Care Centre Gets Gift from Dopomoha Ukraini

TORONTO–At the Ukrainian Canadian Care Centre’s 4th annual Joy of Lights Celebration, MP Borys Wrzesnewskyj presented a $500,000 donation to the Care Centre on behalf of his family’s Dopomoha Ukraini Foundation.

In recognition of the generous gift, the long-term care home will name its second floor in honour and memory of Wrzesnewskyj’s uncle, Mychailo Szafraniuk and his aunt, Jaroslawa Szafraniuk, who spent the last phase of her life at the Care Centre.

“As a family, we are thankful that the Care Centre provided such a warm atmosphere and attentive care to our beloved grand aunt, Mrs. Jaroslawa Szafraniuk,” said Wrzesnewskyj, speaking to a capacity crowd at the Joy of Lights ceremony in the Care Centre’s inner courtyard.

The grandparents of Wrzesnewskyj, who is the incumbent Liberal MP in Toronto’s Etobicoke-Centre Federal riding, immigrated to Canada. Over the  years, the family has built up prosperous businesses, including Future Bakery and M-C Dairy. The family’s foundation, Dopomoha Ukraini, has been providing assistance to community, humanitarian and Ukrainian-heritage organizations in Canada and Ukraine for the past 14 years.

The co-chairs of the Care Centre’s Home with a Heart fundraising campaign, Ian Ihnatowycz, President and CEO of Acuity Investments  Management Inc., and James Temerty, Chairman of Northland Power, thanked the Foundation for their generosity. “Through the strength and commitment of the Wrzesnewskyj family and the Dopomoha Ukraini Foundation, the Care Centre will continue to provide the best facilities and programming which honour our traditions of caring for those in our community while preserving our heritage,” said Temerty.

Sandy Lomaszewycz, Executive Director of the Care Centre, also expressed her gratitude. “This gift is a wonderful Christmas present for the community and a great start to our Home With a Heart Campaign,” said Lomaszewycz.

The Dopomoha Foundation’s donation will go towards expanding the long-term care home and establishing a secure unit for residents suffering from dementia-related disorders.

The expansion is part of the Care Centre’s goal to complete its fourth floor and build an additional tower to make on-floor dining possible for the residents.

The Care Centre’s Joy of Lights Celebration is held jointly every year with the St. Demetrius Residence to usher in the Christmas season.  At this year’s event, as always, one of the highlights was the lighting of the two-storey Christmas tree.

Two Care Centre residents, Vera Topica and John Stebelko, led the countdown, which culminated in the switching on of the lights on the tree and on the garlands in the Winter Garden display prepared by a half-dozen volunteers.

Dignitaries at the event, emceed by Ola Lishchyna, included the Most Reverend Bishop Chmilar and Archbishop Yurij, who opened the celebration with a prayer. Father John Tataryn, the pastor of St. Demetrius parish and a driving force in the church community which has built a school, seniors’ residence, and the Care Centre, blessed the Christmas tree.

Other highlights of the evening included a carol sing-along, a performance by the Kalyna Singers of the Ukrainian National Federation, Toronto Branch, and numerous lively dance numbers presented by young members of the Yavir School of Dance.

 PHOTOS

1 -  From L.-R.: Ian Ihnatowycz, Borys Wrzesnewskyj, Irene Wrzesnewskyj, Roman Wrzesnewskyj, James Temerty and Andy Cotrell

2 - Care Centre residents and staff by the Christmas tree decorated by volunteers