Lieutenant Governor of B.C. Janet Austin celebrates S.U.C.C.E.S.S. donors and supporters 

For Immediate Release

Media Release
Feb. 14, 2024 

Vancouver, B.C. – S.U.C.C.E.S.S. Honorary Patron, The Honorable Janet Austin, OBC, Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia led a celebration of S.U.C.C.E.S.S. community donors and supporters on Wednesday, Feb. 14, 2024.  

Her Honor delivered remarks about the importance of community philanthropy and congratulated some of S.U.C.C.E.S.S.’ dedicated donors, sponsors and partners whose steadfast fundraising and support over many years has ensured our success as a non-profit social services agency.

“I feel a very strong alignment with the vision and values of S.U.C.C.E.S.S., a vision of multicultural harmony that is anchored in the belief of the common humanity of all people,” Her Honour said. “I think of S.U.C.C.E.S.S. as an exemplar of civil society that stands in contrast to all the dysfunction that we see emerging around this increasingly fractious world. By your work and by your example you build trust, you build resilience and genuine connection among citizens.”  

S.U.C.C.E.S.S. CEO Queenie Choo, Patron Maggie Ip, Foundation Board Chair Jason Lam and Society Board Chair Doug Purdie honoured donors, sponsors and supporters by presenting plaques to the participants during a ceremony held in Choi Hall at the S.U.C.C.E.S.S Social Services Centre in Chinatown. 

“S.U.C.C.E.S.S. has been able to nurture newcomers’ dreams because of the generosity of the philanthropists we are recognizing today,” said CEO Queenie Choo. “I am very thankful for our donor community.” 

“Over my 50-year involvement with S.U.C.C.E.S.S., I have served in many different capacities, including as a Patron, because I’ve seen and heard from clients firsthand about the deep impact that my support makes on the people who walk in S.U.C.C.E.S.S. doors seeking a better life in Canada,” said S.U.C.C.E.S.S. Patron Maggie Ip.  

S.U.C.C.E.S.S. Foundation is a registered Canadian charity that raises funds to help maintain and enhance S.U.C.C.E.S.S. services that receive no funding or partial funding from the government, such as our programs for youth, women, families and seniors. 

“Last year, because of support from donors and supporters, the Foundation raised $1.1 million for S.U.C.C.E.S.S.,” said Foundation Board Chair Jason Lam. “These funds made a concrete difference, ensuring for example that our crisis phone Help Lines were not only able to continue, but to expand into additional languages.”

This community support has helped enable S.U.C.C.E.S.S. to evolve into an award-winning social service agency, one of the largest in Canada.

“We now serve more than 77,000 individual clients each year from 150 countries through our offices across Metro Vancouver, in Northern B.C., Ontario and Asia,” said Board Chair Doug Purdie. “I am incredibly proud of what we have managed to achieve together.” 

For more information:
Elaine O’Connor
Director, Strategic Communications and Partnerships
S.U.C.C.E.S.S.
[email protected] 

About S.U.C.C.E.S.S.
Founded in 1973, S.U.C.C.E.S.S. is one of the largest social service agencies in Canada. It offers a wide range of programs and services that promote the belonging, wellness, and independence of people on their Canadian journey. Program and services are offered in the areas of newcomer settlement, English language training, employment and entrepreneurship, family, youth and seniors programming, health education, community development, seniors care, and affordable housing. For more details, please visit www.successbc.ca. 

About S.U.C.C.E.S.S. Foundation
Incorporated in 2001, S.U.C.C.E.S.S. Foundation is a charitable organization that raises funding for S.U.C.C.E.S.S. and its affiliated organizations supporting S.U.C.C.E.S.S. mandates that focus on strengthening our diverse communities. For more details, please visit www.successfoundation.ca. 

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