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Coed soccer tournament in Powell River provides funds for school district

Tink Memorial Cup played in memory of Toni Marciniak
Katie, Jordan and Hillary Marciniak Powell River
FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTION: Katie, Jordan and Hillary Marciniak, children of former teacher and counsellor Toni Marciniak, presented proceeds from a soccer tournament in his name to School District 47 chair Aaron Reid and superintendent of schools Dr. Jay Yule. The money will support a scholarship and programs in the school district. Paul Galinski photo

School District 47 was the beneficiary of funds raised in a soccer tournament to commemorate former teacher and counsellor Toni Marciniak.

On February 3, Marciniak’s children Katie, Hillary and Jordan, presented proceeds from the tournament, held on the Father’s Day weekend each year, to School District 47 chair Aaron Reid and superintendent of schools Dr. Jay Yule.

“After our dad, Toni Marciniak, passed away in 2015, we wanted to find a way to commemorate his role in our community,” said daughter Katie Marciniak. “He was highly involved with the youth of Powell River, both in his capacity as a teacher and counsellor at School District 47, and in his role as coach, referee and division manager for the Powell River Youth Soccer Association.

“Recognizing his passion as an educator and his love of soccer, we decided the best way to pay tribute to the positive impact he had made in our community was to find a way to continue to support the youth of Powell River in his name.”

Marciniak said the family decided to create a scholarship in their father’s name to help support students in their post-secondary endeavours.

“To fund this scholarship, we organized the Tink Memorial Cup, (Tink being our father’s nickname growing up in Manchester, England), a coed soccer tournament, as a fundraiser,” said Katie. “After the resounding success of the Tink Cup, we quickly realized that we wanted, and had the ability, to do much more. With the help and support of SD47, we have been able to find other programs to support with the funds generated from the soccer tournament.

“Thus, our meeting today where we were dispersing funds to the school district for the Brooks golf teams and support towards SOGI (sexual orientation and gender identity) 123 in our community. Our dad was passionate about many things, these organizations being a couple, and we are happy we can offer some support where we can and give back in his honour.”

Last year’s Tink Memorial Cup raised $7,000. This year’s fifth Tink Memorial Cup will be held on Saturday, June 20.