For 30 years the High River District Health Care Foundation has recognized the philanthropic efforts of local individuals and organizations.

This year the Clifford and Louise Lougheed Award will reside in Nanton, home of the Harry and Linda Lively family.

Foundation Fund Development Officer Cathy Couey says it's well deserved.

"Linda and Harry and their children have all played a role in one way or another with their involvement with the foundation and in support of local health care."

"It all started with the great examples of Linda and Harry and Linda was on our board of directors and she offered some incredible, smart business and sound, sage business advice around that table. Harry was helping us out with the Dinner and Auction committee helping solicit the community of Nanton for supporting those events in the early days and then the torch was passed on to their daughter Allison, who has sat on various committees of ours including this year and who's hard work saw sponsorship targets absolutely crushed," she says.

Couey says many of the winners have seen generations of family members get behind the hospital's programs and services, and that includes the Lively's.

"Son Allan is always there to help with the Longview 4H Beef Club, he donates his time calling bids at their sale and their other son Kurtis this year encouraged their organization, Centurion, to come on board as a Premier sponsor."

Couey says from the time she started at the Foundation she's seeing younger generations of the same families coming to events and helping them to provide equipment and services in local health care.

She says Nanton's a big part of that.

"Nanton is a huge contributor to the Foundation, not only as contributors but we also provide funding for programs, services and equipment for the Nanton Community Health Centre along with their Silver Willow Lodge designated supportive living facility so it goes both ways when we look at the community of Nanton."

The award was named in honour of Clifford and Louise Lougheed who were long-time residents of the Nanton area. Their bequest to the Foundation enabled the Foundation to establish a permanent Endowment Fund which is the backbone of its long-term financial viability. 

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