Meet the 2017 Big Heart Award Winners
We can’t do the important work we do without our amazing volunteers. That’s why, every year, we choose three Big Heart Award winners.
At this year’s annual Spring Lunch fundraiser, two winners took home the Big Heart Awards. These awards recognize volunteers and businesses or foundations that make outstanding contributions of time, energy and financial support to Big Sisters of BC Lower Mainland. The 2017 recipients were Carmen S. Thériault for Outstanding Contribution by a Volunteer and Amir and Yasmin Virani Family Foundation for Outstanding Contribution by a Business or Foundation.
Carmen Thériault is a senior partner at Norton Rose Fulbright. She has been actively involved in the community for a number of years. Her many activities involve being a former chair at the Lions Gate Hospital Foundation Board of Directors, member of the International Women’s Forum, and for the last four years, an honorary board member and chair of the Big Sisters of BC Lower Mainland Estate Planning Advisory Council. We greatly value her commitment to helping other organizations, and that’s why we’re thrilled you received this award!
Meet Anisha and Yasmin Virani from the Amir and Yasmin Virani Foundation
The Amir and Yasmin Virani Family Foundation was developed to support community-based organizations that target disadvantaged or marginalized children and youth in BC who do not have the same opportunities as their peers to develop to their fullest potential. Amir (not pictured) and Yasmin (far right) are second generation Ugandans with an inspirational story and background. Born and raised in Uganda, the Viranis enjoyed life in their home country. A drastic regime change followed by immense political destabilization changed their lives forever and contributed in their decision to create a fantastic foundation that helps others.
There is a third Big Heart Award recipient… but this individual doesn’t know it yet. We will be announcing the third award winner at our Volunteer Appreciation event happening on May 23rd, so stay tuned for this upcoming announcement!
Congratulations to our volunteers; you inspire us each and every day! Thank you for being a part of our community.