By: Michelle Poirier
Dave and Anita Haynes, owners of Sutton Home Hardware, have been selected as this year’s Georgina honourees for the 11th annual Portraits of Giving by Merk Photography.
Portraits of Giving was started by Karen Merk to create awareness and inspire the community through photography, stories, education and to share the importance of corporate and social responsibility in York Region.
“We are grateful to be getting that award, and we are humbled as well. This has been an interesting year, that’s for sure,” Mr. Haynes said.
Mr. and Mrs. Haynes were nominated for the award by Karen Wolfe, former editor of The Georgina Post, because of their sponsorships, donations to those in need and their contribution to The Kinsmen Sutton Santa Clause Parade.
“They are fine people with a giving heart and a smiling nature. Their recognition here is a deserving and fitting acknowledgment of their passion for the community and dedication to charitable and fundraising events . So thank you very much for everything you have done through the years and congratulations,” Ms. Wolfe said in the virtual Portraits of Giving Georgina presentation video on Facebook.
The caption under Ms. Merk’s photograph of Mr. and Mrs. Haynes says one of their greatest accomplishments was to partner with the Georgina Kinsmen Club in 1998 to start Sutton Santa Clause Parade because of how the parade brings the community together.
“We are very honoured to celebrate Anita and Dave Haynes this year in our 11th Annual Portraits of Giving exhibit, who have been pillars in the Georgina community for a long time. This year more than ever, we need to celebrate the good we see around us and to keep helping our community,” Ms. Merk said.
The photography exhibit is on a six month tour across York Region with 16 honourees this year and it is heading to Vaughan next. The exhibition has honoured 119 people since Ms. Merk started Portraits of Giving 11 years ago.
The Georgina Kinsmen Club are the Georgina honourees sponsor this year and Merk Photography is presenting a cheque for $200 for the Georgina Food Bank, Mr. and Mrs. Haynes charity of choice, to help during this difficult year.
Due to COVID-19, large groups of people could not gather for the presentation, so Ms. Merk has posted the presentation for the Georgina honourees on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/MerkPhotography/.
There was a small physically distanced gathering of 12 people, including Mr. and Mrs. Haynes, Ms. Merk and Mayor Margaret Quirk, on Thursday September 3 at The Briars Resort & Spa to celebrate the honourees.
To see the full Portraits of Giving exhibit you can visit The Briars until Sunday, September 6.
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