WATCH: Grammy and Juno award-winning musician David Foster is getting another one for his collection. The Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences gave him its humanitarian award today. Tonight, we speak with one Vancouver Island man, who befitted from some of Foster’s good deeds years ago. As Kendall Hanson reports, he says it couldn’t go to a more deserving recipient.
Award-winning musician, songwriter and composer David Foster most often gets recognized for his musical talents but today he’s picking up a humanitarian award at the Juno’s in London, Ontario for his charitable work.
“Congratulations by the way. Huge congrats,” says Robbie Thompson, a heart-transplant recipient.
Thompson, now 21-years-old, was one of the people who got to congratulate him today.
“Thanks… it’s nice because it feeds right into the foundation and what we do with you and hundreds of thousands of others,” said Foster.
Now a university student Thompson’s family in Courtenay was among those the David Foster Foundation supported.
Thompson was only 19-months-old when he got his first of two life-saving heart transplants.
The Foundation helped his family for nearly two years as they stayed in Toronto for medical care.
“The Foundation basically helped fund us and support us so we could keep our home and keep everything intact while we were away,” said Thompson.
Thompson says it was a massive help for his family during a stressful time and this is exactly what the David Foster Foundation has done since it was launched in 1986. One among hundreds of charities Foster has supported.
“Somebody actually having enough wealth to distribute and actually distributing it and helping people is very reassuring in these times,” said Thompson.
Foster, a Victoria native, has received numerous accolades throughout the years but he’s always maintained the Foundation is his greatest achievement.
Foster says his goal is for his foundation to continue helping families when he’s no longer with us.
Kendall Hanson
