Local Family With Big Heart and a Big Cheque
The Ontario Finnish Resthome Association’s (ORFA) capital campaign, Uusi Koti – A New Home: Campaign For Seniors Independent Living received a big surprise this week. Long-time residents of Sault Ste. Marie, the Malkki Family have generously donated $10,000 to the Uusi Koti Campaign. The donation was made by the six siblings of the Malkki family, Seija, Jouko, Jorma, Sinikka, Juhani and Heidi in loving honour of their mother Sirkka and in loving memory of their father Kauko.
The Malkki family name has become synonymous with quality saunas in our community, with their father Kauko Malkki founding Teho Sauna Heaters. “The Campaign is thankful and fortunate to have such strong and passionate supporters like the Malkki Family,” says OFRA board chair Todd Slotegraaf. “In recognition of this gift the sauna room in our new independent living apartment building will be named after the family.”
“We are so honoured that the new sauna room will carry our family name,” says Sinikka (Malkki) Dawson. “We can think of no better way for our family’s gift to be recognized, it combines our families lifelong involvement with OFRA; our Finnish heritage and our father’s legacy.
Currently the wait times for seniors independent living apartment buildings (not geared to income) in Sault Ste. Marie is between two – six years. “New senior’s independent living buildings are a must for the Algoma district. With 20.8% of the current population 65 years of age and over, the time to act is now,” says OFRA board chair Todd Slotegraaf. OFRA’s Uusi Koti – A New Home Capital Campaign has a goal of $4 million to help with the $16 million construction project cost of a much-needed 83 unit seniors independent living apartment building.
For more information on OFRA’s Uusi Koti Capital Campaign, and how to get involved with the campaign yourself, visit the campaign website at www.uusikoticampaign.com , or call the fundraising office at 705-945-9987, Ext. 258
