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Niagara Falls
Thursday, March 28, 2024
Sean Simpson receives United Way award for community service

A NOTL business owner and supporter of many Niagara community program was honoured with an award this week. 

Sean Simpson was chosen as the 2020 recipient of the Anita Robertson Legacy Award. 

He is the second recipient of the award named in honour of Anita Robertson, an active member and supporter of the United Way, who died almost two years ago. 

The award is presented annually to someone who embodies Robertson’s kind heart, community spirit and who share their passion and drive to make positive change in Niagara, the United Way said in a news release. 

The 2019 recipients, Karen MacKay and Heidi Burgess, presented Simpson with the award on July 15 at Simpson’s Pharmasave. 

“It’s a great privilege and honour to receive this award,” Simpson said afterward. “Always brings back great memories of our dear friend Anita and her contributions. “

“I’m sure she’d be very proud to see all of us here, together today and some of the great work that’s going on behind us to raise more money for United Way,” he said, referring to a mask sales fundraiser that was happening outside of the pharmacy.

“United Way is such a dear cause to me and we’ve seen, especially during this past few months, how much impact we have in this community across Niagara and I think we’re really pleased to see the connectedness across Niagara and that was something that Anita worked so very hard for and I’m very proud.”

Simpson is also a past board member of United Way Niagara who helped raise over $12 million during his time with the organization. 

He continues to support United Way and projects to help people in the Niagara Region.  

In May, Simpson’s Pharmacy offered 10 per cent off of online sales (to encourage people to stay home due to the onset of COVID-19) and then matched the discounted amount and donated it to United Way and Red Roof Retreat. 

In April, Simpson helped obtain nearly 16,000 protein bars for long-term care homes in NOTL and other Niagara agencies through the United Way. 

In March, Simpson’s Pharmacies in town supported a campaign to provide free menstrual products to Niagara residents in need. 

“Sean has been a long time supporter of United Way in a number of ways,” said Frances Hallworth, executive director of United Way Niagara.

“He’s always trying to find ways to incorporate United Way into the community. He knew Anita quite well, they worked together during the merger of the United Ways and Anita would be so incredibly proud that Sean is getting it. She would have picked Sean herself.”

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