Volunteer Awards

The Alison Craig Memorial Fund

Created by Dale and Betty Craig, in the memory of their daughter Alison, a former CHEO volunteer, this fund awards bursaries to CHEO student volunteers, in the amount of $750 each. This fund is supported by the CHEO Foundation.

Student volunteers are invited to apply annually. In order to be considered for the bursary, they must meet the following criteria:

Be an active CHEO student volunteer for the past twelve (12) months upon the application submission deadline.
Be an active CHEO student volunteer with a minimum of 100 invested hours, excluding co-operative education hours.
Have demonstrated active community involvement outside of CHEO.
Applicant is to describe an individual in their daily life, who has inspired them (excluding staff and patients of CHEO), and define what they appreciate most in their lives.
Supply two (2) letters of recommendation. One external of CHEO and another from a current CHEO supervisor.
Supply proof of enrolment at a college or university.

Recipients of the Alison Craig Memorial Fund bursaries - 2023:

	Nandini Biyani Nandini has been a CHEO volunteer since June 2022 and has invested 104 volunteer hours and counting! Nandini started their volunteer journey with CHEO’s Volunteer Resources PLAY program, providing entertainment and distraction to children, youth, and their caregivers during their wait for a clinic appointment. Additionally. Nandini has supported patients admitted to the in-patient units by providing diversion to ease their hospitalisation experience within Child Life Services. In addition to their volunteer time at CHEO, she also volunteers at Ronald McDonald House, and works at the Ottawa Hospital Research Institute and teaches dance. Nandini is currently studying Translational and Molecular medicine at the University of Ottawa. Congratulations Nandini!
	Celine Fawagreh Celine has been a CHEO volunteer since June 2022 and has invested 115 volunteer hours and counting! Celine has been engaged with the Neonatal Intensive Care unit providing respite to caregivers and supporting stable infants under the guidance of nursing staff. As well, she is a playroom monitor with the in-patient Oncology unit providing diversion to children and youth to ease their hospitalisation experience. Outside of their volunteer time at CHEO, Celine has mentored newer university students, engaged high school students through her coordination efforts with Let’s Talk Science program, and an Honors project biomedical research with Ottawa University laboratories. Celine is currently studying Translational and Molecular medicine at the University of Ottawa. Congratulations Celine!

Image of Nandini Biyani, on purple background

Nandini Biyani

Nandini has been a CHEO volunteer since June 2022 and has invested 104 volunteer hours and counting! Nandini started their volunteer journey with CHEO’s Volunteer Resources PLAY program, providing entertainment and distraction to children, youth, and their caregivers during their wait for a clinic appointment. Additionally. Nandini has supported patients admitted to the in-patient units by providing diversion to ease their hospitalisation experience within Child Life Services.

In addition to their volunteer time at CHEO, she also volunteers at Ronald McDonald House, and works at the Ottawa Hospital Research Institute and teaches dance. Nandini is currently studying Translational and Molecular medicine at the University of Ottawa.

Congratulations Nandini!

Image of Celine Fawagreh, on purple background

Celine Fawagreh

Celine has been a CHEO volunteer since June 2022 and has invested 115 volunteer hours and counting! Celine has been engaged with the Neonatal Intensive Care unit providing respite to caregivers and supporting stable infants under the guidance of nursing staff. As well, she is a playroom monitor with the in-patient Oncology unit providing diversion to children and youth to ease their hospitalisation experience.

Outside of their volunteer time at CHEO, Celine has mentored newer university students, engaged high school students through her coordination efforts with Let’s Talk Science program, and an Honors project biomedical research with Ottawa University laboratories. Celine is currently studying Translational and Molecular medicine at the University of Ottawa.

Congratulations Celine!

	Sara Di Francesco Sara began volunteering with CHEO in 2016 though to 2017 as a “book sharer”, offering children and youth books to enjoy. Fast forward to 2022, Sara returned to CHEO to support patients admitted to the in-patient units with diversion activities to ease their hospitalisation experience within Child Life Services. To date, Sara has invested 151 volunteer hours. In addition to their volunteer time at CHEO, Sara coaches Ringette and mentors newly-admitted students by fostering friendships, sharing resources to help new students transition to a new environment during their first months at uOttawa. Sara is graduating with a Health Sciences degree, with a minor in Population and Public Health from the University of Ottawa. Congratulations Sara!

Image of Sara Di Francesco, on purple background

Sara Di Francesco

Sara began volunteering with CHEO in 2016 though to 2017 as a “book sharer”, offering children and youth books to enjoy. Fast forward to 2022, Sara returned to CHEO to support patients admitted to the in-patient units with diversion activities to ease their hospitalisation experience within Child Life Services. To date, Sara has invested 151 volunteer hours. In addition to their volunteer time at CHEO, Sara coaches Ringette and mentors newly-admitted students by fostering friendships, sharing resources to help new students transition to a new environment during their first months at uOttawa.

Sara is graduating with a Health Sciences degree, with a minor in Population and Public Health from the University of Ottawa.

Congratulations Sara!

Past Recipients

2022

Roger Kou
Xeius Tran-Wong

2021

Chloe King
Sofiya McIntyre

2020

Dalia Ibrahim
Olivia Facchin

2019

Alex Nederlof

2017

Anant Maheshwari
Rebecca Yaworski

2016

Divya Massilamani
Doan-Nighi Dam-Le

2015

Natania Abebe
Abigail Stewart

The Maureen Tourangeau Award

This award is awarded annually at the fall Service Recognition awards to the volunteer who has completed the most volunteer hours in the year previous. Maureen was a lifelong volunteer and community leader, and gave over 50 years of service to CHEO - one of CHEO's original volunteers - helping build what we are today. This award was named in her honour, and was first presented in 2018.

Recipient of the Maureen Tourangeau Award - 2022:

	Manon McSween Manon contributed an amazing 293 hours in 2021-2022. Whether it is cuddling a baby, supporting another volunteer in getting comfortable at CHEO in their new role, or helping in a bustling inpatient unit with Child Life, Manon provides so many moments of care, reprieve, and support across the organization. We genuinely appreciate everything you do for kids and families at CHEO, Manon. Congratulations.

Manon McSween

Manon contributed an amazing 293 hours in 2021-2022. Whether it is cuddling a baby, supporting another volunteer in getting comfortable at CHEO in their new role, or helping in a bustling inpatient unit with Child Life, Manon provides so many moments of care, reprieve, and support across the organization. We genuinely appreciate everything you do for kids and families at CHEO, Manon. Congratulations.

Past Recipients

2021
Hélène Rompré
2020
Lorne Dean
2019
Jean Haché
2018
Rick Patch