The Kiwanis Club of Olds recognized a longtime local benefactor during its May 15 meeting at the Olds Royal Canadian Legion, giving Alex Zec honourary membership to the group. It was the first time the club has honoured somebody this way.
The Kiwanis Club of Olds recognized a longtime local benefactor during its May 15 meeting at the Olds Royal Canadian Legion, giving Alex Zec honourary membership to the group.
It was the first time the club has honoured somebody this way.
"This is a big surprise for me. It made my day," said Zec.
Zec, 89, has made multiple financial donations to the Olds community.
According to former club president Carol Johnston, Zec has donated $73,000 to the Kiwanis Club over the past four years, to be spent on building and maintaining playgrounds in town.
The club matched that sum for a $150,000 total contribution.
Zec is also a supporter of the arts, having donated $35,000 to the Olds and District Kiwanis Music Festival, which spent the money on a grand piano and an upright piano. Both were given to the TransCanada Theatre.
Last year, Zec made an additional $10,000 donation to the town, with hopes that it would be spent on youth.
"He's very generous. Every time I've talked to him about his donations, he's always wanted to be sure it was going to go to children," said Dr. Dick Wray, president of the local Kiwanis Club. "He has a real passion for that."
Olds mayor Judy Dahl, who also attended the meeting, described Zec as a passionate community member and part of the town's heartbeat.
"His compassion is so open-hearted that he just wants to reward everyone. And we are just so proud to have him choose the town of Olds to live and stay here for the rest of his life," Dahl said. "He loves everybody. Every community organization and every person, so bless the man."
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