Sandra Irving Being Honoured With Canadian Red Cross Power Of Humanity Award
SAINT JOHN – On January 12, 2010, a catastrophic earthquake struck Haiti, killing 250,000 people and injuring 3,000. People and organizations around the world reached out to help in various ways, including Irving Oil chairman Arthur Irving, who sent two plane-loads of doctors, nurses and medical supplies to help care for the injured.
In 2013, he was given the Canadian Red Cross Power of Humanity Award for that contribution and other charitable work he’s done at home and abroad over the decades.
“He was personally dedicated to getting supplies [to Haiti] through his aircraft,” said Bill Lawlor, the Canadian Red Cross provincial director for New Brunswick and P.E.I. “There were urgent needs because of that tragic situation … He saw the need and helped fill the need as best he could.”
This year, his wife Sandra Irving is being given the same award at a gala dinner this Wednesday in Saint John for her work as a champion of the transformative value of education and a leader in funding health research.
“The awards committee was impressed by her desire to empower others who may not have access to opportunities, whether that be through education or access to other things that will help them grow and develop so that they, in turn, can give back [to society],” said Lawlor.
It’s fitting for both of them to have now won the same award, says Lawlor.
“Both Mr. and Mrs. Irving are so engaged in the work that they do,” said Lawlor. “It’s uncommon to have a husband and wife win the same award, but it’s based on absolute merit. When you look at what they’ve accomplished it’s remarkable. Not to take away from the wonderful financial contributions that come into various organizations, but it’s more than writing a cheque.”
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Sandra Irving will receive the Power of Humanitarian Award alongside Mira Stephenson, who is being honoured with this year’s Young Humanitarian award, at a fundraising dinner on November 6 in support of Canadian Red Cross disaster services and community programs throughout the province.
Stephenson, now a student at Western University in Ontario, is being honoured for her work to bring about impactful change in the lives of youth in the greater Saint John area.
As a high school student, she helped to establish and operate mentoring programs for middle school and high school girls. As chair of Youth for Youth, she led a committee in planning and hosting fundraising concerts showcasing the talents of local high school and university students to raise funds and awareness for the Teen Resource Centre and at-risk youth in the Saint John area.
In addition to her focus on youth, she is a long-time volunteer with Alzheimer’s patients and those with related dementia diseases. She developed a volunteer program at her high school to involve students in volunteering and planning special events at a local nursing home.
“It’s amazing what young people like her are able to achieve at such a young age,” said Lawlor, citing Stephenson’s volunteer work with non-profits.
“It’s such an important part of the work organizations like ours do. The Canadian Red Cross relies heavily on volunteers. In our emergency management in New Brunswick, for example, we have three staff and 220-plus volunteers. We clearly couldn’t do the work we do without our volunteer base.”
The Canadian Red Cross Power of Humanity Awards Dinner will be held at the Delta Marriott Saint John on Wednesday, November 6. You can purchase tickets online through the Red Cross web site or contact Cara Coes at (506) 674 – 6195 or [email protected].