Sally O’Sullivan Legacy Fund

Sally O’Sullivan was a child protection mediator and was a passionate advocate for children in foster care. Sally was a director of Envision Financial Credit Union who also served on the board of the First West Foundation from 2001 to 2009. A visionary, Sally was instrumental in the growth of the Foundation, spearheading a $500,000 fundraising campaign to build two new homes for SOS Children’s Village BC.

Completed in 2006, these houses provide homes for children in foster care who just want to belong, share a sense of community and create family ties that will endure. One of these houses was recently dedicated to Sally and is now known as Sally O’Sullivan House. Because of Sally’s passion for the SOS Children’s Village and the Envision House Project supporting this organization, the Sally O’Sullivan Legacy Fund was created with the First West Foundation and will directly support the SOS BC Village with an annual donation.

“Sally was a warm and caring woman who was a ‘big sky’ thinker and had tremendous energy,” recalls Seline Kutan, former Executive Director of the First West Foundation. “Not only did Sally’s vision for the Foundation help the organization grow, but her mentorship helped me personally to develop my skills as Executive Director. I’m blessed to have had the opportunity to work with Sally and treasure my memories of her.”

MORE ABOUT SALLY

Sally was a leading Notary Public, served as president of the Society of Notaries, and became the first woman Rotarian in Western Canada in 1984. Sally was always evolving, and her last career shift was to become a Chartered Mediator, predominantly for the Ministry of Children and Families where she mediated child protection disputes. Sally’s continued success elevated her to the level of “Mentoring Mediator” and her services were in high demand. Unfortunately, a serious stroke in October of 2009 halted her career as well as her service on the Credit Union and Foundation boards.

Sally demonstrated her courage and resolve, battling through speech and physio therapies for the next three years, making tremendous progress in both areas. Sadly, Sally suffered another stroke and passed away in December 2012.

The Sally O’Sullivan Legacy Fund will generate funding to support SOS Children’s Village BC which provides homes, a supportive community, and programs to help foster children and youth in need grow into caring, self-reliant adults. To learn more about the First West Foundation’s Endowment Funds, please go to www.envisionfoundation.ca and to donate to the Sally O’Sullivan Legacy Fund, please contact Kim Davies at (604) 539-5867 or [email protected].