York police chief 'humbled' to launch Neville-Lake charity to help children

Many Hands Doing Good will use funds for youngsters to study art, music, dance and broadcasting

Yorkregion.com
July 11, 2018
Tim Kelly

Out of a horrific tragedy that claimed four lives there is a glimmer of hope for the future.

That was the message of Many Hands Doing Good, the charity organization founded by Jennifer Neville-Lake in the wake of the September 2015 deaths of her three children, Daniel, 9, Harrison, 5, and Milly, 2, along with Jennifer’s father, Gary Neville, 65, in Vaughan at the hands of a drunk driver.

York Regional Police Chief Eric Jolliffe was in attendance last week at the Luv 2 Play Indoor Playground in Richmond Hill to help launch the charity and pay tribute to Neville Lake and her husband, Edward.

“I have nothing but admiration for Jennifer and her husband, Ed, who are still dealing with tragedy few of us could even cope with or fully understand. That she has poured her time and effort and initiative to help children is no surprise to me,” said Jolliffe.

“I’m humbled to stand here today to help spread the word,” he said about Many Hands Doing Good, the purpose of which will be to commit funds raised to provide art, music and dance therapy to children affected by trauma as well as to assist those who wish to pursue a career in broadcasting. Those interests mirror the passions of Milly, Harry, Daniel and Gary.

For Jolliffe, who said the police are pleased to partner in the charity’s efforts and provide Neville-Lake with “all the support she will need from our organization,” the crash that destroyed her family was “completely preventable.”

As he held up a photo of the three Neville-Lake children, Jolliffe passionately said: “At York Regional Police, we’re doing everything we can to prevent another tragedy like this one on our roads.”

Jolliffe said officers, who have launched the ‘Not One More’ campaign designed to convince people not to use alcohol or drugs and get behind the wheel, will hand out the cards with the photograph of the Neville-Lake children on it to drivers they stop as a reminder to them of the tragedy impaired driving can cause.

To contribute funds to the charity, visit manyhandsdoinggood.ca.