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The Mel Jr. & Marty Zajac Foundation
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 For
over 30 years, Mel and Irene Zajac raised
funds for the children of British Columbia
through the proceeds from the Mel Zajac Golf
Classic and private donations from friends
and family members.
Daughters
Corinne, Carmen and Karen have been their
biggest supporters and are dedicated to ensuring
the perpetuity of the Foundation.
Mel
Zajac, Founder & Chairman
The Mel Jr. & Marty Zajac Foundation
Mandate
The
Zajac Foundation is a non-profit organization
registered as a charitable institution with
the Government of Canada whose mandate is
to support children, seniors and those with
special needs through innovative community
projects focused on developing life long skills
and independence.
Since
1968, Mel Zajac has been raising funds for
children with special needs and seniors in
British Columbia through the Mel Zajac Classic
Golf Tournament and the private donations
of friends and family. In 1987, The Zajac
Foundation was formed as a non-profit organization
in honour of Mel Jr. and Marty Zajac who lost
their lives in separate sporting accidents.
The
Foundation is dedicated to the enrichment
and enhancement of the quality of life across
all generations, with particular focus on
persons with special needs.
The
Zajac Ranch for Children is a summer camp
set on the shores of Stave Lake in Mission,
BC. The ranch serves children with serious
and chronic illnesses and disabilities. The
Zajac Ranch seeks to normalize and enhance
the lives of the children that attend camp
by offering innovative and unique programs
in a caring and supportive environment.
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 Mel
Zajac Jr.
Mel
Jr. loved to do everything. With a quiet and yet
competitive nature Mel Jr. wanted to be the best
at whatever he did. This thoughtful, determined
young man was also a character and practical joker
to those that knew him and loved him.
Mel
Jr.'s accomplishments were many: he was a member
of Canada's National swim team and earned the
National Championship title for the 200 metre
breaststroke. In 1973, he competed in the World
Aquatic Games and was a three-time gold medallist
in the Canada Games. Two years later he competed
in the Pan Am Games in Mexico City, and then in
1976 at the Olympics in Montreal.
Mel
Jr. studied at the University of Florida and Arizona
State University on an athletic and academic scholarship.
In the spirit of trying almost anything, he enjoyed
cycling, running, river rafting, kayaking, skydiving,
hang-gliding, and even earned his commercial pilot's
license.
Not
one to be outdone and knowing his father's love
of golf, Mel Jr. decided, "Hey, I can do
that." And naturally -- he did!
 Marty
Zajac
Handsome,
outgoing, and fun-loving Marty shared his brother's
zest for life but with an emphasis on people.
Marty managed to pursue just as many of his own
worthwhile activities. This well liked and friendly
young man became involved in community affairs,
and devoted much of his free time to the support
of causes involving children, especially those
in underprivileged circumstances.
Like
his brother, Mel Jr., Marty also attended Arizona
State University on an academic scholarship.
He
became an avid skier and golfer, and participated
in many of the same sports activities as his brother.
He especially enjoyed skiing with his family,
more often than not leaving his dad and sisters
struggling to keep up. Melting snow never stopped
Marty. He would simply trade the skis for a set
of golf clubs, again giving Dad a "run for
his money."
Everywhere
Marty went he was a favourite -- full of fun and
a desire to live life to the fullest. |
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Zajac
Foundation Board of Directors
Mel
Zajac, C.M.
Chairman
Carmen
Zajac
President
Brian Hanna
Treasurer
Business Development Director, KPMG
David
Aisenstat
President
& CEO, Keg Restaurants Ltd.
Shell Busey
President Shell Busey's HouseSmart Referral Network
John Devita
Vice President, CT Control Temp Ltd.
Jim Finkbeiner
Business Executive
Doug Holt
Business Development Manager, Business In Vancouver Newspaper
Honourable Edward M. Lawson
Senator - Government of Canada
Ron McNeil
Director, Lower Mainland Steel Group
Diane Mann
Manager Investor Relations, Monument Mining Ltd.
Alan Rae
Vice President and Director, RBC Dominion Securities
Honourable
John Reynolds, P.C.
Retired
MP - Government of Canada
Consultant, Lang Michener LLP Jeff
Shewfelt
Vice-President,
Sales & Services, G&F Financial Group
A.E.
(Ted) Turton
Retired
Business Executive
Ken Williams
President & CEO, Golf Master Canada
The
Zajac Ranch Society
Board of Directors
Linda
Annis
Chair
Businesswoman
Carmen
Zajac
President,
The Mel Jr. & Marty Zajac Foundation
Lori Zaozirny
Commissioner,
BC Utilities Commission
Ann
Dumas
Retired
Child Educator
Honourable
Edward Lawson
Senator
- Government of Canada
Steve
Normann
President/Owner,
Cascadian Building Maintenance Ltd.
Donna
Brinkhaus
Executive
Director, Asia Pacific Region of the Canadian Tourism
Commission
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 Irene
Zajac
dedicated each day to the memory of her two deceased
sons through her tireless efforts at the Mel Jr. and
Marty Zajac Foundation.
Irene Zajac
Irene Zajac was one of a kind, a person who loved to
give of herself and loved to be called upon. She was
dedicated to helping others. She was a wonderful partner,
friend, mother, grandmother and storyteller, with a
great sense of humour. She exuded an inner warmth, strength
and personality that was infectious. She had a youthful
exuberance, which people picked up on immediately and
she made many long lasting friendships.
For
Irene, life brought lots of fun, laughter and enjoyment,
but it also came with its share of pain and sorrow.
Family was her joy, but it also brought some heartache,
none greater than when in 1986 and 1987 she tragically
lost her two sons in sporting accidents. What pain could
be deeper for any parent than to lose their children?
The pain was unbearable, but Irene’s inner strength,
character and courage helped her move forward. Through
it all she still smiled kept her sense of humour and
inspired the rest of her family and friends that they
too, could move forward.
Because
of Irene’s love of giving and need to be called
upon, she and Mel Sr. created the Mel Jr. & Marty
Zajac Foundation to keep the memory of their two sons
alive, while benefiting people who needed their help.
Irene worked tirelessly with the Foundation organizing
golf tournaments (while knowing little about golf),
volunteering at Saturday Bingo in smokey rooms (when
she herself did not smoke), opening the office every
morning and calling on friends and relatives for their
support. She was once again committed to helping others.
Each year she selected the two Mel Jr. & Marty Zajac
scholarship winners at the Arizona State University
(the boy’s alma mater). What she truly enjoyed
were the letters from former recipients telling her
how much the Foundation had helped them. Irene didn’t
have to work every day at the Foundation. She wanted
to.
Irene
was always a part of everything but did not want the
spotlight. She never wanted people to make a fuss over
her, although she loved to make a fuss over them. She
was a people person, a catalyst who brought people together.
Irene had the knack of making new acquaintances feel
like old friends. She was "God’s Helping
Hand," a person who was there for others, and who
cared for others. Irene would want us to remember the
good times, the fun times, the get-togethers and the
good conversations. Above all, Irene would want us to
be kind to each other, to take good care of each other,
to help and love each other, as she did us. Irene was
a very special person who affected all who knew her
in some special way.
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