Lorie Kane Receives 2011 Humanatarian Award for P.E.I.
Courtesy of the LPGA Tour
The Canadian Red Cross today announced that professional golfer and Island native Lorie Kane, will receive the 2011 Humanitarian Award for Prince Edward Island for her work with charitable organizations, from children’s charities to promoting access to sports.
The Red Cross also announced that Janelle MacMillan, a UPEI business student from Charlottetown who has volunteered in an orphanage in South Africa for the past few years will be its 2011 Young Humanitarian for Prince Edward Island.
"Lorie Kane’s success as a professional golfer has inspired many Islanders, but it is her generous contribution to her community through KidSport and other organizations that will have a lasting impact on the Island," said John L. Byrne, director general of the Canadian Red Cross in Atlantic Canada.
Kane has been involved with KidSport, an organization that aims to eliminate financial barriers to allow children to participate in sport, in Prince Edward Island since 1997. She has served as honourary spokesperson, promoter and ambassador of the program and is also as its most generous contributor. More than 400 youth receive support from this program annually.
She’s also helped raise more than $850,000 over the years through the annual Lorie Kane Charity Golf Classic, to support of several charities including KidSport, Ronald MacDonald Children’s Charities, the ALS Society and the QEH Foundation.
"Janelle MacMillan is to be applauded for her vision, dedication and hard work to help make a difference in the lives of children in South Africa," said Byrne.
MacMillan volunteered at an orphanage in Capetown, Africa for two months with International Volunteer Headquarters in 2010, choosing to work with children living in a township rife with crime and drug use rather than teaching children in a more privileged area.
Upon her return, she was inspired to work on a more impactful project: building a much needed new school for a group of 20 orphans in the township of Capricorn. Overcoming many obstacles, she utlimately raised the funds and saw the completion of the small school named Daylight Educare in November 2010. In May 2011, after raising additional funding, she returned to South Africa with her sister to deliver supplies such as books and chairs.
Recipients of Canadian Red Cross Humanitarian and Young Humanitarian awards are selected among nominations received from the public. Both awards will be presented on November 22, 2011, at the Delta Prince Edward in Charlottetown during a dinner sponsored by the law firm McInnes Cooper to raise funds for Canadian Red Cross disaster relief and educational programs in the province. For more information, visit www.redcross.ca/humanitarian.