Local philanthropist Andrea Hawiuk is about to be the subject of CTV Calgary's weekly news feature, Inspired.
Inspired, which airs Wednesday nights at about 5:55 p.m., tells the stories of unsung heroes in their communities. Former longtime CFCN-TV anchor Darrel Janz hosts the series and interviewed Hawiuk last week at the Sunrise Encore hospice suites.
Hawiuk is known for her fundraising efforts, most notably through the annual Moonbeams and Miracles charity concert. Beneficiaries have included the Olds and District Hospice Society, STARS, cancer research, the Central Alberta Pregnancy Care Centre and Shalom Counselling, among others.
Recently, she spearheaded the suicide awareness conference titled, The Conversation Has to Happen.
It's believed that Hawiuk has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars over more than 30 years.
She likes contributing to the community, wherever there's a need, Hawiuk told Janz.
Hawiuk also pointed out in her interview that she has always had help from others to see her ideas through.
Her story is exactly the kind Janz sought to tell when he started Inspired in 2010.
"Andrea fits the bill perfectly. She means so much to this community. She has fundraised for this marvelous hospice facility they have here and for so many other organizations. And then she organized that great mental health conference back in September," Janz told the Albertan.
"As one person said, just a treasure to this community for all she does."
Janz has wanted to profile Hawiuk for a while now, since shortly after they were introduced to each other by mutual friend Lynne Rach, once the 6 p.m. newscast producer, now living in Olds.
At that time, Hawiuk was searching for a concert MC. Janz filled that role in 2014, 2015 and this year at the suicide awareness conference. They have since become friends.
"I kept it on the back burner. And then when I saw the amazing success of the mental health conference this year, I said this is the perfect time to do it," Janz said.
Hawiuk said she was nervous for the interview, that she preferred to do the work, not talk about it.
For those watching, Janz hopes they will follow Hawiuk's example, as a person who is not a professional fundraiser but simply one who cares.
"Hopefully it will encourage other people to follow their heart and do things for a community or for an organization or for a school," he said.
"Andrea sees a need and does something about it."
"As one person said, just a treasure to this community for all she does." DARREL JANZ, Inspired host on CTV Calgary
