Awards we have given
Edge Spirit Award 2018 – Hamilton Chapter

The Edge Spirit Award in memory of Morris Mercanti recognizes an outstanding high-school aged individual that embodies the same values of Charity of Hope co-founder, Mr. Morris Mercanti. A business icon, a community leader, a family man, and a friend to many who needed a helping hand, Morris Mercanti made the lives of everybody around him better. Click here the download application guidelines and form.Deadline February 10th, 2018. Enjoy the stories of previous recipients, Anita, Samidha, Ryan and Mitchell’s videos here.
CHARITY OF HOPE AWARDS ARE GIVEN TO STUDENTS IN HAMILTON’S INNER CITY SCHOOLS WHO EXEMPLIFY WHAT OUR CHARITY IS ABOUT, GIVING HOPE TO CHILDREN AND YOUTH!
2017 HAMILTON AWARD RECIPIENT
Catholic Elementary
• Holy Name of Jesus: Aleena Nanibush and Cody Bilodeau
• St. Agnes: Andrea Johnson and Devin Paes
• St. Ann: Anna Singh and Dante Borsellino
• St. Brigid: Alexsandra Burridge and Trevon Walker
• St. David: Sophia Cassidy and Dan Sanabria
• St. Lawrence: Joshua Melo and Latifa MacDonald
• St. Luke: Nina Jespersen and Taylor Malette-Bonenfant
• St. Michael: Abby Bontje and Joseph Perri
• St. Patrick: Trea Bolocon and John Lloyd Concueno
Public Elementary
• Bennetto: Kaylin Paynter and Christian Campos Espinoza
• Cathy Wever: Abigail Hopkins and Tommy Huynh
• Dr. J Edgar Davey: Courtney Beer and Yakubi Jonmuhammad
• Hess Street: Fatima Sohail and Rick Chang
• Hillcrest: Colin Rose and Summer Chatelain
• Lake Avenue: Afraz Rao and Mariam Ahmad
• Parkdale: Leah Hill and Benjamin McConnell
• Prince of Wales: Chantel Carins and James Ferguson-Bowen
• Queen Mary: Haidyn O’Boyle and Tanaya Kagige
• Queen Victoria: Alias Nostos and Kayla Coombs
Catholic Secondary
• Cathedral: Kristina Duricic and Francis Pham Vo
• St. Mary’s: Tyler Archer and Christopher Rodrigues
• Bishop Ryan: Ben Houston and Taylor Smith
• St. Jean de Brebeuf: Abigail Machado and Noah Spatazzo
Public Secondary
• Delta: Sarah Silveira and Andrew Kane
• Glendale: Gurwinder Sidhu and Fiza Ahmad
• Mountain: Autumn Boden and Matthew Berka
• Sir John A Macdonald: Johnny Thirakul and Abetare Bajgora
“The HWDSB Foundation has been extremely fortunate to work with organizations such as Charity of Hope. The funding that has been provided has supported so many children through the Student Award Programs by recognizing students for their optimism and positive role modelling. Awards such as these help build a student’s self-esteem, boost confidence and support their student leadership qualities. The two organizations share a common goal and that is of supporting students and removal of barriers to learning as we build a strong and educated community of Hamilton-Wentworth”.
Julie Densham,
HWDSB Foundation Development Officer
Edge Spirit Award 2018 – Hamilton Chapter

The Edge Spirit Award in memory of Morris Mercanti recognizes an outstanding high-school aged individual that embodies the same values of Charity of Hope co-founder, Mr. Morris Mercanti. A business icon, a community leader, a family man, and a friend to many who needed a helping hand, Morris Mercanti made the lives of everybody around him better. Click here the download application guidelines and form.Deadline February 10th, 2018. Enjoy the stories of previous recipients, Anita, Samidha, Ryan and Mitchell’s videos here.
2016 HAMILTON AWARD RECIPIENT
Catholic Elementary
• Holy Name of Jesus: Christina Rosa and Zakary Fisher
• St. Agnes: Mathea Meakha and Yousif Awsee
• St. Ann: Hope Whyte and Noah Hey
• St. Brigid: Juliana Servo and Donovan Valladares
• St. David: Isabella Sheehan and Francis Onembo
• St. Lawrence: Blessing Wleh and Mark Pereira
• St. Luke: Jade Kennedy and Ryan Bell
• St. Michael: Lochini Fonseka and Anthony DeLuca
• St. Patrick: Christina Hornby and Jean Shukuru
Public Elementary
• Bennetto: Jacob Glen and Brianka Silver-Castillo
• Cathy Wever: Lidia Aron
• Dr. J Edgar Davey: Nicholas Whitehouse and Lydia Grills
• Hess Street: Zarin Subha and Mei Wang
• Hillcrest: Andrew Jennings and Jessica Keoun
• Lake Avenue: Hamdan Aalsanad and Asala Alessaei
• Parkdale: Payton Moore and Mikayla Manners
• Prince of Wales: Draven Jones and Dominika Xhekaj
• Queen Mary: Tyler Murray and Bianca Hurst
• Queen Victoria: Luka Novakovic and Amber Ward
• Roxborough Park: Aiden Hinkley and Paw Paw Say Naw
Catholic Secondary
• Cathedral: Sarah DaCosta and Amzati Lola
• St. Mary’s: Monica Malek and Paulo Fragata
• Bishop Ryan: Lyndsey Coutinho and Anthony Paduano
• St. Jean de Brebeuf: Annie Cupido and Liam Simpson
Public Secondary
• Delta: Christopher Hill and Rebecca Chenier
• Glendale: Nicholas Elzinga and Vanessa Krawczuk
• Mountain: Bobby Roy Clark and Tiffiany McGowan
• Sir John A Macdonald: Joshua Bravo and Caitlyn Suplat
We are celebrating 10 years of honouring over 600 graduating students!
