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The Mel Jr. & Marty Zajac Foundation
For over 30 years, Mel and Irene Zajac
raised funds for the children of British Columbia through the
proceeds from the Mel Zajac Golf Classic and private donations
from friends and family members. Daughters Corinne, Carmen and
Karen have been their biggest supporters and are dedicated to
ensuring the perpetuity of the Foundation.
Mandate
The Zajac Foundation is a non-profit
organization registered as a charitable institution with the
Government of Canada whose mandate is to support children,
seniors and those with special needs through innovative
community projects focused on developing life long skills and
independence.
Since 1968, Mel Zajac has been raising funds
for children with special needs and seniors in British
Columbia through the Mel Zajac Classic Golf Tournament and the
private donations of friends and family. In 1987, The Zajac
Foundation was formed as a non-profit organization in honour
of Mel Jr. and Marty Zajac who lost their lives in separate
sporting accidents. The Foundation is dedicated to the
enrichment and enhancement of the quality of life across all
generations, with particular focus on persons with special
needs.
The achievements and contributions of the
Mel Jr. & Marty Zajac Foundation include:
- The Zajac Norgate House, in North Vancouver for seniors
and persons with disabilities
- The Sandcastle Developmental Preschool, in Mission,
providing integrative programs for children with special
needs
- The Variety Park Playground, in Burnaby, designed for
children who have special needs
- Capital support for the BC Centre for Ability, a
non-profit society that promotes successful community
participation for individuals with disabilities.
- A lift bus and murals for BC’s Children’s Hospital
- Advanced technological equipment for BC’s Bone Marrow
Registry
- Renovation of UBC Hospital’s In Vitro Fertilization
Laboratory
- An endowment fund for the United Way of the Lower
Mainland
- Covenant House, a safe place for street youth to make a
fresh start
- A portable kidney dialysis machine for the BC Kidney
Foundation
- The Zajac Summer Swim Camp for athletes of all abilities
- Big Brothers Emerging In-School Mentoring Program
It is never easy to lose a love one, but the
passing of their two children inspired Mel Sr. and Irene Zajac
to establish the foundation to build better, stronger and more
supportive communities. Lost in separate sporting accidents
Mel Jr. and Marty are the catalysts behind the work, the goals
and the ambitions of the foundation.
Zajac Foundation Board of Directors,
Advisory Committee, and Officers
"All members of our Board of Directors
and committees volunteer their valuable time without financial
compensation simply because they believe so strongly in our
mission. They believe in the investment in our future, and we
are proud to say we have administration costs of only 8%".
Mel Zajac
OFFICERS & DIRECTORS
|
MEL ZAJAC
Chairman, The Mel Jr. & Marty Zajac Foundation |
CARMEN ZAJAC
President, The Mel Jr. & Marty Zajac Foundation |
JIM FINKBEINER
Vice President & Director |
|
DIANE MANN
Business Executive |
HONOURABLE JOHN
REYNOLDS Retired MP - Government of Canada
Consultant, Lang Michener LLP |
DAVID AISENSTAT
President & CEO, Keg Restaurants Ltd. |
|
HON. EDWARD M. LAWSON
Retired MP - Government of Canada |
A.E. (TED) TURTON
Retired Business Executive |
RON
MCNEILL
President of Lower Mainland Steel Group |
|
CAM WATT
President, Watt Ventures |
BRIAN HANNA
Business Development Director |
JEFF SHEWFELT
V.P., Sales & Services, G & F Financial |
|
MYRNA KITCHEN
Public and Government Relations Consultant |
DOUG HOLT
Business Development Manager, Business In Vancouver
Newspaper |
JOHN DEVITA
V.P., CT Control Temp Ltd. |
ADVISORY
|
|
WALSH KING
(Auditor)
Walsh King Chartered
Accountants |
SENATOR FRANCIS A.
WONG
PATRICK LAWLESS |
Legal
Counsel
Fraser Milner Casgrain Barristers
& Solicitors |
