Civic hero award presented to Sonia Facchini
Vaughan Weekly
April 1, 2014
Mayor Maurizio Bevilacqua and Members of Council present the Civic Hero Award for Ward 2 to Sonia Facchini.
The Civic Hero Award for Ward 2 was presented to Sonia Facchini by Vaughan council on March 25.
She was recognized for her volunteerism, active community engagement and fundraising with her annual charity memorial event, the Circle of Friends Butterfly Kisses Memorial Release.
Facchini founded Circle of Friends in 2008. Since then, the charity has raised $35,000 for Hospice Vaughan and $16,000 for the Vaughan Health Care Foundation through the sale of butterflies, which are released at a memorial event every year in remembrance of loved ones who have passed.
She also organizes a yearly fundraising car wash in support of SickKids Foundation and has donated more than $7,100 to SickKids Hospital. For 21 years, Facchini has acted as a youth group counsellor for the Catholic youth ministry, organizing guest speakers and parish events for various churches in Kleinburg, Maple and King City. She will soon be acting as a youth advisor and outreach leader for a new program she intends to launch this year in Vaughan called the Youth Initiative Program.
Facchini was honoured to be nominated and recognized by Vaughan council.
“I appreciate and enjoy being an active volunteer in the Vaughan community and will continue to give back to my community with the charity events I am involved with,” said Facchini. “It’s the little things we do that makes our community a better place.”
In 2013, Facchini received the Queen Elizabeth Jubilee Medal for her community work in Vaughan.
“Sonia Facchini has taken extraordinary steps to care for and give back to her community through her generosity and commitment to inspiring youth,” said Mayor Maurizio Bevilacqua. “Her fundraising success, achieved through her charity memorial event the Circle of Friends Butterfly Kisses Memorial Release, spreads the message of hope and gives residents a reason to come together and celebrate the lives of their loved ones. Ms. Facchini’s volunteerism and compassion reflect those of a true civic hero, and we are very grateful for her contributions.”
Facchini was nominated for the award by Ward 2 Councillor Tony Carella.
“Sonia Facchini has made outstanding contributions to the Vaughan community with her community service and volunteerism,” said Carella. “Through her charitable work and her commitment to mentoring youth, Facchini has demonstrated the leadership of a civic hero and we congratulate her for making our community a better place.”
The Civic Hero Award is presented annually to one resident from each of Vaughan’s five wards.
The awards recognize outstanding achievement and individual contributions to the community.
