OUR ORIGIN STORY
Before we were “official” - March 24, 2017
The people and our identity were two essential things to Ray in forming the Foundation.
That, coupled with our purpose and mission, was part of the business Ray wanted to ensure was completed before his expiry date.
On March 24, 2017 we invited Mark Petersen, founder of Stronger Philanthropy, to facilitate our inaugural board and family's first gathering - this being the only one Ray ever attended. This gathering and those of the following months helped us define our focus, intention, and priorities. We knew then that it might be the only in-person meeting we would have as a group, so everything was purposeful. Stronger Philanthropy would be critically important in helping us to organize and operate the foundation during those first couple of years that were laboured with our grief.
Family & Friends - Inaugural Visioning Meeting Joyful Living Joyful Giving Foundation
Back row (left to right):
Doris Olafsen, Liam Olafsen, Ray Olafsen, Jesse Mauel, Jay Loewen, Joshua Olafsen, Lisa Wiebe, Ingrid Dyck, Russel Dyck, Kate Olafsen, Travis Olafsen
Front row (left to right):
Don Morris, Jo-Anne Morris, Marlene Affleck, David Mauel, Lillian Scott, Mark Petersen
This initial gathering was also where our 14-year-old grandson Joshua and 12-year-old grandson Liam would unveil the Joyful Living Joyful Giving logo Ray had asked them to create. This was also the first way to intentionally engage them both in the legacy that would live on.
The boys gave their initial design to our family friend Butch Wellings, a graphic artist who, staying true to what they had drawn, professionalized their design.
In 2024, we approached the boys and asked them if we could stylize their logo just a little bit more. They were both thrilled to see this happen. Angie Gauthier, an associate at DO Philanthropy Inc., took it under her wing to tweak the graphic again keeping the ‘heart’ of the original design.
Ray O Sock 1.0
Ray admonished Doris to keep on keeping on and not stop helping others
In April 2019, Doris and her colleague Martha hosted a small group on an Opportunity International Insight Trip to the Dominican Republic. One evening after dinner they were walking through the Parque Colon, or Columbus Park, the central square of the Cuidad Colonial historic district of Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. They were fortunate to meet an amazing young man who not only drew a caricature of the group but also took it upon himself to do a special request – from a photo.
That picture became the iconic Ray O sock.
PS: one pair of socks that he received from a close friend said, “Outta my way mortals” he chose those to be the final pair of socks that he wore here on earth. We chose that to be the final words on his grave. Read more about the JLJG Sock Story.
