2012 Nominees - Community Building
Ginny Dennehy
Ginny co-founded the Kelty Patrick Dennehy Foundation in 2001 after losing her son to depression-related suicide. She took her own tragedy and turned it into hope and education for others. To date, the foundation has raised more than $4.1 million, part of which has created Ginny’s visionary project, The Kelty Mental Health Resource Centre at BC Children’s Hospital. Ginny’s devotion to suicide prevention has gained respect from not only leaders in mental health in BC but the numerous sufferers who regularly contact her for support. Ginny is tireless in her devotion to raising awareness about children who are suffering from depression and erasing the stigma that keeps mental illness in the dark.
Connecting the Community Quote:
“As a mother and someone who is determined to help those young people who suffer from depression I choose to support healthy choices for youth. It is when young people have the opportunity to feel that they can belong and know that they are not alone that they gain the self esteem and confidence to go forward and lead healthy, happy lives.”
Cindy Dobbe, Dolores Elliott and Deborah Grimm
The “Three Moms”, Dolores, Deborah and Cindy, are the founders of the Looking Glass Foundation, a voluntary-based organization that provides outreach, support and advocacy for people affected by eating disorders. The “Three Moms” met nearly a decade ago as a result of their daughters’ struggles with serious eating disorders. They resolved to create a specialized residential care facility in BC so other families would not have to send their children far from home. Because of their dedication and perseverance, the Woodstone Residence on Galiano Island opened its doors for treatment in April 2011 and has already welcomed 30 young people into its care.
Connecting the Community Quote:
“As advocates for youth with eating disorders we emphasize the importance of building self-esteem as a preventative measure in the development of eating disorders. Aligning the Looking Glass Foundation with the YWCA healthy choices for youth program is an opportunity to encourage our children in the middle school years to build self-esteem and lead healthy well-balanced lives.”
Katy Harandi
An inspiring leader and community activist, Katy is a driving force behind PALS Autism School. PALS is the first independent school in BC to offer year-round, individualized educational programs for children with autism regardless of family income. Recognizing the need to offer students continuing learning after graduation, Katy developed the PALS Adult Program. Her contributions to PALS have ensured affordable programming that increases the independence of individuals with autism and improves family life. Katy volunteers her time as a member of the BCCH Neuropsychiatry Planning Task Force, Chair of PALS Autism School Society and Chair of the Canucks Autism Network (CAN).
Connecting the Community Quote:
"Research has shown the significant impact of early intervention and diagnosis in the lives of children with autism. I choose to support the work of YWCA Vancouver in the area of early learning and child care hoping all children receive education and support at the earliest stage of their development."
Ashnoor Nagji
Ashnoor is a family physician who has provided medical care to some of the world’s most marginalized populations. Inspired by the resilience and resourcefulness that she witnessed among women living in extreme poverty in rural Guyana, Ashnoor returned to Canada and founded BELIEF (Becoming Educated Leaders Inspired by Exemplary Females), an empowerment program for women from the Ismaili community that now extends to 18 universities. Ashnoor spends generous amounts of time as a source of inspiration and guidance to others as a facilitator, trainer, mentor and volunteer. She has been an instrumental force behind the World Partnership Walk, Vice-Chair of the Settlement Board of the Aga Khan Council for Canada and Project Manager for the Management Training Program, an initiative for Central Asian youth.
Connecting the Community Quote:
“In traveling to 94 countries and as a physician working with marginalized populations locally and globally, I see how poverty stigmatizes and stunts children's lives. Through supporting integrated initiatives that focus on reducing child poverty, restoring health and reaffirming education, our children can hope to succeed and soar. Together, let us uphold our responsibility to offer this spark!”
Vicki Potter
As leader of the Anglicans of West Point Grey Neighbourhood Ministry, Vicki was instrumental in securing housing for 14 homeless men who had been living for years in the alleys, streets and parks of the west side of Vancouver. Through a rare combination of passion and commitment to this cause and well-grounded bureaucratic knowledge, Vicki successfully overcame the obstacles that had prevented homeless individuals from securing housing. Her success was based on the trusting relationships she had developed with the 14 men over the years and her compassion that inspired people both within and outside of the church community to help. Today they refer to her as the Angel of Kitsilano. She continues to participate in the outreach program, identifying and supporting ‘new’ homeless people.
Connecting the Community Quote:
“Nobody I know likes to see people homeless. Nobody. Yet the problem persists. In Vancouver alone, over 2500 men, women and children are homeless, and many more have inadequate housing. The solution begins with us. We all have something to contribute - time, talents and treasure. Supporting the YWCA safe and affordable housing initiative can change people’s lives virtually overnight.”
Penny Priddy
Today, Penny is the Vice-President of Children of the Street Society, the only provincial organization solely dedicated to preventing the sexual exploitation of children and youth. She is the only woman in Canadian history to be elected to School Board, City Council, the Provincial Legislature and the House of Commons. Penny has built her own business, bridged government and community organizations and worked on significant social issues to better the community of Surrey. She has made it her mission to serve as a mentor to hundreds of women, encouraging them to find a place in the political system. In 2011 Penny received a national award from Equal Voice, a multi-partisan organization whose goal is to advance the role of women in our political systems. She is also on the board of Port Metro Vancouver.
Connecting the Community Quote:
“Early learning and child care is the best long term investment we can make for the future of our society. I have been involved with such initiatives since I started my career as a Pediatric Nurse. The YWCA’s Early Learning Programs provide an ideal environment for young children, and their moms, to learn, to laugh, to play, and to succeed.”
Jennifer Wade
Jennifer has devoted her life to defend human rights and dignity in Canada and around the world. Never one to shy away from a difficult situation, Jennifer has been committed to helping political prisoners, refugees and the wrongly accused. She is one of the founding members of Amnesty International in Vancouver and has served on the boards of the Elizabeth Fry Society, United Nations Association and the World Federalists. In recent years, she has focused on establishing scholarships for students who have undergone great difficulties. Jennifer’s work for human rights has not gone unnoticed. In 1994, the United Nations Association of BC and the BC Human Rights Coalition awarded her the Renate Shearer Human Rights Award for “outstanding contributions to human rights”.
Connecting the Community Quote:
“As a justice advocate, teacher, mother and grandmother, I am ashamed of the child poverty that exists in our country, especially in our own province. I am grateful that the YWCA has made reducing child poverty part of its program with an aim to break the cycle of poverty. Children cannot speak for themselves but they hold the future.”
