On their much anticipated concert tour of Ontario recently the world famous Estonian National Mens’ Choir were guests of the Estonian Canadian Foundation at a reception. A gift that has become a tradition, a Maple Leaf hockey shirt with the recipient’s name emblazoned on the back, was presented to the choir master Mikk Üleoja by the Foundation’s president Eva Varangu. Photo: Peeter Põldre
Last week the Estonian Foundation of Canada (EFC) board of directors hosted an exclusive reception for generous and monthly donors, RAM choir members were the honoured guests. The event was held at the Midtown Gastro Hub restaurant prior to the RAM concert in Toronto to show donors appreciation for their contributions. Approximately 80 people participated with many RAM choir members in attendance.
ESK President Eva Varangu presented RAM conductor Mikk Üleoja and RAM executive director Indrek Umberg with Canadian-Estonian hockey shirts specially logod with the RAM name.
The EFC has held six such receptions since 2011 for EFC Donor Club members. Past special guests at such receptions have been the President of the Republic of Estonia Toomas H. Ilves, Estonian Ambassadors Marina Kaljurand and Gita Kalmet, Estonian song festival organizer and maestro Hirvo Surva, international author Sofi Oksanen and now recently members of the RAM Estonian National Male Choir.
Nearly 300 generous donors and memorialized individuals are honoured on the Estonian Foundation of Canada Donor Wall at the Estonian House in Toronto. Varying sizes of name blades on the Wall indicate the categories of support: bronze ($2,500.00), silver ($5,000), gold ($10,000) and platinum ($25,000+). The EFC board of directors unveiled the Donor Wall in 2010 to recognize individuals who have made significant financial contributions to the EFC. Donations can also be made in the name of a loved one in memoriam or in your family’s name. New name blades will be unveiled at the EFC annual general meeting in February.
Please contact the EFC office for more information about the EFC Donor Club or how to become a monthly donor at 416-465-5600.
Photos of the reception are available on the Estonian Foundation of Canada website www.estonianfoundation.ca as well as the Estonian Life website at www.eestielu.ca.
The Estonian Foundation of Canada is the community’s endowment and catalyst providing more than $400,000 in funding to cultural projects and programming yearly within Estonian-Canadian communities across Canada. The role of the Foundation is crucial, to ensure that our language is still spoken, our culture is still celebrated, our history is never forgotten, and our future in Canada remains secure.
