Knights of Columbus 4502 donates to hospice
Chris Abbott
Editor
The Knight of Columbus, Simcoe Waterford Council 4502, recently made a $25,000 donation to the Norfolk Haldimand Community Hospice, which included $14,000 raised at their annual golf tournament.
“The $25,000 was partially raised through the (Knights of Columbus) golf tournament,” said Knight Jim Vynckier, co-chair of the golf tournament, noting the August 16th fundraising tournament at Springview Farm Golf Course, Waterford, raised $14,000. “The Simcoe Waterford Council 4502 bumped that up by $11,000.
“We would like to thank our sponsors and golfers that participated – we had 72 golfers and over 100 sponsors,” said Vynckier. “And not just this year’s sponsors, we would like to also thank those who sponsored us in the past. That’s what got us to our success over time.”
Last year, Simcoe Waterford Council 4502 donated $20,000 to the Norfolk Haldimand Community Hospice, and the year before $8,000, bringing its three-year donations to the hospice to $53,000.
“We are so thankful,” said Beth Ellis, NHCH board member.
“This was our fourth tournament,” noted Patrick McElhone, co-chair of the golf tournament. “The original golf part of it, last year we celebrated the 50th year, this was the 51st this year. That was consecutive years until Covid showed up. There was a three-year hiatus.”
“The hospice became our charity of choice when they (NHCH) said, ‘we’re going to start doing this,” said Vynckier. “It’s voted on.”
“This is something that I look forward to as Grand Knight,” said Brian Baker, Council 4502 Grand Knight. “I joined the Council 16 years ago… and I’m proud to see the work that everybody’s done.
“In terms of Knights of Columbus, we have four pillars for our Council,” said Baker. “And charity is No. 1.”
“From a personal perspective, I have nothing but good to say about what I experienced at the hospice in Sarnia – my sister was there 12 days,” said Vynckier. “I’ve been to Sakura House (Woodstock) and we have the Stedman House (Brantford). They’re all going to be the same in terms of compassion and support – there will be no difference – but this will be closer to home.”
Norfolk Haldimand Community Hospice recently held a ground-breaking ceremony at the site of its new hospice facility, near Jarvis, which is expected to be completed in 2028.
NHCH’s annual fundraising events include a Hike for Hospice in June, and holiday Light up the Tree fundraiser in December. A fundraising golf tournament will likely be added in future years.
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