David Kelly Award for Community Service

The David Kelly Award for Community Service is awarded annually to one individual who exemplifies the spirit of community service in support of the brain tumour community in Canada. This award, previously the Chair’s Award for Community Service, has been renamed in honour of brain tumour advocate and fundraising leader David Kelly, from Fredericton, New Brunswick, who passed away in October 2014.

2015 David Kelly Award for Community Service – Yaron Butterfield, Vancouver, BC

Yaron is the recipient of the 2015 David Kelly Award for Community Service. Awarded annually to one individual who exemplifies the spirit of community service in support of those on the brain tumour journey, this award was named in honour of brain tumour advocate and fundraising leader David Kelly, from Fredericton, New Brunswick, who sadly passed away in October 2014. Yaron, has been presented with this award in recognition of his tireless commitment to supporting the Canadian brain tumour community.

Yaron is a long-time supporter of Brain Tumour Foundation of Canada and the BC Cancer Agency. He’s contributed his time and immeasurable talents to everything from video production, to co-chairing patient-family advisory councils, to coordinating the Vancouver Spring Sprint – the annual fundraising walk that benefits patient programs and brain tumour research. Beyond this involvement, there have been many weekends where Yaron participates in the Ride to Conquer Cancer, braving the elements to help those in need. In fact, his team, the Brainiacs, have now raised more than one million dollars for cancer research!

Not one to hide his own experiences, Yaron openly shares his brain tumour journey through his personal website and uses social media to reach out to others facing a diagnosis. His candor and honesty in speaking with people about brain cancer and his own journey with the disease is truly remarkable.

2014 Chair’s Award for Community Service Awardee – Ross MacDougall, Halifax, NS

Because of his incredible initiative, innovation, commitment and leadership, Ross MacDougall of Halifax, Nova Scotia was presented with this inaugural award.

Ross developed the fundraising event Concert for the Cure in May 2010 and since then, approximately, $120,000.00 has been raised. Of these funds, $94,000.00 has been used to establish the R. Angus King Endowment Fund to support research studentships and student scholarships – in support of the vision to find the cause of and a cure for this disease.

Held annually, the same weekend as the Halifax Spring Sprint, this concert brings together the brain tumour community for an evening of celebration and hope while also raising funds and awareness for the cause.

The impact that Ross has made for the 27 Canadians diagnosed every day through both this special event and the hope provided by research is inspirational to everyone involved in the cause.

David Kelly Award for Community Service Criteria

• Initiative: The nominee recognizes a need in the brain tumour community and responds.
• Innovation: The nominee’s activity is innovative or unique in its approach (e.g. establishing a new program).
• Impact: The nominee is making a significant positive impact in the brain tumour community.
• Commitment: The nominee demonstrates substantial, continuing and current involvement.
• Inspiration: The nominee inspires others to contribute in a meaningful way.
• Leadership: The nominee demonstrates or is developing leadership capacity.
• Special Qualities: The nominee’s overall contribution to community service makes them particularly worthy of the David Kelly Award for Community Service.

For more information on the David Kelly Award for Community Service, please contact:

Jennifer McIntosh
Manager, Human Resources & Volunteer Development
jmcintosh@braintumour.ca
1-800-265-5106 or 519-642-7755, ext. 231

– See more at: http://www.braintumour.ca/5216/chairs-award#sthash.xwTdBKEA.dpuf