Members of the Simcoe-Waterford Knights of Columbus, Council 4502, gathered at the new Norfolk Haldimand Community Hospice (NHCH) office in Port Dover on September 18th to present an $8,000 donation. This generous contribution is a result of the 49th annual golf tournament hosted by the Knights on August 18th, which saw participation from 88 sponsors (26 of these are new) and 72 golfers and will go directly to the hospice’s capital fund.
Earlier this year, the Knights donated $100,000 following the sale of their building in Simcoe, showcasing their commitment to help bring a hospice to HN. Jim Vynckier, co-chair of the K of C, noted, “When our club donated the original $100,000, it planted a seed. We have kind of adopted the hospice, as we see a real need for this in our communities.”
He explained that a copy of the news report about the initial donation was shared with potential tournament sponsors to demonstrate their commitment to supporting NHCH. This year’s successful tournament also allowed for additional donations of $1,000 each to Kaley’s On the Go and the Special Olympics.
Kristina Kett of NHCH expressed deep gratitude, saying, “We are tremendously thankful for the fundraising efforts on our behalf. The Knights of Columbus have been community leaders in helping us raise awareness and backing it up with financial support.” She emphasized that their commitment, along with that of other organizations, is crucial for building a hospice closer to home.
The new NHCH office, located at 52 Hamilton Plank Road, houses office space and rooms for bereavement services and other programs.