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Whistler's Ginny Dennehy named YWCA's Woman of Distinction

Dennehy wins the Community Building category
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By Clancy Dennehy

Whistler's Ginny Dennehy was named a YWCA Woman of Distinction at the organization's annual awards banquet last night.

She won in the Community Building category for the work she has done as the co-founder, along with husband Kerry, of the Kelty Patrick Dennehy Foundation in Whistler.

The Foundation supports children suffering from depression.

"Ginny Dennehy works tirelessly to erase the stigma that keeps mental illness in the dark," said a release from the YWCA in announcing the awards Friday May 25.

The Foundation has raised over $4.1 million since its founding in 2001 to support programs for young people with depression and their families.

The charity raises and bestows monies on projects and institutions that fulfill this mandate, including the Kelty Mental Health Resource Centre at the BC Children's Hospital in Vancouver.

"We want young people to know that it's ok to come and ask for help. It's not a character flaw," Dennehy told the Pique when she was nominated.. "There is so much pressure on kids these days in so many different areas. I feel we've got the help them along."

The YWCA Women of Distinction Awards honours women whose outstanding activities and achievements contribute to the wellbeing and future of the community.

Dennehy was one of 79 nominees in 11 categories.

"I was quite honoured and quite surprised, " she said when she learned she had been nominated.

"When you look at all those different people who were nominated, I was 'Wow!' They're amazing people who have done amazing things."

Her husband nominated her, telling her she deserved the recognition.

"I said to him after I found out, 'you can't do that!' I never knew he was going to do this at all and it was funny, when I went to do the photo shoot for the award, all the women said 'I can't believe your husband! He should get the husband of the year award!" she said.

For more on this story, read Pique on Thursday and go to www.piquenewsmagazine.com