"Ways of Giving" Feature for 2009

Jan Cook - Remembering his Father Jack Cook.
Jack Cook was a success in every way, in the eyes of his son Jan. Although Jan Cook admired his Father’s business acumen, it was his ability to see every human beings worth, regardless of their status that impressed upon him the most. He treated every man with respect and dignity. He believed that we all have something to contribute to the betterment of human kind. Three generations of the Cook family have learned by Jack and Jan Cook’s examples.

The Cook family’s efforts have been recognized countless times by those they tirelessly volunteer to help any way they can, whenever they are asked. As this years sponsor of the Tree of Lights Campaign, Jan’s message to his community is this “We have a bridge to gap. Although a state-of-the-art health-care facility is on its way, we have real health-care needs now that must be met in the interim.  Every contribution, large and small matters. Now, at this holy time of year, we have the chance to contribute to the family of man. We are all connected.”

Amiel Chios & Gus Vogiatzis - Remembering Sally Vogiatzis. 
Both coming from immigrant families, Gus Vogiatzis and Amiel Chios knew what it was like to grow up with little more then what they needed to survive, good values, the love of family and friends, and the support of their community.  Successful business partners for nearly twenty years now, they feel their community remains supportive. It’s their deep appreciation for this that inspires them most to give. 

In spite of her hardships and losing her eldest son Billy to leukemia at the age of eighteen, Gus remembers his Mother Sally often saying, “We have enough, others have it worse”. Gus lost his Mother Sally to cancer in 2003, at the age of fifty nine.

Losing two family members to cancer, and their sense of gratitude for this community, fuel Gus and Amiel to host and dedicate the pro ceeds of the “Lina Linguini’s & Fresco’s Annual Charity Golf Tournament”, to the St. Catharines General Hospital Foundation.

Gus Vogiatzis stated, “We need this new facility here. Driving your Mother back and forth to Hamilton for cancer treatment is not fun. There was nothing I could do to make her feel comfortable.”

The Schonewille Family - Remembering Meghan & Jared Schonewille.
After great difficulty conceiving, Pam and Don Schonewille were blessed with their daughter Abby - now seven years old. When she was a year old, a second visit to the McMaster Fertility Clinic yielded wonderful news, twins, a boy and a girl, were on their way to join the Schonewille family. At 28 weeks, Pam went into labour, and gave birth to her twins Meghan and Jared.  Meghan survived for an hour, her Mother never got to hold her daughter alive. Jared, the other twin, was in bad shape. He needed to be transferred to a hospital for urgent special care. There was not a bed to be found in the province. Jared was taken to Women and Children’s Hospital in Buffalo. While Pam was recovering from the births, her Husband Don was at Jared’s side. Finally, Pam was released from hospital, and rushed to her Husband and Son.

On December the first, Pam and Don were told that Jared would not make it. Four days after his birth, Jared died peacefully in his Mothers arms. Since that time Pam, Don, Abby and Aidan, have committed themselves to giving to the SCGH Foundation as a way of remembering their beloved son, daughter, brother & sister.

Whether it be a lemonade stand organized by the children, or raising funds at the school Pam teaches at, this family gives. “We can’t prevent what happened to us from happening to another family, our hope is that our efforts might provide some comfort to ease the suffering of another family.”

David Heath, Ontario Power Generation - Honouring John Veeneman.
John Veeneman could relate to everyone at Ontario Power Generation. He’d held just about every position before he retired. He earned the respect of his colleagues, one and all. That’s why they surrounded him with support when he lost his first wife to cancer. John’s experience inspired him to become an advocate for the betterment of health-care in Niagara. He inspired others like David Heath, to do the same.

John’s battle with cancer was not over. While planning for his retirement, he was diagnosed with the disease himself. Once again, his colleagues were there for him. “All the guy’s volunteered to drive John to his treatments in Hamilton. He was very sick and he needed our help.” He’d earned a family of friends at OPG. Thankfully, John won this fight with cancer. He now enjoys the retirement he was planning for.

David Heath honours John Veeneman, by continuing the fundraising traditions started by his friend and colleague. Ontario Power Generation has supported the SCGH Foundation and the It’s Our Time Campaign on both a corporate and local level. Ontario Power Generation has held staff BBQ’s and dress down days to raise funds and even participated in the “Coins for Kids” program for the SCGH Paediatric Department. These dedicated current and retired employees of Ontario Power Generation have raised tens of thousands of dollars for the Niagara Health System. Inspired by the passion of a colleague and respect for a friend.