NEWS RELEASE
LAKE SIMCOE CONSERVATION FOUNDATION
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The Lake Simcoe Conservation Foundation today accepted a $100,000 donation made in memory of Mary Jane Brinkos, one of the original "Ladies of the Lake", a group of local volunteer residents committed to preserving and improving the health of Lake Simcoe. Ms. Brinkos, died in Barrie on January 29th at the age of 77.
The donation in her name was made by Jim De Gasperis, Managing Partner of Friday Harbour Resort on Lake Simcoe together with Mario Giampietri, Shauna Dudding, Vimal Patel and Cheryl Shindruk of Geranium.
"The Foundation is honoured to accept this donation in memory of Mary Jane," said Foundation Board of Directors President, Debbi Conzelmann.
"Mary Jane's energy and her tireless efforts to protect Lake Simcoe and raise awareness of issues affecting its health leave a wonderful legacy of advocacy," added Foundation Executive Director, Cheryl Taylor.
"My family and I are delighted. We thank Friday Harbour, Geranium and our friend Dan Davidson for arranging this touching and generous acknowledgement. This is so fitting and in harmony with my mother's passion for her precious lake's health," said her daughter, Diana Brinkos, who encouraged others to support the Foundation with donations of their own.
"We offer our condolences to Mary Jane's family and by making this donation in her name we want to acknowledge her commitment to the environment generally and to Lake Simcoe in particular," said Jim De Gasperis.
Mary Jane was a generous volunteer with several organizations, including Parent Finders. As an adoptee herself and a parent of two adopted children, Mary Jane was very passionate about lessening the stigma around adoption.
Friday Harbour Resort donates a portion of the sale of each unit to the Lake Simcoe Conservation Foundation’s Inspiring Greener Communities Program. They have been an avid supporter of all the Foundation’s fundraising efforts, contributing almost $300,000 to date.
Donations to the Lake Simcoe Conservation Foundation can be made in Mary Jane’s memory by visiting Lakesimcoefoundation.ca.
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