One is an advocate for homeless youth, the other champions Canadian music, the third is a sports enthusiast who mentors and volunteers to foster a healthy, active community.
All three of these accomplished Richmond women - Hope Wang, Violet Goosen and Denise Coutts, respectively - are nominees in the prestigious 29th Annual 2012 YWCA Women of Distinction Awards.
Wang, who's worked with youth in the Downtown Eastside, is up for the Young Woman of Distinction award; Goosen, general manager of the Vancouver Chamber Choir, is nominated in the Arts, Culture and Design category; a Nonprofit and Public Service nod goes to Coutts, executive director of Pacific Parkland Foundation.
The awards ceremony pays tribute to 71 extraordinary women from all walks of life. It is the YWCA's premier fundraising event of the year, said Chantelle Krish,
Continued from page 3 manager, advocacy and public relations for the YWCA Metro Vancouver.
"This is our title fundraising event and the money raised from this evening supports our many programs and services to help improve the lives of more than 50,000 women and children each year," said Krish.
THE BIOS
(Courtesy of YWCA Women of Distinction)
Hope Wang dreams of one day working in the nonprofit sector, tackling youth homelessness and empowering low-income immigrants.
She has pursued this dream with vigour by aligning her community involvement and academic decisions to help her succeed.
Wang participates in the Vancouver Board of Trade's Leaders of Tomorrow program where she sits on the Inner-city sub-committee that focuses on improving conditions within the Downtown Eastside.
She has established a strong presence volunteering as director of internal relations with Students in Free Enterprise Simon Fraser, a global student organization dedicated to improving communities worldwide.
Wang also works with Pacific Cinémathèque as a media education facilitator to integrate technology and critical thinking skills into Richmond elementary schools.
Violet Goosen has enabled the awardwinning Vancouver Chamber Choir to not only survive in an increasingly difficult financial climate, but to thrive. For 38 years, Goosen has sung, led, mentored, inspired and single-handedly made the Vancouver Chamber Choir an international tour de force.
She has championed Canadian music by raising funds to commission hundreds of new works by local composers as well as those from outside British Columbia.
In addition to her tireless efforts, Goosen has been instrumental in developing and enacting initiatives in the area of music education and outreach programs for youth and young professionals.
Denise Coutts is an avid sports enthusiast, coach and volunteer. She has devoted her career to improving the community through her work leading nonprofit organizations.
Currently the executive director at the Pacific Parklands Foundation, Coutts has always chosen to give her time to those nonprofits that are in need of her energy and enthusiasm to move to the next level.
She is skilled at leading significant change and renewal processes to build infrastructure, capacity and sustainability.
When faced with a life threatening disease that shattered her dreams to row in the 1984 Summer Olympics, Coutts was only motivated to do more and to inspire others to find their passion.
She has mentored countless women and motivated others to volunteer in their schools, communities and work places.
Candidates are nominated by their peers, friends or colleagues. This year, organizers added the Environmental Sustainability category.
