Who: Ottawa Office, CIBC Wood Gundy
The donation: $90K
The recipient: Ronald McDonald House Charities Ottawa
OBJ360 (Sponsored)
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For Ginger Bertrand, some of her earliest childhood memories in Ottawa are centred around healthcare. “I grew up across the street from what was originally the General Hospital,” she explains,
The inspiration: “I am a father of two kids and we wanted to give back to children. We also wanted to concentrate our giving to a local charity. Ronald McDonald Charities Ottawa was the perfect choice for us. For families coming from all over, including the Ottawa Valley, Nunavut and so many other faraway places, we want to ensure they had a place to call home during a difficult time in their lives,” says Ron Armstrong, portfolio manager and investment adviser at Wood Gundy, CIBC Private Wealth Management.
For 31 years, the annual Skifest at Mont Ste-Marie has been a highlight for participants and sponsors. This year, the annual event held on March 2 was a smashing success. Over $200,000 net was raised to support Ronald McDonald House Charities Ottawa. The funds will assist with the growing demand for a place to call home while children and their families receive treatment at the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario.
The event co-chairs, Erin Brown from Norton Rose Fulbright and Ron Armstrong from CIBC Wood Gundy, credit dedicated and loyal sponsors for much of the event’s success. More than 300 people enjoyed the day of skiing and racing. A highlight of the day was the “apres ski,” which gave the finance professionals, lawyers and accountants in attendance a chance to network after a day on the slopes.
The Ottawa office of CIBC Wood Gundy made a five-year commitment to Ronald McDonald House Charities Ottawa. They have raised over $90,000 so far and are not giving up yet.
“We are all taking a breath, however; we are already thinking about Skifest in March 2024. The planning starts in September. We are inspired to keep raising money for (Ronald McDonald House Charities Ottawa) because Skifest funds go toward the expansion and helping families,” adds Armstrong, portfolio manager and investment adviser at Wood Gundy, CIBC Private Wealth Management.
“At its core, Skifest represents the people within Ottawa’s business community and how they truly care about our kids and families,” says Christine Hardy, CEO, Ronald McDonald House Charities Ottawa. “We are always operating at full capacity, so as the city grows, we too are preparing to expand the house from 14 to 36 rooms. Funds from Skifest enable us to continue to fuel our house with warm meals, bedrooms, parking and a comfortable, clean, loving home away from home for families that must travel for pediatric care during some of the most challenging days of their lives.”
