CANMORE – A Canmore local is celebrating this week after being internationally recognized on the Association for Healthcare Philanthropy’s (AHP) 40 Under 40 list.
Soulafa Al-Abbasi, executive director for the Canmore & Area Health Care Foundation (CAHCF), has been named as an honouree for her active work within the community as well as career milestones.
“I’m super thankful, really my heart is full with gratitude,” said Al-Abbasi.
“I love what I do, I try to give it more than 100 per cent. I’m proud of our community. It takes a valley – I didn’t do this on my own. I have a great board, great supporters, great donors, great volunteers, great hospital staff – it really takes a valley to support healthcare and I think we should be really proud of our community.”
In a press release sent from AHP, which describes itself as “exclusively dedicated to development professionals who encourage charity in health care organizations” and boasts of 4,300 members from more than 2,200 health care facilities around the world, it said they choose the 40 Under 40 list for a few specific reasons.
“These honourees are part of a select group of health care philanthropy who have demonstrated impressive career achievements, deep community involvement and the potential to be a leader in our profession for years to come,” said the release.
Al-Abbasi has more than 11 years experience within program development and non-profit management type fields, according to the release.
“Her experience as a leader was developed in several roles: regional co-ordinator for the UN Association of Canada; board member of Credit Union Atlantic; board member of the Nova Scotia – Gambia Association; and vice-chair of Fusion Halifax, a youth organization focused on improving city life. She has served as the Atlantic Youth Ambassador for Passages to Canada and an Aga Khan Foundation of Canada Fellow,” it said.
Al-Abbasi is the first person in Canmore to receive the award and she said it’s an honour.
“I’m kind of putting Canmore and what health and wellness means to our community on the international map,” she said.
“We really focus on the communities needs, that’s the direction that we get from the staff that are working on the front lines, up until the administration staff. They really tell us what we need so we rely on first hand experience and we really try to meet that need of what does the community need and how can I serve it better with my work through the foundation.”
The Canmore and Area Health Care Foundation is charitable organization invests in local health care services. It’s mission, according to the website, is to “provide charitable financial resources for the continuing improvement of the facilities and services of the Canmore General Hospital through the encouragement of philanthropy and the guardianship of these financial resources.”
For more information, visit www.canmorehealthfoundation.com.
