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Community involvement

Chuck

Giving back

In recognition of his business accomplishments over the past 15 years, Sun Life Financial made a $3,000 donation on behalf of Chuck Caruana to a charity of his choice. In April 2009, Chuck selected The Carpenter Hospice to receive this donation. The Carpenter Hospice has provided palliative care to over 1,000 families since it opened in May 2002. The cheque presentation picture can be found in the Burlington Post Opens link in a new window article window highlighting the event.

Letter from Pat Wright, Executive Director, Halton Learning FoundationThank-you letter from Frank McKeown
of The Carpenter Hospice
[PDF, 1 page, 110 kb]

Burlington Oldtimers Hockey Club

Chuck currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Burlington Oldtimers Hockey Club (BOHC) Opens link in a new window.

This volunteer position with one of Canada's premier nonprofit men's hockey organizations, involves many responsibilities that help ensure the success of the club. The BOHC is very active in giving back to the community through its support of the Burlington Food Bank, Carpenter Hospice, and several other local charities.

WSC Insurance Group and Sun Life Financial's donation to Carpenter's Hospice(from left to right) Chuck Caruana, WSC Insurance Group Frank McKeown, Executive Committee - Hike for the Carpenter Hospice Gary Marshall, President BOHC
WSC Insurance Group and Sun Life Financial's donation to Carpenter's Hospice (from left to right) Chuck Caruana, WSC Insurance Group Frank McKeown, Executive Committee - Hike for the Carpenter Hospice Gary Marshall, President BOHC

Ralf

In recognition of his business accomplishments over the past 15 years, Sun Life Financial made a $3,000 donation on behalf of Ralf Soeder to a charity of his choice. Ralf chose Halton Learning Foundation and specified the donation be split equally between two local schools.

W.H. Morden Public School will use the funds to support their breakfast program. T.A. Blakelock will use the funds to assist individual high school students who need a helping hand through Halton Learning Foundation’s Barrier Fund. This fund assists individual students who may come from financially disadvantaged families going through difficult times. Funds are often used for groceries or cafeteria lunches, clothing, school supplies, extracurricular fees at school (e.g. team uniform and tournament registration fees) and even college application fees.

Cheque presentation - Ralf Shroeder with Principals John Pennyfather from W.H.Morden and Kevin Caughlin from T.A.Blakelock High School.
April 2009, Cheque presentation – (left to right) Principal John Pennyfather from W.H. Morden Public School, Ralf Soeder, and Kevin Caughlin from T.A. Blakelock High School.

Letter from Pat Wright, Executive Director, Halton Learning FoundationThank-you letter from Pat Wright, Executive Director, Halton Learning Foundation
[PDF, 1 page, 317 kb]

Letter from John Pennyfather, W.H. Morden Public SchoolLetter from John Pennyfather,
W.H. Morden Public School
[PDF, 1 page, 82 kb]

Rotary club

For more than 12 years, Ralf has been an active member of the Rotary Club in Oakville Opens link in a new window. Some of Ralf's favourite Rotary projects include Halton’s Camp Enterprise and Water for Humanity.

Each year, Camp Enterprise invites 54 grade 11 students from local high schools to participate in a 4-day business camp. This inspiring weekend exposes the students to business managers and owners, professional speakers, and simulated negotiating and business games. Ralf has been on the planning committee for the past 12 years, often serving as the chairperson or program director.

Students participating at Camp Enterprise

Rotary's Water for Humanity program provides clean drinking water in third-world countries for disadvantaged populations. To date, successful projects have been installed or are currently in process in Tzaneen, South Africa, Damongo, Ghana, Ashanti Region, Ghana, Chiquitano, Bolivia, and Gualan, Guatemala.

Ralf has served as chairperson of Rotary's Water for Humanity program for the past 3 years. The highlight of Ralf's efforts was his trip to South Africa in 2006 to commemorate the handing-over of the water filtration system that provides clean drinking water to 10,000 people in villages and schools surrounding Tzaneen. Ralf spent 6 days teaching grade 2 students in 19 schools about the importance of water conservation, hygiene and more. More information can be found on www.rotarywatersite.com Opens link in a new window.

Ralf with children in a classroom in Africa

During the past 9 years, Ralf has coached each of his 3 daughters in various competitive levels of soccer for the Oakville Soccer Club Opens link in a new window. “Witnessing teenage girls reach unexpected team accomplishments by committing themselves to their team and improving their skills and fitness levels has been a very rewarding experience,” says Ralf.