The Shine Foundation is honored to announce that Mrs. Sherri Bell of Stratford, ON, has been selected as the recipient of the 2016 Wayne C. Dunn Spirit of Service Award in recognition of her contributions to help fulfill Shine Experiences for young people across Canada living with severe physical disabilities.
Over the past 12 years, Sherri has been a leader in the volunteer community, heavily committed to serving others while helping kids Shine. As a Shine Volunteer Chapter President in Stratford-Perth, Sherri has dedicated herself to keeping her community active, hosting and participating in fundraising events throughout the year and contributing significant amounts of time and energy to support our mission.
Throughout her years of service, Sherri has taken on various roles, big and small to help fulfill Shine Experiences. A testament to her exceptional dedication, is her leadership of the Annual Suitcase Party – a local Stratford fundraising event that has generously supported Shine for the past 14 years. The 2015 Suitcase Party welcomed six Shine recipients and their families from the region to come together with the community. The event also included a Shine Experience presentation for a local Stratford child, sharing with others the impact that supporters have on the lives of Shine recipients. The 2016 Suitcase Party raised over $25,000 to support Shine Programs, the success of this annual event is a direct result of Sherri’s commitment to community involvement and her big heart.
Sherri is continuously looking at ways to support others and engage those around her to do the same, all while managing a farm and raising four children. She has made Shine a part of her family, having her own children volunteer at various events including taking on the role of our former mascot.
“Sherri is a remarkable woman,” says Nancy Sutherland, CEO for Shine. “Her commitment to service and her dedication to our mission epitomizes the strength behind a volunteer driven organization like Shine. I want to thank her for her outstanding contributions over the years.”
The Wayne C. Dunn Spirit of Service Award recognizes and honours an individual who has contributed to the mission of the Shine Foundation through his or her extraordinary, personal service over an extended period of time.
The award is named after its inaugural recipient, prominent London, Ontario business leader, Wayne Dunn who was a guiding light, a dedicated leader and a passionate advocate for the Shine Foundation for two decades. Wayne was instrumental in the growth of The Sunshine Golf Classic – an event that would become Shine's largest single fundraiser over his 13 years at the helm – and for leaving behind an ongoing legacy, the County Heritage/Stevenson & Hunt Endowment Fund which supports Shine Programs in perpetuity.
Sherri will be officially presented with the Spirit of Service Award, an etched glass obelisk – a symbolic representation of a permanent ray of sunshine – at the 2016 Shine Annual General Meeting taking place on November 22nd at Kings College at Western.
