Thank you, Malkki family (photo)
Monday, February 11, 2013 by: SooToday.com Staff
NEWS RELEASE
UUSI KOTI - A NEW HOME CAMPAIGN
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Local family with a big heart gives a a big cheque
SAULT STE. MARIE, ON (February 11, 2013) – The Ontario Finnish Resthome Association’s (ORFA) capital campaign, Uusi Koti – A New Home: Campaign For Seniors Independent Living received a big surprise this week.
Long-time residents of Sault Ste. Marie, the Malkki family, have generously donated $10,000 to the Uusi Koti Campaign.
The donation was made by the six siblings of the Malkki family - Seija, Jouko, Jorma, Sinikka, Juhani and Heidi - in loving honour of their mother, Sirkka, and in loving memory of their father, Kauko.
The Malkki family name has become synonymous with quality saunas in our community, with their father Kauko Malkki founding Teho Sauna Heaters.
“The campaign is thankful and fortunate to have such strong and passionate supporters like the Malkki Family,” says OFRA board chair Todd Slotegraaf. “In recognition of this gift the sauna room in our new independent living apartment building will be named after the family.”
“We are so honoured that the new sauna room will carry our family name,” says Sinikka (Malkki) Dawson. “We can think of no better way for our family’s gift to be recognized, it combines our families lifelong involvement with OFRA, our Finnish heritage and our father’s legacy."
Currently the wait times for seniors independent living apartment buildings (not geared to income) in Sault Ste. Marie is between two - six years.
“New seniors' independent living buildings are a must for the Algoma district. With 20.8 percent of the current population 65 years of age and over, the time to act is now,” says OFRA board chair Todd Slotegraaf.
OFRA’s Uusi Koti – A New Home Capital Campaign has a goal of $4 million to help with the $16 million construction project cost of a much-needed 83 unit seniors independent living apartment building.
For more information on OFRA’s Uusi Koti Capital Campaign, and how to get involved with the campaign yourself, visit the campaign at www.uusikoticampaign.com, or call the fundraising office at 705-945-9987, Ext. 258.
About OFRA
The Ontario Finnish Resthome Association (OFRA) is a non-profit charitable organization founded in September 1971.
It originated with a group of Finnish individuals whose goal was simple – build a home for seniors of Finnish and Estonian descent.
While OFRA continues to honour its Finnish and Estonian roots, over the past four decades, it has evolved into what could be described as a microcosm of the “Canadian Experience.”
Today, the Ontario Finnish Resthome Association is a mosaic of diverse cultures, a retirement community offering safe and affordable homes to all seniors in the District of Algoma.
OFRA operates under the guiding principle that each resident be provided with the best environment possible within which they are able to maintain an optimum level of functioning and maximize the quality of their daily life.
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