Media Release

University volunteers recognized for community contributions

Guelph, ON, March 26, 2014 – University of ’s Professor Ajay Heble, Martha Harley and student Jenifer Truong are the recipients of this year’s Dr. William Winegard Exemplary Volunteer Involvement Awards.

Presented by Dr. Winegard at a ceremony on Wednesday, the awards recognize the volunteer contributions of faculty, staff and students to community organizations in Guelph and Wellington County.

“Ajay, Martha and Jenifer have shown how volunteers can turn their passions into lasting contributions benefitting people and organizations in our community,” said Christine Oldfield, executive director of the Volunteer Centre of Guelph/Wellington.

Mr. Heble’s passion for music led him to create the award winning and world-renowned Guelph Jazz Festival, now in its 20th year. His volunteerism extends to Amnesty International and raising funds for international relief through benefit concerts.

Ms. Harley’s personal drive to support her community sees her volunteering with both Hospice Wellington and the Macdonald Stewart Art Centre, and offering pro bono professional advice to other small not-for-profits locally.

Ms. Truong, a third-year Biomedical Science student, has dedicated herself to numerous causes, both locally and internationally. While balancing the challenges of school, family illness and two part-time jobs, Jenifer has shown incredible generosity of time, volunteering with such organizations as VIDA Medical, Project Serve Canada, the Guelph Community Foundation, Guelph General Hospital and Big Brothers Big Sisters.

“Ajay, Martha and Jenifer are three dedicated volunteers, recognized today for their tremendous community spirit,” said Ken Dardano, executive director of United Way Guelph Wellington Dufferin. “United Way is pleased to partner with the Volunteer Centre and the University of Guelph to present these outstanding volunteers with this year’s Winegard Awards.”

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AWARDS CEREMONY

We invite media to attend the awards ceremony & photo opportunity.  March 26, 3:00 pm, McLaughlin Library, University of Guelph  Dr. William Winegard, Dr. , Ms. Barb Smith and Mr. Ken Dardano will speak. Award recipients and their guests will attend.

FOR MORE INFORMATION

Christine Oldfield, Executive Director, Volunteer Centre of Guelph/Wellington 519-822-0912 – [email protected]

Ken Dardano, Executive Director, United Way Guelph Wellington Dufferin 519-821-0571 ext. 23 – 519-831-3093 (cell) – [email protected]

ADDITIONAL BACKGROUND

Biographies of the 2014 Winegard Award Recipients

Professor Ajay Heble – Faculty Award Recipient Ajay Heble, a Professor of English at the School of English and Theatre Studies at the University of Guelph, is recognized for his vast array of volunteer work, including his work as founder and artistic director of the world-renowned Guelph Jazz Festival. Showcasing improvised jazz performance, the festival is now celebrating its 20th anniversary, and has received the prestigious Lieutenant-Governor's Award for the Arts and the Premier's Award for Excellence in the Arts administered by the Arts Council. Ajay also finds time to lend his time to other volunteer groups, including Amnesty International and the Music Gallery in Toronto, and is an accomplished pianist, and a community-based arts advisor.

Martha Harley – Staff Award Recipient Martha Harley is the Associate Vice-President Human Resources at the University of Guelph. She was the lead in establishing the University of Guelph as the first Canadian university to support “Leave for Change”, an initiative that sees the University annually sponsor up to seven employees to participate in a unique short- term professional volunteer program in developing countries. As a volunteer with Hospice Wellington, Martha offers HR advice and assists with policy writing and strategic planning. Martha also serves the Board at the Macdonald Stewart Art Centre and she has offered extensive pro bono professional advice to other small not- for-profits locally. Martha demonstrates a strong commitment to her community and willingness to work on behalf of and care for those in need within that community.

Jenifer Truong – Student Award Recipient Jenifer is a third-year Biomedical Science student at the University of Guelph. She has proven herself to be a committed and dedicated volunteer, in the midst of family health struggles, two part-time jobs and maintaining a high GPA. She has volunteered with a myriad of worthwhile causes, including the VIDA Medical program, Project Serve Canada and a local breakfast program. She helped organize a campus-wide Random Act of Kindness Day with the Guelph Community Foundation and is a “Get Swabbed” volunteer, where she helps recruit potential stem cell donors for the “One Match Stem Cell and Marrow Registry”. In her limited spare time, Jen helps out at the Guelph General Hospital, as a Medical Unit Volunteer, has been a Big Brothers Big Sisters in-class mentor and is currently a member of the Leadership Group for the Guelph Community Well-being Initiative. Jenifer is selfless, empathetic, and caring, and she brings all these qualities and more to the campus and the Guelph community every day.

About the Winegard Awards

In 2007, the University of Guelph, United Way Guelph Wellington Dufferin, and the Volunteer Centre of Guelph/Wellington introduced the Dr. William Winegard Exemplary Volunteer Involvement Awards. The Winegard Awards recognize the contributions that volunteers from the university community make in Guelph and Wellington County.

The awards are named in honour of University of Guelph past president, Dr. William Winegard. Dr. Winegard came to the University of Guelph in 1964 and served as president until 1975. After retiring from academia, Winegard served as the Member of Parliament for Guelph from 1984 to 1993. He held the portfolio of Minister of State (Science and Technology) from 1989 to 1990 and of Minister for Science from 1990 to 1993. He was named an Officer of the Order of Canada in 1998. Dr. Winegard remains active in the Guelph community through his volunteer involvement.