Television and Radio appearances
Dennehys, Waugh make charitable connection
Waugh to paint at 'Drive Fore Life'
Foundation’s co-founder honoured as famed artist, philanthropist lends his talents to upcoming fundraiser
By David Burke dburke@whistlerquestion.com
Whistlerite Ginny Dennehy was recently recognized as the recipient of the first annual Waugh Award for her work fighting teen depression and suicide.
The Waugh Award was created last December by renowned Canadian artist Eric Waugh, himself a well-known humanitarian and philanthropist, who wanted to promote the selfless dedication of individuals who “make the world a better place.” He invited people to submit letters of nomination to his website, www.ericwaugh.com
Five years ago, Kelty Patrick Dennehy, the son of Whistlerites Ginny and Kerry Dennehy, committed suicide. In the aftermath, the Dennehys created the Kelty Patrick Dennehy Foundation, which has raised more than $1.3 million for research into the causes of teen depression, its treatment and prevention.
Waugh’s website states that the nomination letter for Ginny Dennehy was one of many sent from across North America.
“Waugh was touched by the letter,” the website states. “Ginny has taken her own devastating tragedy and turned it into hope and education for others.”
“When I read the letter nominating Ginny, I immediately knew she would be the recipient of the award,” Waugh is quoted as saying. “She is someone who turned a lot of tears and courage into an incredible organization that will surely help save the lives of many teens for years to come.”
Ginny Dennehy will receive a special plaque and a collection of Waugh’s paintings created especially for her. As well, Waugh has promised to create and donate a special painting reflecting the theme of the Dennehy Foundation’s “Drive Fore Life” theme and will do a live painting performance at the event’s kick-off rock-and-roll event, donating the finished work to the foundation.
The fifth annual Drive Fore Life fundraising weekend is planned Friday through Sunday, Sept. 29 to Oct 1. The event includes a night of rock and roll with Fabulous George and the Zodiacs, a Gala Dinner and Silent Auction, golf at the Whistler Golf Club and Fairmont Chateau Whistler Golf Club, and a post-event barbecue and prizes at the Fairmont Chateau Whistler.
Ginny Dennehy said she didn’t even know of Eric Waugh or the award until a friend mentioned them about two months ago. She said she visited Waugh’s website and became quite impressed with his work, both his art and his charitable endeavours.
“The first thing that amazed me was how much he has given back to children's charities,” she said. “I just felt compelled to send him this email and tell him how impressed I was with the work that he'd done. And kind of as a joke I mentioned that, 'Well, if you ever wanted to give one of your paintings…'
“I sent the email about 9 p.m. and went away to do something else and all of a sudden the phone's ringing. And he said, 'I just got your email and I have to tell you how impressed I am with the work that you've done.'”
Waugh called back from Ontario two weeks later to tell Ginny Dennehy of the award, and expressed his desire to attend and lend his talents to this year's Drive Fore Life event.
“I'm absolutely honoured that I would get chosen for this award because there are so many people who do so many amazing things with children's charities,” she said. “I was just shocked, to be honest, and it is an unbelievable honour.”
Kerry Dennehy said he doesn't follow the art world much, but as soon as he mentioned the fact that Eric Waugh was lending his talents to the event, his friend, Dave Helfrich of the Plaza Galleries, told him, “'Boy, you've got him in your stable. That's a real feather in your cap.'”
Waugh is well-known for his live paintings of famous rock bands in action. In addition to the painting he is creating in advance of the event, he plans to attend the Friday night rock-and-roll event at Buffalo Bill's and create a painting of the Don Jordan-led Fabulous George and the Zo diacs that will also be auctioned off at the Gala Dinner and Auction the next evening.
In addition, Waugh plans to donate 20 per cent of the proceeds from his exhibit that weekend at the Whistler Village Art Gallery to the Dennehy Foundation, Ginny Dennehy said.
“Having the show out here for Eric, I think, is going to really tie something together,” she said. “He's very well known out east and I think this will give people out here a chance to see what his art is all about as well.”
For information about the foundation of the Drive Fore Life events, please visit www.thekeltyfoundation.com
