A Passion for Helping People Help Healthcare - Selena Owen
Published Friday, March 22, 2024
Meet Selena Owen - Events Development Assistant at the Health Sciences Foundation, car racer and organizer of her own local fundraiser, the annual Oliver Scare Halloween Walkthrough. If you would like to plan a fundraising event to support a health cause close to your heart or to honour a family member or friend, contact Selena at selena.owen@healthsciencesfoundation.ca or at 807-684-7788.
The Health Sciences Foundation has the best kind of Events Development Assistant - one who has experience creating her own community fundraiser events and appreciates the passion and energy that goes into raising funds for a cause that's close to one's heart.
Selena Owen is the Foundation's contact person for individuals, groups and organizations locally and in the region that wish to create community event to raise money for various causes throughout the Hospital. With Selena's assistance, organizers are guided through filling out the initial proposal form, which explains the type of event being organized. She provides suggestions and ideas to enhance the organizer's concepts and direction on incorporating the Foundation's logo and branding.
Selena made a chance career switch from medical lab assistant to the world of marketing a few years ago and has not looked back. This transition highlighted her passion for working with people and assisting them in promoting their businesses. She also discovered she truly enjoys fundraising, which makes the Foundation's Events position a perfect fit for Selena.
“Since I was little I wanted to work at the Hospital and help people,” says Selena. “Originally it was in front-line healthcare, but when this position came up, I saw I could be helping people from another angle - by raising money for it.”
What surprised Selena most about the Foundation was just how much equipment the Foundation helps buy for the Hospital. It recently announced $7.2-million in funded grants to the Hospital for equipment in 2023. One of the grants was for the remaining funds for the new Cardiac Cath Lab. “I have a friend who works in the Cath Lab, and it's really neat to raise money for cardiac care at the Save a Heart Ball and hear her stories about using the very equipment that my team helped purchase,” she says. “It is really special having a connection to the cause and the purchase.”
Selena assists at each of the Foundation's Signature Events. “My favourite part is the day the event is actually happening and watching it all come together,” she says.
Her favourite Foundation fundraising event is the Motorcycle Ride for Dad because, she says, she grew up on a motorcycle with her Dad. This was a precursor to another of her interests – stock car racing. Selena races a Hornet, number 34, at the Thunder City Speedway during the summer, alongside her twin brother and two cousins in the same division. Her father races in the modified division.
As mentioned, Selena also organizes her own community event - the ever-growing and successful annual Oliver Scare Halloween Walkthrough, which averages 500-700 people per night, and has raised funds for dog rescues, mental health, and the Northern Cardiac Fund. It takes Selena and her friends and family two to three weeks to set up the Halloween Walkthrough. Through this experience, Selena is aware of the hard work and dedication it takes to execute an event from start to finish and is very supportive of the groups that take on this challenge.
Selena's goal this year is welcoming more community events to raise funds for the Foundation. “If you are looking at hosting an event, accepting donations instead of birthday gifts, or a huge fundraiser, I would love to help in any way needed.”
If you would like to plan a fundraising event to support a health cause close to your heart or to honour a family member or friend, you can contact Selena at selena.owen@healthsciencesfoundation.ca or at 807-684-7788.
Here are some upcoming community events:
- Confederation College's Variety Show - April 6
- Power of Hope Curling Bonspiel - April 12 & 13
- All Dolled Up event at The Aesthetics and Laser Clinic - April 18
- Silver Fox Squash Cancer Charity Tournament - April 19, 20 & 21
- Ladies of the Italian Society of Port Arthur Spring Tea - April 21
- Rita Bannon Memorial Pool Tournament - May 3, 4 & 5
- Show N' Shine - June 8
- Cava Memorial Golf Tournament - July 20
For more information on these events, visit www.healthsciencesfoundation.ca/event-schedule