Each year, Lethbridge Family Services honour an individual and a group or business partner with the organization’s Friend of the Family Award.
This award celebrates the outstanding philanthropic contributions recipients have made to LFS and the community.
Each winner’s story shares a common thread: using their unique abilities to take action that makes Lethbridge and the community a better place for all and enables others to reach their full potential.
This year’s award recipients are Ann Zalik and Norbridge Pharmacy.
Zalik embodies the true spirit of a Friend of the Family through her extraordinary commitment to Angel Tree, LFS, and the families served.
Over more than three years and 2,000 volunteer hours, Zalik has given her time, talents, leadership, and heart in ways that go far beyond a volunteer’s responsibilities.
She’s led and mentored volunteers, represented Angel Tree throughout the community, created thousands of handmade gifts of comfort, inspired friends and family to give, and built meaningful partnerships that have brought new supporters and significant philanthropy to LFS.
Most importantly, Zalik has a remarkable ability to bring people together around a shared purpose.
Her integrity, compassion, generosity, and willingness to step forward have strengthened Angel Tree and created a lasting ripple of generosity throughout the community.
According to Zalik, receiving the award was a great honour, and she was volunteering before she even knew what being a volunteer was. “I’ve been doing it since I was a kid.
“But volunteerism isn’t something you do to get recognized. To get recognized is an honour, but it’s not why I do it. I feel it fills a hole in my heart. To be able to give back to others,” she shared.
Zalik noted LFS encompasses so much, but she’s mainly focused on the Angel Tree campaign.
“There’s a lot of reasons why Christmas is so special. No matter the circumstances of what a family is going through or why or why not they’re accessing the services of Angel Tree. Christmas to me is about kids and the children are never responsible for what their parental circumstances are. They have to be who we consider when we do this,” said Zalik.
Zalik grew up on a farm outside of Lethbridge and she adds the Angel Tree campaign encompasses a lot of the rural communities in southern Alberta. “Which are often so underserviced.”
Zalik also loves how LFS is so family-focused, and not just singular. “It doesn’t just do one specialized area. It encompasses so many different things. That’s why I like to support LFS so much.”
Rhea Edrosolan and her team at Norbridge Pharmacy have provided exceptional, ongoing support for LFS and the individuals served.
Their expertise, responsiveness, and compassionate approach are especially meaningful to DaCapo Disability Services clients, many of whom have complex, high medical needs.
From providing easy-to-understand bubble packaging and medication education to answering questions and helping staff navigate medication changes, Edrosolan and her team consistently go above and beyond to support clients with significant, ongoing health challenges who have undergone numerous medication changes over the past year.
She’s always willing to take a call, offer guidance, and collaborate with LFS staff, as well.
