Community ‘3 Stars’ honoured
Three Lethbridge residents were named stars of the community recently for their aboveand-beyond efforts to make our city a better place.
Samantha Parker, Brad Dersche and Tony Sandford were nominated by their peers and selected as winners of the Fountain Tire 3 Stars program, a partnership between Fountain Tire, the Western Hockey League (WHL) and the Ontario Hockey League (OHL), that honours everyday Canadians for their volunteerism, humanitarianism and generosity.
The trio were publicly recognized at the Feb. 15 Lethbridge Hurricanes game.
“We asked Canadians to help us find people whose actions — big or small — make a difference, and the result was an inspiring list of individuals who help our cities thrive,” says Denise Gohl-Eacrett, director, Brand and Customer Experience at Fountain Tire. “It is particularly meaningful for Fountain Tire’s local store owners to be able to give the unsung heroes in their own communities the recognition they deserve.”
In hockey, star players of each game are awarded for their outstanding performance on the ice. The Fountain Tire 3 Stars program provides an opportunity to similarly acknowledge and celebrate members of the community who make an impact. Lethbridge’s three stars of 2020 are:
• Samantha Parker, dedicated volunteer with MyCityCare, a program of Victory Church Lethbridge that supports local community members in need. Samantha offers her time at the MyCityCare facility, by delivering lunches to school children through the Mindful Munchies program, and with the Shop of Wonders, which supports families who are struggling to make ends meet during the holidays.
• Brad Dersche, a long-time advocate for minor hockey. Brad was nominated for his dedication to the sport and to young athletes, going out of his way to ensure they are learning fundamentals of hockey as well as how to carry themselves as hockey players. Even after falling ill last year, Brad could be seen at the rink supporting the boys and girls on the ice.
• Tony Sandford, who, over the past few months, has become an integral member of Bikers Building Bridges, an organization that supports youth at risk in the community. Through it, he has participated in fundraising events, picked up needle debris from local playgrounds and stood up for youth who have been bullied. His nomination read, “Tony is one of the most selfless heroes I have ever met.”
Last fall, members of the public were invited to nominate their community stars at Fountain Tire 3 Stars.com. A total of 63 winners were selected from the pool of peer nominations in 21 participating communities* across Canada. Winners will be honoured by local Fountain Tire store owners and their local WHL or OHL team during exclusive gametime presentations throughout January and February.
“Our communities are full of remarkable people who make a meaningful impact every day,” adds WHL Commissioner Ron Robison. “The WHL, alongside our partner Fountain Tire, is proud to bring some of these inspiring stories to light and say thank you for the contributions our fans have made.”
To learn more and review the full list of winners — available at the end of February — visit