October 2025 Newsletter

How Your Giving Changes Lives

Message from Co-Chairs Chris Bryant and Nan Hundere

The Sooke and Juan de Fuca Health Foundation is very excited to report on the major activities undertaken to build our funds and benefit health-related charities from Port Renfrew to Becher Bay. The source of funds is varied, and the impact is immediate and local. Among our efforts are the following:

50-50 Raffles

We have now raised over $2,500 through online raffles for the following:

Sooke Family Resource Centre: prenatal education and newborn supplies
Ayre Manor: specialized positional wheelchair
Sooke Shelter Society: peer programming for the unhoused
Sooke Region Communities Health Network: seniors health and wellness programs
Sooke Autism Support Society: adaptive holiday programs

Direct Grants

Sea to Tree Foundation. This recently established local organization provides low-cost mental health care and counselling. The Health Foundation granted $5,000 from the Mary Brown Memorial Fund to provide services for those who would otherwise have been unable to afford help. Executive Director Hermione Jefferis shared how grateful they are; 65 sessions have already been provided for local residents in need as a result.

Ayre Manor

The Foundation granted funds to cover the full cost of a positioning wheelchair for Ayre Manor. This specialized equipment helps support seniors’ posture for safety and comfort. It has been at the top of Ayer Manor’s wish list for some time.

Individual Donations

Donations from individuals continue to make a real difference in helping our region thrive. Some give anonymously and some are willing to be publicly recognized. The largest thus far, $5000, was given in appreciation for the generosity of local health care providers who have helped so many in our region.

More Donations at Work

Sooke Family Resource Society received $1,336.42 from the Foundation in April to support the SFRS Prenatal Education and Outreach program. Program Manager Daphne Raymond thanked the Foundation, reporting that 18 pregnant women participated in the program this summer and seven families received “new baby bags” and nutritional support funded by our grant.

We invite you to contact us to learn more about our work. Better still, share your dreams with us about improving community health and how your financial contribution could bring these to reality.

Sooke Health Foundation Board of Directors from left to right: board members Rick Robinson, Kristin Price, Sally McLean, Diana Gallivan, Margot Swinburnsen, Dr. Chris Bryant, Nan Hundere.

August Raffle a Win Win! Top: Board Member Diana Gallivan presents cheque to Annemieke Holthuis and Katie Sperrer of Sooke Region Communities Health Network (SRCHN) for health and wellness programs for seniors.

DEDICATED DONORS

The Sooke Health Foundation thanks Richard Habgood and Annemarie Rindt for their generous donation that will help amplify our impact.

As Richard explains, the connection to the Health Foundation came through Dr. Chris Bryant who has been his dentist for 25 years, even though he no longer lives in Sooke. “We all know that when you find a dentist or doctor with the skill set, progressive mind and empathy that Chris has, you don't let them go.

He really is the top of the mark and when he mentioned the Sooke and Juan de Fuca Health Foundation that he was involved with, his passion for what the Foundation does speaks volumes for their goals and aspirations. Annemarie and I wanted to contribute”.

We warmly welcome Richard and Annemarie aboard and thank them for including us along with the many other good causes that they support. “Annemarie is an angel. She's an activity worker and HCA, she works with Seniors at Broadmead Lodge, bringing smiles to all who live there”. Richard is now retired after being a small business owner for most of his life. He and Annemarie share passions for the environment/ animal rights and social justice. Richard as been a director for the Sierra Club of Western Canada, chair for Fair Vote Canada/Greater Victoria Chapter, and a public affairs host for 13 years at UVic student radio/CFUV. He and Annemarie also volunteer for the Lions Club/Royal Oak.

They share Sooke and Juan de Fuca Health Foundation’s goals and aspirations and are happy that it is 100% volunteer run with all funds going where most needed.

Where There’s a Will There’s a Way

Make a Will Week, this October 20 to 26, is The Government of B.C.’s annual public awareness campaign about the importance of having a will.

Why? Creating a will is one of the most important things adults of all ages can do to protect loved ones. It helps ensure that your estate is distributed according to your wishes and enables you to leave a legacy to the people and causes you cherish. Appointment of guardians for children is the often most important for parents.

What Happens Without a Will? If you pass without a will in B.C., your estate will be divided between next of kin according to rules of intestate succession in BC’s Wills, Estates and Succession Act (WESA). There is no option to include causes, and there may be higher administration costs and delays.

