Dinner pays tribute to veteran fundraiser

When Joe Drago first heard the Sudbury Regional Hospital Foundation planned to honour his contributions to the community at a dinner, he told them they should book a small room at a local restaurant for the event.

But the foundation instead booked the Caruso Club’s upper hall for the Sept. 30 event, and the room was packed.

Drago spent the early part of his evening being greeted by friends from the many organizations he’s been involved with over the years, and then later listened as prominent community members spoke about his contributions to various organizations.

“I’m mesmerized,” he said. “They tell me there’s more than 400 people here tonight, so it’s really very special. I’ve seen people I haven’t seen for ages.”

Drago, who founded the Sudbury Regional Hospital Foundation in 1998, served continuously as its board chair until this June, when he retired from his position.

He was made a lifetime member of the non-profit, charitable organization, which raises funds for medical equipment and capital construction.

Before creating the Sudbury Regional Hospital Foundation, he served on the board of the Sudbury Memorial Hospital Foundation.

In addition, Drago served as president of the Sudbury Memorial Hospital, chairman of the Interlocking Board of Sudbury’s previous hospitals, vice-chairman of the Manitoulin-Sudbury District Health Council Committee on Hospital Restructuring and co-chair of the Heart and Soul Campaign.

“I got involved in (the Sudbury Memorial Hospital Foundation in) 1983 because my father had a heart attack, and he ended up dying,” Drago said. “I saw what the hospital did for him at that time.”

The dinner, at $75 a plate, raised money for the newly-created Joe Drago Endowment Fund. Drago said he hasn’t yet decided what the fund will support, but he said it will probably be a piece of equipment to care for those with heart troubles.

“I’m tickled and really honoured that they’d (set up the fund),” he said. “I didn’t know until today that there would be an endowment fund.”

Drago is also president of the Ontario Hockey Federation, and sits on Hockey Canada’s board of governors.

He is a retired school principal, having worked at Sudbury Secondary School, Chelmsford Valley District Composite School and Lockerby Composite School. Drago created Sudbury Secondary’s performing arts program while working at the school in the 1980s.

He said he’s only able to do as much as he does because he has the support of his wife, Sylvia, and his family. “My wife comes with me everywhere I go,” he said.

Mike Singbush, executive director of the Sudbury Regional Hospital Foundation, said Drago has contributed a lot to the organization.

“Joe was in touch with me on a daily basis for the last 14 years,” he said. “I think it was the right thing to do to honour him.”