The Friars family and Katelyn Hunter are the 2020 recipients of the Saint John YCMA's Red Triangle and Leader to Watch awards. The awards will be handed out at the Marco Polo Cruise Terminal on April 30th, 2020 at 6 p.m. (Tamara Steele/CHSJ News)
The Saint John YMCA’s 2020 Red Triangle Award recipients are a fundraising family and a teacher with international experience.
The annual awards recognize those who give back to their communities.
The Friars Sisters have raised more than $1 million through an annual Christmas concert at the Imperial Theatre.
Shilo Boucher, President & CEO of the Saint John YMCA, speaking about the upcoming Red Triangle Awards. 2020 marks its 30th anniversary. pic.twitter.com/Qn1xF6eA68
— Tamara Steele (@tamarasteele1) January 14, 2020
Lynn MacDonald, one of the eight sisters, says the inspiration to give is a family trait.
“Our mom instilled in us growing up that it was important to give back and you know we don’t ever take for granted the blessings our family has received,” MacDonald said.
Katelyn Hunter is the 2020 recipient of the Leader to Watch award.
“When you teach internationally you need to find a family. You need to make those connections with people, and I’ve done that through sport. When I moved to Southeast Asia, I knew I needed to find a rugby family, so I started a rugby team. The first women’s rugby team in Bangkok. That came from my years playing rugby at home,” Hunter said.
Hunter is the chair of the Saint John Irish rugby club and runs several other rugby programs for women and kids. She now teaches grades one and two at Touchstone Academy in Rothesay.
Saint John YMCA President and CEO, Shilo Boucher, said the Friars are a great group but also powerful individually as they continue to give their time.
“They want to see our community move forward and support those that need it. They raised over a million dollars just doing what they love,” Boucher said.
The Red Triangle Awards gala celebrates its 30th anniversary at the Marco Polo Cruise terminal on April 30.
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