Volunteers recognized at UHKF volunteer awards

Two groups and two individuals were honoured in a ceremony at Cataraqui Golf and Country Club.

The University Hospitals Kingston Foundation honoured two groups and two individuals at their UHKF Volunteer Awards.

The four were recognized in a ceremony Wednesday night at the Cataraqui Golf and Country Club.

The Foundation said in a news release that their efforts have played a vital role in advancing health care across Kingston and southeastern Ontario.

Two groups received the Davies Award for Philanthropic Leadership: The Mending Hearts with Declyn Lemonade Stand, and John M. and Bernice Parrott Foundation.

The Carman family held their annual lemonade stand in honour their son and brother, Declyn Carman, who passed away in 2022 at the age of three months due to a congenital heart defect. More than $24,000 has been raised for Pediatric Cardiology at Kingston Health Sciences Centre.

John and Bernice Parrott have been a steadfast champions of specialized health care in southeastern Ontario. Their $500,000 gift in 2025 helped UHKF reach its campaign goal for the robotic surgery program.

The Sister Dorothy Fournier Award for Volunteerism went to Adrian Brookes, a donor and patient, for his dedication to UHKF giving his time and effort to a number of initiatives.

And Sam Davies received the Ian Wilson Award for Volunteerism in Fundraising. He has taken on leadership roles as a member of UHKF’s Campaign Cabinet and the YGK Healthcare Champions Executive Committees, and providing philanthropic support through the Davies Charitable Foundation.

UHKF President and CEO Tom Zsolnay said this year’s recipients exemplify the spirit of giving that drives meaningful change in health care.

Story by Ken Hashizume