THANK YOU! Jan would be proud.
Over 38 thousand Canadian Dollars was recently presented to North York General Foundation for The Phillips House and Maddie's Healing Garden. A total of $36,165 plus $2,289 was raised, which last amount was directly send by kind people honouring Jan Siegel's wish for her funeral to donate to NYGH Foundation. The funds were raised within various Rotary clubs of district 7070 and private sector. This facility is the home of North York General Hospital's child and adolescent outpatient mental health program. Our beloved Immediate Past President Janis D. Siegel started this project in 2019. Jan passed away in July of 2020 after a courageous fight with cancer. The Phillips House project and the cheque ceremony was dedicated to Janis, honouring her great work and dedication to this project and many others.
In 2019 the Rotary Club of Willowdale, together with Rotary Club of North York and Rotary Club of York, presented this beautiful fundraising project to the Rotary District 7070, and many clubs joined to make this project a reality.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the planned Celebrity Dinner event could not take place on November 6th, 2020. A heartfelt and touching virtual cheque ceremony took place with just a few people outside of The Phillips House and many others from District 7070 joined via Zoom.
Community Building with Rotary Club of Willowdale & NYGH
The Phillips House and Maddie’s Healing Garden
Rotary Club of Willowdale organized their annual Community Building Fundraising project, and this year the Phillips House and Maddie's Healing Garden at North York General Hospital were the recipients of the funds raised. The donation ceremony took place at the Gardens at The Phillips House on November 6th, 2020. This continued project is dedicated to Immediate Past President of Rotary Club of Willowdale, Janis D. Siegel. Janis passed away on July 25th, 2020 due to a courageous battle with cancer. This project was initiated by Janis in association with The North York General Hospital Foundation in 2019. Janis together with fellow Rotary clubs in the GTA from Rotary District 7070, worked hard on raising funds for this project. She wished to make a difference in the lives of youths with mental health. The Phillips House and Maddie’s Healing Garden project was very dear to her heart, and the Rotary Club of Willowdale will continue to honour Janis by keeping her dream alive.
The theme of the project is Community Building, with a concentration on Youth Mental Health and specifically Eating Disorder. The cheque donation ceremony was officiated by Courtney Doldron, husband of Janis Siegel and Past President of Rotary Club of Willowdale. Mr. Doldron together with the President of the Rotary Club of Willowdale, Stephen Phillips, presented the cheque to Olivia Tierney, Philanthropy Officer of North York General Foundation. The final amount raised from the clubs was $36,165 plus $2,289, which last amount was directly send by kind people honouring Jan Siegel's wish for her funeral to donate to NYGH Foundation. Two Rotary clubs from the District 7070 joined Rotary Club of Willowdale in this project for the District Grant request, and their representatives were virtually present during the ceremony; John Kane for the Rotary Club of North York and Dave Cohen for the Rotary Club of York. Dr. William King of the Rotary Club of Willowdale joined virtually to present our guest speaker Olivia Tierney and Charles Bridle of the District 7070 kindly coordinated the virtual event. Also present were Mirurgia “Uka” Marchena, Public Image Director for Rotary Club of Willowdale and coordinator for the Phillips House project, and Eric Azeez Photographer Rotary Club of Willowdale. The second phase and third phase of the project will continue in 2021 and 2022.
Rotary Club of Willowdale is doing this fundraising project with the financial support of fellow Rotary clubs, foundations and private donors. Thank you for making this project a reality in name of Janis D. Siegel.
- Rotary Club of Alliston
- Rotary Club of East York
- Rotary Club of Forest Hill
- Rotary Club of Markham Sunrise
- Rotary Club of Newmarket
- Rotary Club of North York
- Rotary Club of Scarborough
- Rotary Club of Toronto East
- Rotary Club of Whitby Sunrise
- Rotary Club of Willowdale
- Rotary Club of Woodbridge
- Rotary Club of York
- Rotarians Vern and Carol Barney
- Rotary District 7070 Foundation Grant
- Private donors through Rotary Club of Willowdale and North York General Hospital Foundation at Janis Siegel’s request