Pucks with Purpose
Sometimes a single connection is all that is needed for two communities to do great things together.
When the Canadian Athletic Club (CAC) Women’s Community Society formed in 2021, its members intended to do good beyond their own hockey community. Faced with many options for deserving causes, the women decided to look to the work of one of their members, Toni Hueston. Toni is deeply involved in the Lois Hole Hospital Women’s Society, a group of ambassadors that fosters philanthropy on behalf of the Lois Hole Hospital for Women. Her connection to both groups became an important link–the CAC Women’s Community Society named the Lois Hole Hospital for Women its ‘charity of choice.’
“When we brought it forward, the Women’s Community Society loved it,” explained Toni.
And it quickly gained the support of the club’s executive. “It really resonated with them. They know moms are the ones driving kids to the hockey rinks and doing a lot of that work. They wanted to acknowledge that and work together on something in the community to raise awareness about the hospital that some didn’t even know was here.”
So, in the 2021-2022 hockey season, the CAC Women’s Community Society and representatives from the club organized several fundraisers throughout the year: a suit sale, a holiday market, and a series of hockey games throughout February. The grand total of their efforts–nearly $13,000–was donated to the Lois Hole Hospital Women’s Society. And, when the time came to determine the charity of choice for year two, the group didn’t hesitate to carry on the work in the name of women’s healthcare. “We’re just getting started,” said Toni. “We want to be known to help. We wanted to make more of an impact with our work as opposed to just one year.”
Over the course of two hockey seasons, the CAC Women’s Community Society has raised more than $22,000 for the Lois Hole Hospital for Women through donations to the Lois Hole Hospital Women’s Society.
Thank you to the CAC Women’s Community Society for supporting the women’s healthcare community and to everyone who donated to the group’s fundraising work.
To read more in our Annual Gratitude Report, and to watch a special video please click the button below.