEHURST AWARD by SCAW’s Chairman of the Board, DAVE DRYDEN. This
award is presented annually to a person and/or company who has made a significant
contribution to carrying on the Legacy left by Murray and Margaret Dryden.
As is the custom, the announcement of the award is a surprise to everyone
except SCAW’s Board Members. Our 2011 recipient, MAURICE KOWANETZ, joined
SCAW’s volunteer ranks as a teenager in high school and was given the task
by Murray of computerizing the SCAW office. Nearly two decades after being
recruited by Murray, Maurice continues to look after the hardware and software
that keeps SCAW functioning so efficiently and at very little cost. He has
saved SCAW countless tens of thousands of dollars in computer costs and in
training the volunteers at the SCAW Office. When Maurice accepted the award,
he recalled how he was working at the Dryden home one Saturday night as a
teenager to put the system in place when Murray came into the office area
in his pajamas to say “good night”. Several hours later, Maurice finished
what he was doing, turned off the lights, and locked the door behind him.
There is no doubt that Murray would have been pleased that Maurice was being
recognized in this way. To Maurice, we say “THANK YOU FOR KEEPING MURRAY’S
DREAM ALIVE!” and “CONGRATULATIONS” on being honoured as the 2011 recipient
of The Pinehurst Award.
P.S. Maurice recently joined SCAW’s Board of Directors.
THE DRAW GETS BIGGER AND BETTER!
Ten very significant prizes were available to be won on May 4th. The
value of the 10 draw prizes was over $12,000! Tickets for the draw were
sold at $10 each, 3 for $20, or an arm’s length for $50.
Ten lucky members
of The Pinehurst ClubTM went home happier as winners of the following
draw prizes: a Golf Foursome donated by KANEFF – ROYAL ONTARIO GOLD CLUB,
Mississauga; a TEMPUR CloudTM Luxe Queen Mattress Set donated by TEM-
PUR CANADA; a Kobo Electronic Reader donated by BORDEN LADNER GERVAIS
and a pair of tickets to the Rihanna Concert donated by MAPLE LEAF SPORTS & ENTERTAINMENT;
a Golf Foursome at Club Link donated by ALAN GREENWOOD; a Stratford Show & Stay
Package donated by the STRATFORD SHAKESPEARE FESTIVAL, ANNEX ROOM RESTAURANT,
and BALLANTYNE ON THE PARK B&B; a Beautyrest King Sized Imperial Mattress
Set donated by SIMMONS CANADA; a Golf Foursome donated by DRAGON’S FIRE
GOLF CLUB, Carlisle; a $1,000 Air Canada Gift Certificate donated by SKILCOR
NORTHBUD; and a 2nd $1,000 Air Canada Gift Certificate donated by SKILCOR
NORTHBUD.
Over $11,000 was provided to SCAW’s Legacy Fund as a result
of the generous donations by those listed above and by members of The
Pinehurst CLubTM who purchased tickets for the draw. WOW!
SCAW VOLUNTEERS GET UP EARLY TOO!
You may have noticed a number of volunteers wearing blue t-shirts at the
breakfast. SCAW has over 300 volunteers who work in the SCAW office, travel
on behalf of SCAW, or make presentations to tell the SCAW story (SCAW spends
$0 on marketing or fundraising for bedkits).
A good number of SCAW volunteers
were on hand on May 4th to sell draw tickets and to display bedkits and
answer any questions about SCAW. To the many volunteers who got out of
bed early to help make this event a success, we simply say “THANKS”. You
continue to “KEEP MURRAY’S DREAM ALIVE!”.
TABLE SALES INCREASE AGAIN IN 2011!
We are so grateful for the support of the Corporate Sector which has been
very generous by purchasing 53 tables at the 2011 Breakfast.
