ARGONAUTS.CA STAFF

The Toronto Argonauts would like to congratulate Argos alumnus Zeke O’Connor who will be honoured at the 11th annual Rotary Club of Toronto West Youth Impact Awards. On January 29, O’Connor will be presented the Lifetime Achievement Award for his humanitarian work in Nepal as founder and president of the Canadian arm of the Sir Edmund Hillary Foundation. Specifically, he is being recognized for his work in the Solukhumbu region and with the Sherpa people in the Himalaya Mountains.

O’Connor’s legacy with the Argonauts is characterized best by the 1952 Grey Cup championship game. Quarterback Nobby Wirkowski tossed him the game-winning touchdown in a 21-11 victory over the Edmonton Eskimos at Frank Clair stadium. O’Connor played two seasons for Toronto (1952-53) after a distinguished college career at Notre Dame where he helped the Fighting Irish win back-to-back national championships in 1946 & 1947. He later played three seasons in the NFL before coming to the Argonauts.

During his more than 30 years as founder and president, Zeke and the Canadian Foundation has raised more than five million dollars for Nepal to build schools, hospitals, medical clinics, provide medical scholarships, train village health workers, build water pipelines, bridges, trekking paths during flash floods, and to fully fund the Kunde Hospital and Sagarmatha National Park reforestation programs.

In 2003, Argonauts Vice-Chair and CFL Hall of Fame player Michael ‘Pinball’ Clemons was honoured with the same award.

In addition to Zeke’s achievement, the Argos Foundation will be honoured as the Business Award recipient on the same night.

While many equate the Argos with their proud status as winners of 15 Grey Cup Championships, the football team's business organization has also given back to the community through programs targeted specifically at youth. The foundation launched in August 2005 and notable programs include: Huddle Up Bullying Prevention Program, Level the Playing Field and a youth mentorship program among others. The team visits 60 schools and 35,000 students in the GTA each year.

The Youth Impact Awards celebrate the efforts of individuals and organizations that have had a significant and sustained impact on youth. Since its inception 11 years ago, the Youth Impact Award gala has raised in excess of $240,000 from the sale of tickets, corporate sponsorships, and from proceeds of event silent auctions and raffles. All monies raised are reinvested in youth at risk.

This year's banquet and auction night to raise funds in support of Rotary's work with youth at risk in the community will take place at The Old Mill, 21 Old Mill Rd., on Friday, January 29. The silent auction will open at 5:30 p.m., and dinner will start at 7 p.m. Tickets to the event are $125 per person and prices include a tax receiptable donation to the Rotary Club of Toronto West Charity Trust. To purchase tickets, call 416-352-5626 or talk to any member of the club. Go to www.RotaryTorontoWest.ca for more details.