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The Perley and Rideau Veterans’ Health Centre Foundation
WALLY PARSONS:
philanthropist, innovator, advocate and volunteer
By Brant Scott
Our staff and volunteers strive to make each day special for our residents
– here is one of their untold stories.
There are volunteers, and
then there is Wally Parsons.
Wally skillfully integrated
charity fundraising with a long
career as senior vice president
and general manager of Neilson
Dairy in Ottawa. Even after retiring
in 2000, he continues to
stoke the charity fires with
Neilson Dairy and Weston
Foods. Named as Ottawa’s
Outstanding Volunteer
Fundraiser in 2003, Walter R.
Parsons has augmented the
quality of life for many, many
people.
Oh, and did we mention
that June 30, 2000 was Wally
Parsons Day in Ottawa?
Wally, who just celebrated
his 70th birthday, says he was
very fortunate to work for an
employer who shared his enthusiasm
for becoming involved in
the community. He is very grateful
to Canadian food magnate
Galen Weston Sr. and his family
for their continued support over
the years.
Perley and Rideau Veterans’
Health Centre Foundation managing
director Paul Finn says
he’ll never forget the day Wally
Parsons asked if he could raise
funds for Canadian forces veterans
and community seniors at
the health centre.
“Our stock went way up
when Wally contacted us with an
offer to help put coins in our
coffers,” recalls Finn.
“Organizations everywhere fantasize
about aligning their stars
with an energetic and generous
marketing wizard like Wally, and
the Perley Rideau is thrilled to
be one of his chosen beneficiaries.
Wally and his team have
raised $150,000 with six annual
‘Night at the Races’ events, and
they’re poised to bring in another
$25,000 in May.”
Night at the Races has
become a popular Perley Rideau
fundraiser on the first Friday
every May at the Rideau
Carleton Raceway on Albion
Road in Ottawa. About 400
Perley Rideau supporters congregate
in the raceway dining
room for an evening filled with
fun, organized events, auctions
and excitement. Wally came up
with the idea for a horseracing
fundraiser when someone suggested
the Perley Rideau should
sponsor its own golf tournament.
“We came up with the
Neilson Dairy Charity Golf
Tournament in 1993 that has
raised probably a quarter of a
million dollars,” Wally explains.
“I’ve learned that golf tournaments
can be risky because you
need nearly perfect attendance
to make money. With our Night
at the Races event, a portion of
each ticket goes straight to the
Perley Rideau, so it’s a better fit
for the health centre.”
This year, the action starts at
Wally Parsons
6:00 p.m. on Friday, May 2 with
live racing, slot machines, silent
auction and buffet. No gambling
experience is necessary and
photo identification is required
for proof of age. Tickets are $60.
“It’s a super evening of real
entertainment,” Wally promises.
“A high proportion of the tickets
we sell are to people who have
attended Night at the Races
before, so we know we’re doing
something right. You can’t beat
having fun and giving to charity
at the same time.”
The Perley Rideau is home to 450
residents, 250 of whom are war
veterans. We appreciate your support
by making a bequest in your will or
making a donation.
Please contact Paul S. Finn
The Perley and Rideau
Veterans’ Health Centre Foundation
1750 Russell Road
Ottawa ON K1G 5Z6
Email: foundation@prvhc.com
Internet: www.perleyrideau.ca
613-526-7194