This annual award recognizes individuals, organizations and community groups who have demonstrated outstanding philanthropic leadership benefitting Kingston’s healthcare facilities and the provision of healthcare for the people of Kingston and southeastern Ontario.
Nominations will be accepted from any member of the health care community, including staff, board and board committee members, patients, clients, residents, volunteers and donors.
Previous recipients of the award are eligible to be nominated again and can be selected for a second time if he/she is the best nominee for the award.
2024 Award Recipients: Dr. Gary Burggraf, B’nai Brith Kingston Lodge, and Bentley Davidson.
With just over $276,000 in lifetime donations Dr. Gary Burggraf has shown a commitment to investing in healthcare that has spanned 40 years. Starting with modest gifts in 1984, Dr. Burggraf now donates approximately $30,000 each year, choosing to support a wide range of departments from Cardiology to Clinical Laboratories, Nephrology, Cancer Care, Research, PCH Palliative Care and Redevelopment. Dr. Buggraf is a unique donor due to his longstanding career as a Cardiologist who spent his entire career at KHSC and Queen’s University. As donor and doctor, Dr. Burggraf has shown a true commitment to caring for his community. When undertaking the decision of where to designate his gifts, Dr. Burggraf always takes the time to learn about the urgent priorities at the hospital and meet with clinicians and researchers. Dr Burggraf has made an effort to stay connected to his colleagues and takes pride in learning how his support impacts their work and the care that is available to patients.
B’nai Brith Kingston Lodge’s commitment to building a hospice residence for our community has been transformational to Hospice Kingston’s fundraising campaign with over $950K being raised cumulatively at the 2016 and 2023 “Evening With” events. The 2016 “Evening with Dan Aykroyd” was the largest fundraising dinner in the history of Kingston with over $550K raised. The 2023 “Evening with Hayley Wickenheiser” raised over $400K. B’nai Brith Kingston’s support will allow the creation and staffing for a space where families will find solace, where pain will be met with understanding, and the end-of-life journey is marked by moments of profound connection. The 10-bed hospice residence will accommodate the increasing need of palliative individuals and bereavement support in our community and enhance Hospice Kingston’s existing programs and services.
When Bentley Davidson was 2, he dressed up for Halloween as Gord Downie from The Tragically Hip. He didn’t plan to raise money but he received so much attention for his costume that his parents decided to turn it into a fundraiser. That fundraiser turned into an annual event, raising money for local charities. Since the age of two, Bentley has dedicated the month of October to collecting donations instead of candy, donating the proceeds to a different charity each year. KHSC has been the beneficiary twice; in 2021 Bentley raised $16,307 for the Multiple Sclerosis Clinic and in 2023 he raised $18,496.50 for juvenile diabetes which brings his 8 year fundraising total to an impressive $57,496.50. Bentley (a.k.a. Pint-Size Gord), is truly an inspiration to us all, demonstrating the impact that one individual can have, even at such a young age, in support of important causes.
Previous recipients:
2004 Bill Henderson
2005 Sylvia Burkinshaw
2005 RBC Financial Group
2006 Doug Hogeboom
2006 Homestead Land Holdings and Brit & Sally Smith
2008 RHSJ (Religious Hospitalers of St. Joseph)
2008 Sisters of Providence
2008 Sally & Percy Robinson and Samuel Robinson Foundation
2009 KGH Auxiliary
2009 Volunteer Services Hotel Dieu Hospital
2009 Larry Gibson
2010 Rose of Hope
2010 Geraldine Tepper
2011 Debbie and Dan Corcoran
2011 BMO Financial Groups
2011 Kids for Kids Hockey Tournament
2012 Empire Life
2012 Kinsmen Club of Kingston
2012 John M. & Bernice Parrott Foundation
2013 Prostate Cancer Fight Foundation
2013 Melo Family & Ambassador Hotel
2013 McKenna Modler
2014 Child Development Centre Run/Walk Committee
2015 B’nai Brith
2015 Liz Dobbs Jones
2016 Brit Smith
2016 Lions Club District A3
2017 J.E. Agnew Food Services Ltd.
2017 Royal Canadian Legion (District G Zone 1) and Ontario Provincial Command Branches and Ladies’ Auxiliaries Charitable Foundation
2017 Peter and Carol Davy
2018 Don Hay
2019 Knights of Columbus, Archdiocese of Kingston Diocesan Association; Dr. Romy Nitsch, Dr. Shawna Johnston and Dr. Graeme Smith; Josée Thériault
2020 Limestone City Car Club; Shoppers Drug Mart; John (Jack) Keyes
2021 Rose of Hope
2023 Dr. David Cook
2023 Cunningham Swan Carty Little & Bonham LLP
2023 KHSC, Volunteer Services to Hotel Dieu Hospital Site