COMMUNITY. On September 8th, no fewer than 140 golfers accepted the invitation of the Industrial Alliance and took part in the golf tournament in aid of the Foundation of the Works of Abbots Martel and Marcil. The event was held under the honorary presidency of Denis Ricard, president of the Industrial Alliance and a Shawinigan native.
At the end of that day, thanks to the numerous sponsors and Mr. Ricard's generous donation of $15,000, a record $42,000 was provided to the Foundation to enable it to pursue its mission focused on academic perseverance.
The golf tournament in favor of the works of Abbots Martel and Marcil has been an annual event for almost thirty years and was initiated by various organizations over the years before taking a break due to the pandemic. At the initiative of the Industrial Alliance, activities at the Sainte-Flore Golf Club resumed last year. The Fondation des Œuvres would also like to highlight the organizers Sylvain Forget, Geneviève Marcouiller and Jean St-Arnaud, as well as the 20 volunteers who made this day a success.
More graduates, less poverty
Since its founding in 1995, the Foundation of the Works of Abbots Martel and Marcil has supported poor families and people in the region. Last year, it refocused its mission to focus solely on academic persistence.
This component, added in 2012, leads him to take under his wing young vulnerable students at the École lycée des Chutes in Shawinigan. From Secondary 1 to Secondary 5, these young people are cared for by the teacher Joane Boisvert, who takes care of preventing or eliminating irritations that can sometimes lead to dropping out of school. Upon graduation, Works' young participants receive a $2,500 scholarship to give them a helping hand for the rest of their future.
14 young people are currently benefiting from this success support program.
Young people testify
This year, the team behind the organization of the golf tournament was able to count on the presence of three students from Des Chutes Secondary School who are enrolled in the program. They volunteered during the day and then gave moving testimonies about their journey and the meaning of the works in their lives. Without a doubt the highlight of the evening!
Steve Lemire, who took over the leadership of the Fondation des Œuvres des Abbés Martel et Marcil as general director, and Father Yves Marcil, founder and special advisor. (Photo L'Hebdo – Sandra Lacroix)
