Santa Fund recipient gives back to bring things full circle
Growing up in Kensington Market in the 1970s, Kevin Bazkur eagerly anticipated the colourful gift boxes every Christmas.
But he didn’t think much about where they came from.
“I just thought it was very nice,” he says.
“You get a knock on the door and there was a nice box for you.”
Raised by a single mother, Bazkur and his sister received the gifts from the Toronto Star’s Santa Claus Fund, which has delivered boxes of warm clothing, books, toys and candy to the city’s less privileged children since 1906.
Last year, the charity handed out more than 45,000 gift boxes across the Greater Toronto Area.
“It was very special because we didn’t have a lot of money,” Bazkur, now 52, recalled to the Star recently by phone from his home in Prince Edward County. “To get the box meant a lot. I can remember getting a bag of candy, a hat and all the stuff. It was a special feeling.”
The Bazkurs lived at Kensington Ave. and St. Andrew St. — “as Kensington Market as you’re going to get,” he says — above a furniture store and later, the Kensington Patty Palace, which has since relocated to Scarborough.
Bazkur remembers how his mother, Audrey, did everything she could to make ends meet: hand-making what she could and shopping at rummage sales. Above all, he remembers her love for the city.
“She knew everything about Toronto,” Bazkur says. “And we used to get the Toronto Star every day. She would read the paper every day. So even though we didn’t have much, we had the paper.”
Bazkur, who owns and operates rental suites in Picton, Ont., now gives back to the Santa Claus Fund. An avid sports fan, he has donated via the Proudfoot Corner for more than a decade.
“We give to charities where we live now, but I was born in Toronto and even though I’ve lived out here 16 years, Toronto’s my city,” he says.
Named after the late Jim Proudfoot, the Star’s longtime sportswriter and editor, the Proudfoot Corner is the sports department’s arm of the Santa Claus Fund, which itself has raised more than $1 million.
Having received them throughout his own childhood, Bazkur says he knows first-hand the meaning and value of the gift boxes. And it was only natural for him to give back.
“It’s nice to make someone happy, isn’t it?” he says.
“Just a little thing like that.” On the Corner: The reliable Toronto Over 50s Hockey League is as generous as ever, combining for a $530 donation this year. Back again is the Kingsway Platform Tennis Club Ladies “We Try Harder” Tournament out of Etobicoke, sending us $125 through point woman Sandra Hood. And the Leaside Baseball Association sent $100 in memory of community fixture David Stickney. In the newsroom, $150 from a Giovinco jersey auction went straight into the fund.
Charles Scullion from Mississauga sent in $100 in memory of his brother Art Scullion of the 1952 Grey Cup Champion Argos. And Toronto’s Syd Cooper sent $500 in memory of Jim Proudfoot, former NHLer Rhys Thomson and close pal Harry Sherkin. Legendary broadcaster Tom Cheekgot another nod this week as well as John Cerutti through Whitby residents Rob and Andrea Faulds’ $500.
Here’s a list of donors out of T-Dot: There was Ted Tuszynski with $160, Joseph Cire with $100 and Robert Gibson with $100. John P. Newediuk and his wife Mary Ann of Newediuk Funeral Home came back with $250. Robert Murakami sent in $150 in memory of John and Phyllis Hampton. Ann Weiser sent in $50 in memory of John, Derek and Helen Mackesy sent another C-note in memory of Huntsville legend Lyle Payne, and Lorna and Joseph Leibovici contributed $36. Barry Landon had $100 for us in memory of Keith Clarke, who passed away in October. A seafaring Englishman, he taught Barry how to sail but was never able to adequately explain cricket. Steve Church punt- ed in $50 in honour of the Etobicoke Rams Senior Football Team, 2015 champions. And George Dealhoy had another $400 on behalf of twin grandchildren McKinlay and Jonathan, Garden Staters turned Toronto residents and Leaf fans.
From North York, regulars Doreen and Ken Chevis sent us $300 in memory of daughter Lori. Randy Goldman had $200 in memory of friend Morris Weldman, Debra Hanna came through with $125, and Pat Potochniak had $25 more. Roy Alderice from North York sent us $50 in honour of a great person and sports fan in grandfather Roy O. Alderdid.
Heading west, underprivileged children will benefit from Pat and Ian Huffman’s of Etobicoke’s $100 in memory of John (Peanuts) O’Flaherty, as well as another $100 from an anonymous donor. Stuart and Norma Keir from the same town had $530 for grandkids Meghan and Daniel. Mississauga’s Lorne Flynn sent $50 in honour of dad Gerard, who used to contribute to the Corner even when it was hard to make ends meet. Also from Mississauga came Joe and Jasna Draganjac’s $250 in memory of Brian Posivy, who liked to play Santa by delivering presents to underprivileged children, and $50 from James Pearce in memory of Maria. Oakville’s Minna Sturrup sent $300 in memory of late husband Ralph Sturrup, a 35-year Star hand and friend of Dave Perkins and Proudfoot. Alfred Hilton had $200 more on behalf of grandson Thomas. And Douglas Dixonof Oakville sent $100 in memory of sister Doris and baby Kev.
Scarberian Glen Kimmett sent $150 to the Corner. An ironworker, Kimmett helped construct Wood- bine Racetrack and the Rogers Centre’s (nee Skydome’s) retractable roof. From Oshawa, Rick Dominico sent $100 on behalf of his father Tom Dominico, who was a regular contributor. And also residing in the ’Shwa is Marilyn Dowsley. She kicked in $300 on behalf of grandchildren Elizabeth and James with an additional $100 in memory of Nancy Johnston Dickin of Stouffville. From that quaint town, Elva Warwick sent us $100 in memory of son Bill Jr., husband Bill Sr. and granddaughter Nicole. And nearby in Aurora, Paul Berry donated $200 in memory of Laurie Buckland, the CPGA golf professional at Aurora Highlands and Wooden Sticks Golf Course.
Next door to that, Bob Annis of Markham donated $200 on behalf of four grandchildren Mac, Emily, Carson and Ella, who gave in memory of their loving grandmother Mary Jo. We welcome back Larry Bertuzzi of Port Perry. $529 was his donation in memory of father and long-time Star reader Bert Bertuzzi. The odd total came about because his grandchildren Liam, Ryann, Egan and Hugh joined in, contributing a dollar each for their ages, a practice which helps them appreciate just how fortunate they are, says Larry. Lastly, regular James Brown of Stayner sent in $25, with a comment that bears repeating: “Keep up the good work folks!”