YOUTH AWARENESS CAMPAIGNER HONOURED

Advocate awarded $10,000 to split between charities

A local drug awareness advocate has been given $10,000 toward the
cause of his choice in recognition of his campaign to save Squamish
youth.

Last week, David Hildreth was named by his employer, Sun Life
Financial, as the international company's 2006 Volunteer of the Year.

"I'm humbled and honoured," said Hildreth. "For a company of our size,
it's an unbelievable award."

In recognition of his volunteer work, Sun Life Financial will donate
$10,000 on his behalf split between his two chosen charities -- DARE
(Drug Abuse Resistance Education) and the Zajac Foundation, which
supports children with life threatening diseases. Hildreth said the
recognition and congratulations he's received from residents and
government representatives throughout the region have been
overwhelming.

"It's just been unreal. It's been unbelievable," he said. "There's
been 100 emails today. And the phone calls it's wonderful." The
Furry Creek resident founded the Squamish Breakfast Club 10 years ago,
and since then, the group has put all its energy into supporting a
local chapter of DARE.

The Squamish Breakfast Club's dedication to the program led to the
purchase of a DARE F-150 truck, and Hildreth has already handed Sun
Life's $5,000 award to the program.

The last charity golf tournament Hildreth organized raised $75,000 in
support of DARE education, and he hopes to raise another $10,000 for
the Squamish Breakfast Club, DARE and crystal meth awareness during
another golf tournament June 12.

Anyone interested in joining the golf tournament can contact Hildreth
at david@hildreth.ca.