Congratulations to the graduating class of 2015! Again this year the Charity of Hope partnered with the Public and Catholic school boards to honour remarkable elementary and secondary graduating students who exemplify what our charity is about, giving hope to other children and youth!
2015 Award Recipients
Catholic Elementary
• Holy Name of Jesus: Salena Andrade and Sheamus Ryder
• St. Agnes: Alecsa Paes and Filip Devic
• St. Ann: Julia Babich and Tristan Otto
• St. Brigid: Destine Olaye and Tyler Lopes
• St. David: Alora Bustos and Men-Fils Belizaire
• St. Lawrence: Kaitlyn Coleman-Kane and Dakota Chamberlain
• St. Luke: Lillian Gregory and Aaron Da Silva
• St. Michael: Emily Silvano and David Bejarano
• St. Patrick: Chantelle Chiasson and Raphael Eugenio
Public Elementary
• Bennetto: Robert Pidscalny and Kiana Green
• Cathy Wever: Ryan Moore and Kayla Cain
• Dr. J Edgar Davey: Brichard Routledge and Najma Abdurahman
• Lake Avenue: Zachary Spicer and Zainab Inam
• Hillcrest: Charet Pok and Atilla Gould
• Hess Street: Abdikani Bile Mussa and Jeanie Heng
• Prince of Wales: Jacob Boyd and Erin Gravestock
• Roxborough Park: Aiden Hinkley and Paw Paw Say Naw
• Parkdale: Aiden Bastarache and Jerra Lindsay –
• Queen Mary: Aiden van Arragon and Taylor Ryckman
• Queen Victoria: Adam Palfi and Holly Eckensweiler
Catholic Secondary
• Cathedral: Alysa Di Leonardo and Jeremy Sousa
• St. Mary’s: Julia Ajandi and Sean Afaga
• Bishop Ryan: Natalie Horvatic and Alfonzo Jespersen
• St. Jean de Brebeuf: Brooke Morrison and Lucas Davies
Public Secondary
• Delta: Jordan Llewellyn and Matilda Kushner
• Glendale: Arin Leffler and Pler Gu Moo
• Mountain: Liam Denton and Courtney Ley
• Sir John A Macdonald: Travis Swift and Siarra Jones
Morris Mercanti Academic Grant – Oakville Chapter
Established in 2014 by The Charity of Hope, in memory of their family member, prominent entrepreneur and businessman Morris Mercanti, B.A., B.P.E. (Class of ’76). To be awarded to a student in
the Bachelor of Commerce program with a high Sessional Average, and who demonstrates financial need at McMaster University.
2014 Hamilton Award Recipients
Catholic Elementary
- Holy Name of Jesus: Julie-Jade Piche and Donte Downey
- St. Agnes: Hailey Bennett and David Corpuz
- St. Ann: Mckayla Upson and Vincenzo Lauricella
- St. Brigid: Patricia Paguirigan and Luke Guido
- St. David: Loren Helmer and Francis Onembo
- St. Lawrence: Jessie Gillespie and Mario Neves
- St. Luke: Marykay York and Jeremy Vanderlaan
- St. Michael: Erica Pelegrim and Justin Freire
- St. Patrick: Madonna Chukwu and Vladimir Brylle Corpuz
Public Elementary
- Bennetto: Josh Urichuck and Selah Bishop
- Dr. JE Davey: Ilir Imeri and Mergim Imeri
- Cathy Wever: Ryan Pedersen and Ruby Espinoza
- Lake Avenue: Walter Penado and Mitali Patel
- Hillcrest: Lyle Korolenchuk and Beatriz Flores-Monsanto
- Hess Street: Secret Selrete and Ruby Chang
- Prince of Wales: Adam Berkmortel and Stephanie Sears
- Roxborough Park: Daniel Campanella and Eyah El Siddig
- Parkdale: Grant Boyko and Jordan Lindsay
- Queen Mary: Patrick Malara and Zoe Bourgeios
- Queen Victoria: Patrick Patterson and Huda Rubaiee
Catholic Secondary
- Cathedral: Marina Miskic and Kareem Noel Richards
- St. Mary’s: Maria Do and Jamie MacDonald
- Bishop Ryan: Rabi Gadilatolwe and Santiago Zamudio
- St. Jean de Brebeuf: Natalie Pecyna and Emilio Torres
Public Secondary
- Sir JA Macdonald: Patrick Johnson and Sierra Lampman
- Delta: Joey Ransom and Shania Georgeoff
- Glendale: Kevin Patel and Kendall O’Donnell
- Mountain: Michael Fitchett and Rilea Rogers
- Parkview: Brandon Snyder and Amber Kirkwood-Rodley
HOPE POEM
When life has pushed me down,
I know that hope can always be found.
I await the good things and forget the past,
And hope my future will save the best for last.
I never give up.
I keep on trying
And know that my hope is undying.
Because whenever life has pushed me down,
I know that hope can always be found.– Andrew Hall