Ottawa Philanthropy Award winners announced at private party hosted by Foundation WCPD’s Peter Nicholson

Fall-anthropy is in the air.

You could feel it at the reception Foundation WCPD president and founder Peter Nicholson hosted at his Rockcliffe Park home last night to celebrate the upcoming AFP Ottawa Philanthropy Awards.

The 29th annual dinner, set for Thursday, Nov. 16th at the National Arts Centre, is a feel-good event that recognizes individuals and organizations that give of their time, money and/or skills to charitable causes they care about.

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The Phils, as they’re affectionately known, are full of heartfelt acceptance speeches, inspiring messages and moments of reflection. Whether they’re comfortable with it or not, the recipients each have their big moment in the spotlight, with gleaming crystal award in hand. “It’s a phenomenal event,” said Nicholson of a night that always feels like the Oscars to him. “It’s probably one of the best events of the year in Ottawa.”

He and his wife, Anabel Bane, opened their lovely home to well over 100 guests. They provided an open bar and served delicious home-cooked Filipino cuisine.

“You’re part of our family now; we have room for all of you in our house,” Nicholson, always the gracious host, told the crowd during his brief remarks made in his backyard. It’s spacious enough for a lounge area, as well as playground equipment, trampoline and other fun stuff for a family of six kids, most of whom are young.

Who couldn’t relate when he joked about how happy he and Bane were to host a party because it forced them to get their house ready for guests?

WCPD (Wealth Creation Preservation and Donation) is the long-time presenting sponsor of the Ottawa Philanthropy Awards. WCPD is in the tax-reduction business. It boosts the donations made by Canadians using its public flow-through share structure. Many of its clients are philanthropists, entrepreneurs, business executives and health, accounting and legal professionals.

Guests learned at the reception the names of this year’s recipients of an Ottawa Philanthropy Award. They are: Myers Automotive Group (Outstanding Corporate Philanthropist) in recognition of its major gifts to Queensway Carleton Hospital Foundation and the University of Ottawa Heart Institute Foundation; Yves Tremblay and his wife Sylvie Villeneuve (Outstanding Individual Philanthropist); Sandy Foote (Outstanding Volunteer Fundraiser) for being the top fundraiser with 30 years’ commitment to the Tim Hortons Ottawa Dragon Boat Festival; Hobin Architecture Inc. (Outstanding Small Business Philanthropist); Natalie Benson, director of fundraising and communications at Christie Lake Kids (Outstanding Fundraising Professional); The Canadian Federation of University Women — Ottawa (Outstanding Philanthropic Group); Riley McBrine (Outstanding Youth Philanthropist); and Sindy Hooper (2023 Inspiration Award). Hooper, who has stage 4 pancreatic cancer, has been raising money for research into new and better treatment therapies.

The awards are practically a sweep for Carleton University. It’s associated with two of the 2023 recipients: Hobin Architecture and CFUW Ottawa. Winners are chosen by a panel of community leaders and past recipients.

Nicholson was joined at the event by Jeff Todd, vice president of marketing and communications at WCPD. Todd is also the board president of the Ottawa chapter of AFP (Association of Fundraising Professionals).

Fundraising is more important than ever, Todd told his audience. “I think we’re in a world now where there are fewer people donating to charities, unfortunately. It’s very difficult to find volunteers these days. And yet we’re also in a world where challenges have never been greater; the ‘haves’ and ‘have nots’ have never become more pronounced. I think it’s a great time to be involved.”

Jacqueline Belsito, president of the Senators Community Foundation, and her colleague Jennifer (Gray) Cameron, director of events and fundraising relationships at the Senators Community Foundation, are back to co-chair The Phils.

“I think The Phils are one of the rare occasions where people come out to celebrate everyone who does good in the community, as a collective,” said Belsito.

Added Cameron with a smile: “We had such a great time doing it last year that our rubber arms were twisted into doing it again.”

Also in attendance was the The Phils’ affable emcee, Sam Laprade. She’s the host of The Sam Laprade Show and An Hour to Give on CityNews 101.1 FM.

The link for tickets to The Phils is : AFP Ottawa 2023 Philanthropy Awards