For Immediate Release
Hospitality Charity Welcomes
New Board Members

Media Contact:

Dana Harris
Executive Director, BCHF
604-986-3262
dana@danalee.biz
For Immediate Release

May 23, 2019 (Vancouver, BC) – The BC Hospitality Foundation (BCHF) is pleased to announce that Geoff Barlow, Debbie Morris, and Sandra Oldfield joined its Board of Directors at the organization’s AGM on May 22, 2019. At the same event, founder Richard Carras announced he is stepping down from an active role at the charity.

Originally formed in 2006, the BCHF provides assistance for local hospitality workers facing financial crisis due to extraordinary medical circumstances. Over the years it has also instituted a scholarship program to foster the development of the next generation of hospitality industry leaders. In 2018 the organization reached the milestone of over $1 million given away. Its growing profile means it is receiving more requests for assistance, and the BCHF looks forward to the contributions of its new Directors as it continues to grow.

Geoff Barlow is a global logistics professional who currently holds executive positions on various community and industry committees and associations. As a member of ContainerWorld’s senior management team, he provides customers with efficient and cost-effective solutions to supply chain challenges.

Debbie Morris has worked for Delta Hotels for over three decades. She assists the Hotel Association of Vancouver’s Board of Directors, and has been instrumental in ensuring the success of the Hotels to Help Lottery, which is one of the BCHF’s major fundraisers.
Originally from California, Sandra Oldfield moved to British Columbia in 1995 and founded Tinhorn Creek Vineyards. Over two decades, she consistently displayed visionary approaches to all aspects of the business, including winemaking (Tinhorn Creek was the first winery in Canada to use the Stelvin screw top closure), marketing (she initiated an annual concert series at the winery and helped found Oliver’s Festival of the Grape), and sustainability (Tinhorn Creek was declared Canada’s only carbon-neutral winery in 2011).
The BCHF’s Executive Director, Dana Harris, welcomes the new Board members, and also expresses gratitude for Richard Carras’ leadership over the past 13 years. “In general, the BCHF is a forward-looking organization – we’re all about facing challenges with a can-do attitude – but it’s also important that we acknowledge the people who have enabled us to get this far. Richard’s contribution to the BCHF has been immeasurable, and we’re very grateful for his work and guidance. While he’ll be taking a less active role from now on, we know we can always count on his support."

The BCHF has a full summer of fundraising ahead, including the online Wine Country Lottery (ticket sales end at midnight on Sunday, May 26 th), two golf tournaments, and more. Please visit www.bchospitalityfoundation.com for details.
About the BC Hospitality Foundation

The BC Hospitality Foundation (BCHF) is a registered charity that raises funds to support those in the hospitality industry facing financial crisis due to a medical issue. Each year hundreds of hospitality workers across BC face financial challenges and have nowhere else to turn. The BCHF helps them when all other options have been exhausted. In addition, the BCHF offers a scholarship program to foster the development of the next generation of hospitality workers and industry leaders.