Annie Boyle recognized for Fundraising Efforts

Volunteer Annie Boyle is respected for her fundraising efforts. Since 1993 she has raised $150,000 for charitable organizations. Most recently, she is the 2016 recipient of the Community Champion Award from The Kidney Foundation of Canada.

This article was written by Journalist Sally Cole and appeared in The Guardian on October 24, 2016. Annie grew up in Clyde River and taught 4-H in the community for a decade.

At a time when some people are stepping away from door-to-door fundraising, at least one Prince Edward Islander is ramping up her efforts.

Annie Boyle single-handedly raised $5,406 during the recent Kidney Foundation of Canada’s Atlantic Branch Door to Door Drive.

“When one person raises one quarter of the money in a campaign, we know we have a very special and dedicated volunteer,” says Trina Ralph, executive director of the campaign that netted $21,857.

For her efforts, Boyle was presented with the Community Champion Award from The Kidney Foundation of Canada.

“I like to volunteer and fundraise because I know I’m helping to fund research and improve the lives of patients.”

The Kidney Foundation is just one of the causes that Boyle directs her energies into.

Over the years she has collected for the Arthritis Society and the Canadian Diabetes Association.

In addition, every spring she sells daffodils at stores for the Canadian Cancer Society.

Everywhere she goes, her volunteer efforts are valued.

“Annie brings not only her own fundraising and communication talents but also serves as an inspiration for the rest of our team. She sees a worthy cause and says, ‘let’s do it’ and let’s do it the best we can’. Her positive attitude makes it hard for people to say no to. And we really appreciate that,” says Ed Saunders, development manager, Kidney Foundation of Canada, Atlantic Branch.

Besides volunteering with community organizations, she has been a member of the Ladies Orange Benevolent Association for 58 years, a group that provides help to people shut in with serious illnesses. In addition, she helps plan socials for the Charlotte Court seniors and is a member of the Red Hat Society.

“That’s my fun thing,” says Boyle, with a laugh.

She was also president of the P.E.I. Senior Citizens Federation and served eight years on the board.

Over the decades, she has been recognized for being a good citizen. Her honours include the premier’s award for distinguished leadership and Islander of the Year.

Boyle took on her first volunteer job as a teenager. She was an active member of the Clyde River Sunbeams 4-H club. However, when the leaders resigned for personal reasons, she became concerned.

“I wanted the younger ones to finish their 4-H projects,” says Boyle, who took the position as leader of the club, a job that continued for a decade.

Today the 74-year-old Charlottetown resident has other reasons for helping in her community.

After spending a decade as a caregiver to her mother, her death in 2003 left Boyle feeling lonely.

“Now, that I’m on my own I fill up my empty hours with collecting. I’ve always enjoyed people whether it was looking after children or working with the elderly.

“Going door to door I’ve met an awful lot of interesting people. And often, if they are single or elderly they need to talk.

“For example, last week I arrived at a house where a lady had just gotten home from the hospital but was going back for tests the next day. We talked for 10 minutes. Afterwards, she told me that she felt so much better. It sort of gave her a lift.”

Fast facts:

• Who: Annie Boyle.
• Born: In the historical stone house in Clyde River.
• Parents: Robert and Catherine (Matheson) Boyle.
• Kudos: Received the Canadian Association of Community Education award in 1981 for her work with community schools in Canada.
• She has also received awards from the Arthritis Society and the Diabetes Association
• Received Island senior of the year award in 2012.
• Boyle taught sewing with 4-H for a decade and in community schools for 15 years, then served as chairman of the P.E.I. Community Schools committee for 18 years.
• She received  the Queen’s Jubilee Medal in 2012.
• All totalled, Boyle has raised over $150,000 for charitable organizations since 1993.