Woman grants $100,000 in scholarships to students in the Southeast – The Carillon
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As it is National Women’s History Month in Canada, The Carillon spoke with four extraordinary women in the Southeast who are making a difference in their communities and have done or are doing extraordinary things. One woman will be profiled every week in October.
About 27 years ago, a tragedy in Doreen Pchajek’s life would change not only her life but eventually the lives of young people in the Southeast.
In 1998, Pchajek, a former nurse, was involved in a collision with a truck on Highway 1. She had her two children in the car – her son Joey, 14, and her daughter, Stacey, 13. The collision led to multiple injuries to all, but Stacey suffered heavy brain trauma and died two days later in the hospital.
“It took five years before I could begin to function again, both physically and mentally. I knew that I wanted to do something to keep her memory alive and since helping others and education was very important to Stacey it seemed only fitting that I start a charity to give scholarships in her memory,” said Pchajek, who started the Stacey Pchajek Memorial Foundation Inc in 2003.
Pchajek decided she was going to award scholarships to Grade 8 and Grade 12 students starting with Ste Anne Elementary School and Ste Anne Collegiate.
“One, because Stacey was graduating Grade 8 to go into high school. And two, because it makes you realize you’ve got to celebrate every milestone.”
In the beginning, fundraising efforts were carried out by Pchajek and her mother by selling cabbage rolls, perogies, meat pies and dainties. She also did fundraising. Her scholarships range from $300 to $800.
Some of the criteria she has for those who were applying for her scholarships were based on personality traits that Stacey had such as a friend to all, leads in assisting and supporting peers, shows empathy, optimism, and is consistently putting in her best effort. Grade 12 recipients are required to show proof they are enrolled in post-secondary.
It wasn’t long before Pchajek began giving out her scholarships to other students in the Southeast. She provides scholarships to Lorette Collegiate, Richer School, and Steinbach Regional Secondary School. Her plan is to expand the scholarships to the whole Southeast.
To date, she has given more than $100,000 in scholarships. Pchajek said her daughter would be proud of what she is doing in her memory.
“Everybody liked her. (Stacey) was a friend to all,” said Pchajek. “She liked to listen to people and help them. And that’s why when it came up with organ donation, we knew that’s what she would want. Because she always wanted to help people.”
Stacey donated her kidneys, heart, liver and eyes.
When Pchajek thinks of community she thinks of “people working together, helping one another, community spirit.” And that is evident in her scholarships.
As the years have gone by Pchajek has moved on from selling food to fundraise and instead holds bingo nights in Richer. She gives scholarships to two students of the few who volunteer. But her bingo nights have helped in more ways than just by giving scholarships. She shared how a Grade 9 student volunteer went from being a shy and timid girl to someone with more self-confidence and assertiveness.
“It was just such a difference. When she became the bingo caller – because you have to (be loud and assertive), right? So, yeah, it really helped her.”
The Ste Genevieve resident has received the Heart of the Community Award in Richer for her work. She is also involved in the community in other ways. When the Ste Anne arena was in need of repairs she held a bingo and raised $22,000. She also donates to the local food bank.
Pchajek wrote a book about the accident and about her dealing with her daughter’s death and setting up the scholarship, titled The Ultimate Tragedy.
“It was hard (to write) because I don’t remember things well (after the accident)…But I wrote it because I wanted to help other people going through a similar tragedy. And help other people understand what grieving parents go through.”
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