From our humble
start with our first Pinehurst Club breakfast in 2009, we have been blessed
with increased table sales each year ($1,500 per table). We say “THANK
YOU” to the following groups for their support: ALDO VILLANOVICH, AMJ CAMPBELL,
BMO CAPITAL MARKETS, BORDEN LADNER GERVAIS, CANWORLD FOODS LTD., CARGILL
CORPORATION, COCAN ENERGY CORP., DANMAT HOLDINGS, DRYDENS & FRIENDS
(2), ECCLESIASTICAL INSURANCE, EFG WEALTH MANAGEMENT CANADA, EMPIRE LIFE
INSURANCE CO., EVANS MARTIN LLP, EXPORT PACKERS, FCA INSURANCE BROKERS,
FIDELITY INVESTMENTS CANADA, GEORGE WESTON LTD., HUMBER IN NAME, INTACT
INSURANCE, KINGSDOWN OWEN & CO. LTD., KINGSWAY HUMBER KIWANIS CLUB,
KIWANIS CLUBS OF RIVERDALE & EAST YORK, KIWANIS CLUB OF TORONTO FOUNDATION,
KPMG LLP, KPMG/LRCC, MACGREGORS MEAT & SEAFOOD LTD., MACGREGOR PROPERTIES
LTD., MANULIFE FINANCIAL, McKENNA LOGISTICS, NATIONAL SILICATES, NESTLES
CANADA, PACKALL PACKAGING INC., PROTEUS PLANNING MANAGEMENT, RGA INTERNATIONAL
CORPORATION, ROTARY CLUB OF ETOBICOKE, SCOTIA CAPITAL, SCOTIABANK GROUP,
SEALY MATTRESS INC., SERTA CANADA, SIMMONS CANADA INC., SJC HOLDINGS, SKILCOR
NORTHBUD (3), SLEEP COUNTRY LP, SPRING AIR SOMMEX CORP., ST. HELEN’S MEAT
PACKERS, TD COMERCIAL BANKING, TD WATERHOUSE, TED SWANSTON, THERESA CARRAVETTTA,
VERI PRESSWOOD & FRIENDS.
In addition to the above support, two generous
donations were received by The Pinehurst ClubTM from THE BEALIGHT FOUNDATION
and the GORE MUTUAL FOUNDATION. What wonderful gifts to help honour Murray’s
100th! “THANK YOU!”
IN-KIND SPONSORS ADDED TO THE SUCCESS!
The Pinehurst ClubTM had help from many sources including our “In-Kind
Sponsors”. We say “THANK YOU” to the following companies who generously
gave of their time and resources: BELAIR PRINTING LTD., BORDEN LADNER GERVAIS
LLP, FLASH REPRODUCTIONS LTD., MAVERICK PUBLIC RELATIONS, PROSPEAKERS.COM,
and PSAV PRESENTATION SERVICES.
THEIR PICTURES TELL A THOUSAND WORDS!
While Pinehurst Club members were eating and enjoying the proceedings
on May 4th, two photographers –KATHRYN HOWARD and DARCY RECTOR - were taking
pictures from every angle to record the events of our 3rd annual breakfast.
Two pages of pictures taken by Kathryn and Darcy have been included in
the middle of this “THANK YOU” Newsletter. Also
a Slideshow.
We hope that you enjoy reliving
the memories of the May 4th breakfast as you review the photographs. To
Kathryn and Darcy, we say “THANKS” for recording the images and for “KEEPING
MURRAY’S DREAM ALIVE!”.
AMBASSADORS SELL OUT THE CONCERT HALL!
One of the goals and challenges of
The Pinehurst ClubTM Committee was to sell 600 seats for the 2nd Most Expensive
Breakfast in Town. We are pleased to report that this goal was met and
over 600 seats were sold in the Concert Hall of the Royal York Hotel for
breakfast on May 4th. The Pinehurst ClubTM Ambassadors have the responsibility
of arranging for Sponsors, Table and Seat sales, Draw Prizes, and for communicating
“THANKS” to The Pinehurst ClubTM Members for their financial support. Here
is the list of “Ambassadors” who made this goal a reality: HEATHER BAKER,
BOB BARCLAY, RICK BELCASTRO, GRANT CLARKE, DAVID COOKE, TRACY CORNEAU,
ALAN GREENWOOD, DEBORAH KINZINGER, DUNCAN MACGREGOR, JOHN MARTIN, CHUCK
McILRAVEY, DARCY RECTOR, PAUL ROESER, EVAN RUSSELL, and SEIG WILL. They
sure did their part to “KEEP MURRAY’S DREAM ALIVE!”. To all those who supported
our Ambassadors when they came calling – “THANKS” – you made it happen!
