In for a penny, in for a pound
Kelowna couple’s donation of 28,000 pennies for hospital foundation leads to bigger gift
That wheelbarrow full of pennies was just the start. For nearly half a century, Kelowna’s Joe Iafrancesco hoarded pennies — 28,000 of them to be exact.
Although they weighed a lot and filled a wheelbarrow, 28,000 coppers amounts to only $280.
The one-cent piece was discontinued as currency in 2013, but pennies are still legal tender.
So, when it came time for Iafrancesco and his wife, Bianca, to donate to the Kelowna General Hospital Foundation, they parted with the pennies and topped up the amount to $1,000.
The foundation shared the quirky story on its Facebook page and got lots of feedback.
Turns out those pennies and that $1,000 were just the beginning.
On Thursday, Iafrancesco, who is retired from a long career with Canadian Pacific Railway, came up with another $200,000 for the foundation.
Half of the money will support JoeAnna’s House, the under-construction 20-bedroom facility for family members who have travelled from out of town for their loved ones to be treated at the hospital.
JoeAnna’s will open late next year behind the hospital at the corner of Royal Avenue and Abbott Street.
It’s named after another Joe, the late Josef Huber, and his late wife, Anna.
Huber founded the Prestige Hotel chain that has 15 properties across the province.
The couple’s children worked with the foundation to continue the Hubers’ legacy of giving by having the house named after them.
In all, the foundation is raising $8 million to build and operate JoeAnna’s House.
The fundraiser continues and donations can be made at KGHFoundation.com.
The other $100,000 of the Iafrancesco donation has been earmarked for cancer care at the hospital.
“This community has been a tremendous support to me for over 50 years,” he said. “We really wanted to give something back.” But that isn’t the beginning, or the end, of Iafrancesco’s generosity.
He helped organize the Kelowna Canadian Italian Club’s New Year’s Eve dinner and dance last year as a fundraiser for JoeAnna’s House. The effort will be repeated Dec. 31. “I hope my gift will inspire others to consider their own impact within our community,” said Iafrancesco.
“The staff at the hospital have always provided my family and me with great care, and I’m pleased to honour their work and help provide the tools needed to do their job to the best of their ability.”
Iafrancesco twice has been nominated for the Fred Macklin Memorial Award for man of the year at the Kelowna Civic and Community Awards. He has volunteered both locally and nationally. Locally, he’s active with the Rotary, Knights of Columbus, Lions and Kelowna Canadian Italian clubs.
He’s also served as a member of Central Okanagan Crime Stoppers, the Kelowna Chamber of Commerce, Downtown Kelowna Association and Uptown Rutland Business Association.
Farther afield, he’s volunteered with the Museum of Civilization in Ottawa, Pier 21 in Halifax and the National Congress of Italian Canadians, both provincially and nationally.