When Kathy Ward, Canadian Black Book’s former long-time CEO passed away in 2017, the company renamed a major golf tournament in honour of her memory. Now known as The Canadian Black Book Kathy Ward Memorial Golf Tournament, the event helped raise $109,680 for charity in 2018. The funds will go towards Ward’s charity of choice: the Tim Horton Children’s Foundation.
Earlier in the year, her husband and son committed to match any donations made in Ward’s name, up to $50,000. Their contribution were maximized due to the exceptional amount of donations to the foundation this year — which came from the event itself, website donations, and money raised by the Trillium Automobile Dealers Association (TADA) at its own golf tournament in August.
“I really don’t have the words to express how thankful we are at Canadian Black Book in recognizing how giving the auto industry has been this year towards Kathy’s charity of choice,” said Brad Rome, President, Canadian Black Book. “All the golfers, the TADA, Harm and William, really stepped up and provided donations that are not only welcome, but really unprecedented for our fundraising efforts to date.”
CBB’s tournament was held at the Magna Golf Club in Aurora, which is considered to be a top golf course in Canada. The event included 120 participants from the nation’s auto industry.
“William and I are committed to honouring Kathy’s ambition to send over 1,000 underprivileged kids to Tim’s camps (a cost of approx.. $1,000 per child),” said Harm DeJonge, Kathy’s husband. “With the support of Canadian Black Book, all of its affiliates, sponsors and the drive of all of the golfers, we are more than half way there to fulfilling Kathy’s ambitions! Still a way to go, but thrilled that the tournament participants were there to share in Kathy’s dream and be part of that dream.”
