I Nominate Andrew !!!

Andrew Stambrook will be turning 56 this year and most of his life, he has been volunteering throughout his entire life.  After his parent's divorced in his teens, he was looking for some guidance.  One of the high school gym teachers saw his struggle and reached out.  Unfortunately, Andrew was not very athletic, but the coach encouraged his involvement in helping to manage teams, to officiate, and to do other things to connect him with sports and expose him to many potential friends.

His first volunteer experience was as a Big Brother.  He got involved with that organization because he was a child of divorced parents and wanted to provide guidance to young boys who were experiencing the loss of the father figure.  He had many successful matches and it was then, that he first discovered that volunteering was so rewarding.  His leadership skills were recognized by the staff of the organization and he was successful in obtaining a position on their Board of Governors.  He represented the Manitoba chapter at National Conferences.  

Andrew then attended the University of Manitoba where it took him 5 years to complete his degree.  The reason is that he was Manager of the Bison's Basketball team for the maximum allowed of 5 years.  This volunteer position allowed him to become life-long friends with many people.  He traveled the country with the team promoting Manitoba and the Bisons.  The Coach has said he was the best Manager of his career because Andrew took so much initiative and didn't wait to be asked to do something.  When he was asked, he went above and beyond with every task.  

Somewhere during that time, he was asked to volunteer to be a Santa.  He had so much fun bringing joy to a single family that he purchased his own Santa suit and then spent 25 years volunteering as Santa.  He volunteered for friends, neighbours, friends of friends, day care centres, kindergartens, personal care homes, hospitals, staff parties, pancake breakfasts, skate with Santa, etc.  While other people spent their Christmas Eve and Day focusing on eating, he focused on bringing dreams to children and showing them that Santa does exist.  He finally retired being Santa only because the suit no longer fit.  (Andrew lost too much weight).  

Andrew was a Distinguished Toastmaster in the Toastmaster organization for 25 years.  He has a whole full of plaques for volunteering for different leadership roles.  He would think nothing of driving to Dauphin or Steinbach or some other Manitoba town on a weekday to judge a contest or participate in a demonstrating meeting.  He would do anything to help the organization grow and more people to reap the benefits of the communications organization.  

Andrew has had a life-long love of soccer.  But, it means more to him than getting up at 6:30 am on Saturday to watch his beloved Liverpool play.  Andrew has been volunteering in the soccer community for about two decades.  Several summers, he gave up every weekend to do announcing at the Waverley Complex.  For years, he served on the Manitoba Major Soccer League Board, and he even served as President of the organization.  He still remains at Disciplinary Chair for the League.  One would think that wouldn't be a busy position in the "beautiful game" but it is a very busy and controversial position with Andrew manages to chair with tact and diplomacy.  Andrew was a Board Member for 3 years on the Manitoba Soccer Association.  He has been a member of the Special Events Committee for over a decade which has been responsible for their annual awards dinner.  About a decade ago, Andrew realized that Soccer was the only major sport in Manitoba without their own dedicated Hall of Fame.  He promoted the creation of this Hall of Fame and it has now come to fruition.  It is a place where all Manitobans will be able to see and be inspired by the rich tradition of soccer in Manitoba.  He was also involved in the organization of the Canada vs USA Women's Exhibition Soccer game in Winnipeg and served as a volunteer helping to organize the Women's FIFA games held in Winnipeg.  

Of course, soccer is not the only sport that Andrew enjoys.  He thinks that participation in sport is one of the greatest ways of making connections in Manitoba.  He volunteered for the Pan Am Games in 1999, the Grey Cup Festival in 2015, and the Canada Summer Games in 2018.  He has also been a volunteer for Sports Manitoba for over a decade and some of the events that he has volunteered for include:  Annual Hall of Fame Dinner; Santa Claus Parade; Up Close and Personal Events; Whiskey Festival; Veteran's Events; and other events to raise the profile of Sport Manitoba.  He just never says no.  He also volunteers for Special Olympics at their annual Wine Festival.  Some years, he volunteers for the Manitoba Marathon.  

The only sport that he didn't care for was curling but my love of curling has infected him.  He volunteered at the World Men's Curling Federation in Last Vegas in 2018.  He did many roles and often worked 7:30 am - 11:30 pm every day, with a few breaks for meals.  

He supports other Manitoba Events and has volunteered over 25 years with the Folk Festival and says he will stop when he achieves 50 years. 

Andrew also gives the gift of life.  Although he started later in life, he has now achieved 28 blood donations and has a goal of reaching 50 so other people can live because of his gift.  

One of his important volunteer activities is related to his depression and anxiety.  He was diagnosed with these illnesses within the last decade.  One of his health maintenance for these diseases is to help others.  He has had extensive volunteering with the Canadian Mental Health Association whether it being sitting in a mall or helping with the Ride Don't Hide Event.  He is most proud of the work that he does with the Speak Up program.  He has taken time off work to speak to middle school students about his journey with depression.  He is continually in awe at the next generation for their empathy and insight.  Through the program, he has also spoken to Companies, University Classes, and other groups.  He also writes a blog called strugglingtosmile that chronicles his journey with depression.  It is his hope that he might help one person recognize this in themselves and reach out for help.  

Despite all of his formal volunteer work with depression, he is most proud of his informal volunteering with mental health.  He is the confidant of many friends and he has done whatever he can for any of his friends who ask for help.  He always makes time for anyone.  

Even though he is employed full-time with the WRHA, he manages to find extra things to volunteer with at work.  He volunteers at the Annual Long Term Service Event and he also volunteers to teach communication modules to health care aides to enhance their professionalism.  A couple of years ago, he volunteered to write a process module for his Department.  Little did he know, that this project would have three advisory committees to go through and review. He has the attitude of a volunteer even at work.  At his annual performance review, he only has one comment for his manager, "please challenge me.  I want to grow."  

Last year was the first year that he counted and he ended up volunteering over 800 hours in 2019.  

However, despite all of his volunteering, I think the one that is most important is the one that he took when he started a relationship with me.  I have two adult children and many men wouldn't want to get involved.  Andrew volunteers to love my children as if they were his own.  Once our relationship became serious, he changed his Will to accommodate my children.  But, his biggest volunteering came as a result of him volunteering to be grandpa of my grandson.  Andrew loves that little boy completely and takes every opportunity to spend time with him.  Our grandson lives out of province but we have kept him roughly 1 month out of every 3.  Having an infant in your home requires a tremendous amount of devotion and sacrifice.  Andrew wants our "Ollie" to be with us more.  Not only is he the best grandpa, step-father in the world, he may be the world's best partner.  If I express any desire, Andrew wants to run out and buy something to fulfill this desire.  He is simply one of the most giving people ever.  

He was born in Australia but came to Manitoba when he was 4.  He is one of the best ambassadors of Manitoba ever and every day, he strives to make Manitoba better for us all.