A local fundraising group has been awarded a prestigious recognition.
The Butterfly Girls, Barb Mattucci, Beth Primeau and Loralee McInroy were named the 2018 Outstanding Volunteer Group Fundraiser at the 13th annual Association of Professional Fundraisers South Eastern Ontario Chapter 2018 National Philanthropy Day Awards.
The group was nominated by Martha Farrell of the Belleville General Hospital Foundation.
Primeau says they never started this work for the recognition.
Farrell told those in attendance that these three suffered losses and started a crucial conversation that has gone beyond the Quinte region and has inspired Butterfly runs in Peterborough and Ottawa.
Mattucci says starting a conversation was all they were trying to do.
Another local fundraiser, Margie Burness, was nominated in the Outstanding Volunteer Fundraiser. She was nominated by Heather Smith.
Margie Burness with Heather Smith at the 2018 National Philanthropy Day awards in Kingston. (Photo: Amanda Smith/Quinte News)
John and Shirley Purkis were named the 2018 Outstanding Philanthropist.
The 2018 National Philanthropy Day award winners. (Photo: Amanda Smith/Quinte News)
Shirley Purkis, a week away from her 99th birthday, not only had the crowd in stitches, but passed along an important message.
Emilio Frometa and Josha Mosley won the Outstanding Youth in Philanthropy award, Outstanding Corporation/Organization was Gordon Barr Limited, Outstanding Volunteer Fundraiser (individual) was Erin Finn and the Outstanding Professional Fundraiser was Tim Brown.
