In Memoriam It is with a heavy heart that we said goodbye to a “Cathy was a joy to dear colleague and friend, Cathy Daminato. Cathy work with. She always passed away in February 2024 after a courageous supported me, listened, battle with cancer. and offered to help where Cathy joined the Foundation as a Board Director she could. She was always in 2017, and became Chair in 2019, serving the open-minded even with Cathy Daminato organization faithfully through the pandemic my wildest ideas, and such and other critical priorities. Never one to shy a great sounding board. With a small team and away from hard work, Cathy led the Board and managing a very heavy load during the pandemic, supported the leadership team with kindness, Cathy was a strong leader, friend, and advisor, compassion, strength, and vision. always there if and when I needed her. I miss her leadership, her humour, her friendship, and her During her tenure, we accomplished many things. compassion every day.” — Kristy Kerr, CEO She would likely say her proudest moment was our Cathy had a full and rich life. Retiring and moving successful partnership with the Ministry of Health, to Osoyoos brought her much joy, and she was that led to a signi昀椀cant investment into COVID-19 always talking about her family and was so response and recovery efforts, and solidi昀椀ed our excited to become a grandmother, often sharing reputation as the go-to public health charity for BC. stories and photos that re昀氀ected her love and Cathy’s career and expertise spanned decades pride. in fundraising and leadership roles at Douglas She took up art in her retirement and enjoyed College, BCIT, the Royal Columbian Hospital sharing photos of her work, oftentimes with a Foundation, and Simon Fraser University. In wry quip about her skills. She also loved to share 2003, she became the 昀椀rst Vice-President of Advancement and Alumni Engagement at Simon stories of gol昀椀ng and taking the boat out on the Fraser University, tripling the fundraising activity, lake with her husband, Paul. building endowments, and raising signi昀椀cant “We are profoundly saddened by this loss. funds for key capital projects. Cathy earned a BSc Cathy’s absence is deeply felt by all, and we are in Life Sciences and an MBA, and held various eternally grateful for her service, dedication, and volunteer and board roles during her career. She commitment to the Foundation over the years. We was awarded the Association of Fundraising miss her around the Board table and her legacy Professional’s Giving Hearts Lifetime Achievement lives on.” — Douglas Nelson, Board Chair Award in November 2014 and was a 昀椀nalist for a Even after her dif昀椀cult diagnosis, Cathy always Woman of Distinction Award in the Non-Pro昀椀t and wanted to hear how we were doing, and what Public Service category in 2007. progress the Foundation was making. It was clear Cathy retired from her many years of service in she remained very proud of her contributions to 2016, and we were so lucky to gain her expertise our impact. Cathy touched many peoples’ lives at a time when the Foundation was launching and she is greatly missed, and we will ourselves into the new world of fundraising for never forget her commitment to the public health. Cathy believed in our purpose and Foundation, to public health, vision, and it fueled us to take a transformational and to this province. approach to philanthropy every day. 5 Annual Report 2023-2024