Portraits of Giving Exhibit comes to Richmond Hill in September
Spotlight on local philanthropists Risi-Anagnostopoulos and Klein

YorkRegion.com
Aug. 28, 2015

The 6th annual Portraits of Giving Exhibit is setting up in Richmond Hill for the month of September - shining an artistic spotlight on those who give back to their community.

The philanthropic exhibit was unveiled at an opening reception at Upper Canada Mall in May. Twelve outstanding York Region people who give back to their community and show good character were honoured by local mayors and MPPs, who presented certificates of congratulations.

Guest speaker for the evening was Megan Thomas from York Region Character Community. All of the ticket sales went to the Character Community Foundation of York Region to support their Slap Shot program.

Karen Merk of Merk Photography in Richmond Hill has once again captured each participant in a unique way, showcasing each person’s individual way of giving back.

Each portrait tells a story and is the inspiration to the written stories by Oak Ridges writer and Liberal columnist Melony Teague, also found in the accompanying 2015 Portraits of Giving book. A limited edition of the book is now available for purchase.

This year two honourees from Richmond Hill are depicted in the exhibit: Michelle Risi-Anagnostopoulos and Gordon Klein.

Risi-Anagnostopoulos is recognized for her many philanthropic endeavours, but particularly her fundraising efforts for the Polycystic Kidney Disease Foundation of Canada. Klein was nominated by the Richmond Hill Chamber of Commerce, a man who works behind the scenes volunteering his time to help the chamber and other businesses with their IT (information technology) needs.

“It is empowering to give back,” said Risi-Anagnostopoulos. “Every opportunity we have to contribute is a reminder that we have the power to shape the kind of world we want to live in.”

For his part, Klein explained: “For me, the benefit of giving back is the personal satisfaction that comes from helping someone solve a problem that they wouldn’t have otherwise been able to do.”

The 2015 honourees in the Portraits of Giving include Nayan Patel of Whitchurch-Stouffville, nominated by Metroland Media York Region; Markham historian Lorne Smith; Aurora’s Ingrid Kulbach; and brothers Matthew and Michael Waddington, nominated by the Newmarket Chamber of Commerce. Vaughan honourees are Elvira Caria and Nadia Cerelli-Fiore of the Vaughan food bank. The honouree from East Gwillimbury is Sharon Bates, owner of Tangles Salon and Spa, recognized for her outstanding efforts to raise funds for the Cancer Centre at Southlake Hospital in Newmarket.

The exhibit will be on view at the Richmond Hill Centre for the Performing Arts, 10268 Yonge St. from Sept. 1 to Sept. 30 and then will travel to Vaughan, Newmarket and Markham.

For more, go to merkphotography.com/#/pog-about