Media Release
Young Niagara philanthropists to be awarded with an Ontario Junior Citizen of the Year Award
Last Friday morning couldn’t come soon enough for Jack Fazzari and Rylan Johnson – the dynamic duo and founders of Good
Ideas Inc., a fundraising company the two 11 year olds founded in support of the Welland Hospital Foundation. Friday was
the day that the Ontario Community Newspaper Association (OCNA) announced that Jack and Rylan were winners of the 2009
Ontario Junior Citizen of the Year Awards.
“I was so anxious to find out if we won, that I got up at 7am to check the OCNA website” said an elated Rylan.
“When I saw our names listed as finalists, I was so excited” he continued. Jack was equally elated to find out
the two were one of the twelve winners from across the province. “It's amazing that we won” said Jack “I'd
like to thank PenFinancial for nominating us!”
PenFinancial Credit Union nominated the two young entrepreneurs for the Junior Citizen of the Year Awards because they
wanted the two young credit union members to be recognized for the great work that they do in the community to help
their local hospital. “These two young boys are so deserving of this award”, stated Bob Watson, CEO of PenFinancial Credit
Union “we're so pleased that they'll be receiving recognition provincially – they are amazing kids and we’re so proud of them”,
Watson continued. Watson also thanks the Welland Tribune and publisher Ken Koyama for submitting a letter of endorsement along
with archive newspaper articles about the Good Ideas Inc. fundraisers, which were included in the nomination package.
The Ontario Junior Citizen of the Year Awards is run through the 311 newspapers of the OCNA. Nominations of eligible youth,
ages 6 to 17, are received each fall through member community newspapers committed to recognizing outstanding youth who are
making a difference in their communities. Nominees may be involved in worthwhile community service; special young people who
are contributing while living with a physical or psychological limitation; or individuals who have performed acts of heroism
or bravery. Award recipients may also be good kids who show a commitment to make life better for others and do more than is
normally expected of someone their age. This year there were 130 nominees from across Ontario, 12 finalists were chosen and
announced on January 22nd through the OCNA website.
Jack and Rylan are two amazing youth with a sincere desire to better their community by raising money for the Welland Hospital
Foundation through their company called Good Ideas Inc. These boys have dedicated many hours organizing fundraising events,
writing and selling their own community newspaper and engaging a number of community organizations and local businesses in
support of their local hospital.
Jack and Rylan will be accepting their Ontario Junior Citizen of the Year Award at Queen's Park on March 29, 2010. The ceremony
will be officiated by the Honourable David. C. Onley, Lieutenant Governor of Ontario. The final recipients and their immediate
families will be invited to this special presentation in Toronto.
To read the article on Jack and Rylan from The Tribune, click here.
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