The nineteenth year of Red Nose Quinte kicked off Sunday with an addition to the organization’s Hall of Fame.
Longtime volunteer driver and campaign organizer Dave Allen was presented the Red Nose Hall of Fame vest by National Development Coordinator Marie-Chantal Fortin.
Allen is the President and CEO of YMCA Central East Ontario and became the second Red Nose Quinte Hall of Fame member to be inducted after the group’s founder Rick Watt.
Fortin praised Allen for his dedication to the organization and his “outstanding service” to the community.
Allen stressed the importance of the Red Nose team and the hundreds of volunteers over the years that made the program work.
“We want people to have fun and we want people to get home safely at a joyous time of year. This is an important program.”
That sentiment was echoed by Belleville Police Chief Mike Callaghan who said despite his officers’ stepped-up RIDE programs they couldn’t be everywhere and stressed how crucial it was to the health of the community that Red Nose was getting people and their vehicles safely home during the holiday party season.
Allen also praised quickly growing local firm McDougall Insurance. McDougall Insurance has been a local Red Nose supporter for years but has now become a provincial sponsor as well. “They support so many organizations! They always step up!”
Red Nose Quinte’s campaign co-chairs this year will be Mark Philbin and Charity Brown.
The 2023 version of Red Nose Quinte will run on Friday and Saturday nights only, starting November 24. Red Nose’s last night on the roads will be Sunday December 31, New Years Eve.
Red Nose Quinte founder Rick Watt estimates that over the past 18 seasons some 20,000 people have been taken home safely along with their vehicles.
Red Nose is a free service but donations are welcome. In turn those donations are given to local charitable organizations such as the YMCA’s Strong Kids Campaign and Camp Trillium (benefitting kids suffering with cancer) through the Sunrise Rotary Club.
Volunteers are more than welcome. Contact Red Nose Quinte at 613-962-4334 or through rednosequinte.ca.
Red Nose Quinte founder and organization Hall of Fame member Rick Watt with Rudy Red Nose. (Photo: Quinte News)