How Should You Create Your Will? While online will-drafting templates might seem cost-effective and convenient, they can come with significant risks. As Sitka Law explains, BC’s WESA rules must be understood and carefully navigated. Generic online will templates may not adequately address these. Legal advice is especially important in complex family situations including blended families, dependents with disabilities, or estranged family members. Lawyers can help minimize the risk of disputes, probate costs, and taxes.

When Should Your Will Be Updated? Update your will as your wishes and life circumstances change.

Legacy Giving. When leaving a gift to charity, donors are reminded to ensure that the organization’s correct legal name is used. If you wish to support a specific aspect of an organization’s work, you are advised to contact the organization to ensure that the funds can be used as intended, and to clearly state the purpose in your will.

We thank those who have included Sooke Juan de Fuca Health Foundation in their plans and those considering it. If you wish, we would be honoured to discuss legacy giving with you.

< Older Post

Remembering Roy Brown

May 31, 2025

Remembering Dr. Roy Irwin Brown The Board of Directors sadly announces the passing of Dr Roy Irwin Brown. Dr. Brown was a founding member of the Sooke and Juan de Fuca Health Foundation. Dr. Brown was a distinguished professor of psychology who in his lifetime worked and taught at several universities including Bristol University (England), University of Adelaide (Australia), and University of Calgary. Throughout his career many honours and awards were bestowed upon this eloquent communicator, including an Honorary Doctorate from the University of Ghent, for his distinguished scientific research in disability studies, the Dr. Robert E. Cooke Lifetime Achievement Award by the American Academy of Developmental Medicine and Dentistry and the IASSIDD Distinguished Service Citation. For the Health Foundation Roy brought not just experience and insight, but also heart to the organization. Roy had the rare ability to listen deeply and speak with purpose. When he spoke, people paid attention—not out of obligation, but out of respect for a man who thought before he spoke, and who always aimed to uplift, not diminish. He was never the loudest voice in the room, but he was often the wisest. Roy was a man of immense integrity and thoughtful conviction. He lived not for recognition or applause, but for purpose. His sense of duty to his community was matched only by his humility, and those fortunate enough to work alongside him knew him as a steady and compassionate voice of reason. Roy's passing will leave an immense gap in the lives of so many people who respected and indeed loved him for the way he reached out, embraced people and enriched their lives.

First Winners of New Raffle Announced

By Website Admin • March 16, 2025

A Win for Health & Families: Sooke’s 50/50 Raffle Brings Joy to Winners & Local Charities!

Sooke Health Foundation Launches New 50/50 Raffle

February 10, 2025

Sooke’s Health Foundation Launches Online 50/50 Raffle to Support Local Health Programs The Sooke and Juan de Fuca Health Foundation, dedicated to supporting health-related initiatives in the region, is excited to announce the launch of its first-ever online 50/50 Raffle. The first raffle aims to raise critical funds for the Sooke Family Resource Society's prenatal outreach programs, which provide essential support to young parents and supply necessary baby equipment like cribs, car seats, and strollers. As a registered charitable organization, the Sooke Health Foundation works diligently to distribute grants to local charities that address the health and welfare of the Sooke and Juan de Fuca communities, from Becher Bay to Port Renfrew and beyond. This new raffle initiative is one of the foundation's many efforts to make a tangible impact on the region's health-related services. “The Sooke Family Resource Society’s prenatal outreach programs provide vital resources for young families, and we’re thrilled to support them. Every ticket sold will help improve the lives of local parents and their newborns,” said Nan Hundere, Co-Chair of the Sooke and Juan de Fuca Health Foundation . In addition to this targeted raffle, the Health Foundation plans to continue its commitment to the community with more 50/50 raffles throughout 2025, each benefiting a different cause. Tickets start at just $2, giving everyone an affordable way to contribute to a variety of important causes. How to Participate: The online 50/50 raffle is open for ticket purchases until February 28, 2025, with the drawing taking place at 4:00 pm on the same day. Only 2000 tickets are available, so be sure to act fast for a chance to win! Tickets can be purchased through the Health Foundation’s website at www.sookejdfhealthfoundation.org/5050 or via their Facebook page @SookeHealthFoundation Make a Difference: For those who prefer to make direct, tax-deductible donations, the Health Foundation also accepts contributions through its website. All donations go directly to trusted service groups providing health-related support in the region. About the Sooke and Juan de Fuca Health Foundation: The Sooke and Juan de Fuca Health Foundation is an all-volunteer, registered charitable organization dedicated to improving the health and welfare of communities from Becher Bay to Port Renfrew. The Foundation raises funds and provides grants to local non-profits, ensuring that the money stays within the region to support essential health services and initiatives.