BY: Sam Laprade for the Ottawa Business Journal.
Who: Thom Fountain, Real Estate Broker, RE/MAX Hallmark Realty Group
The donation: Over $100,000 worth of CHEO Dream of a Lifetime Lottery Tickets
The recipient: Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO) Foundation
The inspiration: “I wanted to find a way to give back to my clients and help the community. Many of the people I work with have
children who have been cared for at CHEO and buying them a Dream of a Lifetime lottery ticket made perfect sense,” says Thom Fountain, Real Estate Broker, RE/MAX Hallmark Realty Group.
Thom Fountain was listening to the radio in the fall of 2013 when he was inspired by information about the CHEO Dream of a Lifetime Lottery. He had been trying to find a creative way to give back to his loyal clients and impact the community.
Then the idea came to him. Thom decided to buy a $100 lottery ticket for the people who worked with him for their real estate needs.
I think it’s truly beyond remarkable,” says Dan Champagne, vice-president of corporate and community development at the CHEO Foundation.
“Here is a real estate agent who has found a creative way to do something special for his clients and help kids and families who rely on CHEO. By doing that, he helps improve the community where we live, work and play. It’s a win-win-win.
Thom’s generosity every year with the lottery is an inspiration, and this year, his contribution has grown to over $100,000 in Dream ticket purchases.
It’s outstanding. We would love to see others follow Thom’s lead.”
Fountain is always hoping one of his clients calls him to say they won the CHEO Dream Home. Although this day has not come yet, many of the people whom Fountain has given tickets to have won tickets to Ottawa Senators games and the National Arts Centre as well as various gift cards.
“The idea behind the initiative has always been to help children in our region, but it became even more personal when I saw clients impacted directly,” says Fountain. “One of the families I work with has a daughter who was born with a heart issue and required the support of professionals with access to up-to-date technology. I am happy to report she is now healthy.”
The CHEO Lottery supports children who require various treatments, including everything from chemotherapy to open heart surgery to a cast on a broken bone or a simple test for one of the hundreds of research studies at the hospital.