Power of HOPE Community Organization Board of Directors consists of the following members:
Executive Director: Karen Geerts
Karen has lived in the Woodstock area all her life and has worked for more than two decades in the food production industry. She has been the Chapter Director for Power of HOPE (Woodstock) since 2012, a role that she took on after meeting the organization’s founder, Penny Jamieson, at a networking event.
Karen is passionate about expanding the work of Power of HOPE into Woodstock and the surrounding area and she believes that every child should have a new pair of PJs and a teddy bear for Christmas. Karen has made a huge impact on her community since joining Power of HOPE.
In 2022, Karen Geerts became the new Executive Director for Power of HOPE Community Organization and the Board of Directors look forward to many more years working alongside Karen on her continued journey to “Help Other People Everyday”.
Karen has been married to her wonderful husband for over 40 years and in her spare time she enjoys gardening, spending time with her three children and ten grandchildren, and making wreaths which she sells to raise funds for Power of HOPE Community Organization.
Phone: 519-469-3109
Cell 226-228-1045
Email: woodstock@powerofhopeontario.ca
Director/Treasurer: Margaret Tofflemire
Margaret Tofflemire has been self-employed for 15 years. As the owner of Toffson Management, she brings a wealth of experience to her role as Treasurer on the Board of Directors. Marg was introduced to Power of HOPE by fellow board member Andrea McKeown and when she saw the need she was driven to help.
Having previously been involved with the Association for Bright Children and has served on the Committee at Waterloo City Board of Education, Marg is committed to the success of Power of HOPE. If she could have one wish granted, it would be that Power of HOPE grow so large that it needs and office location and a full-time Assistant! In her spare time, Marg likes to read, walk and spend time with her family.
Office: (519) 745-4654
Cell: (519) 571-4234
Email: mtofflemire@toffson.com
Secretary/Web Administrator: Karen Coleman
Karen Coleman is the owner of Kaz Design Works and has been a volunteer for Power of HOPE Community Organization since its inception, helping it to grow to charity status, fund raising and volunteering at events.
In her role as Secretary and Web Administrator her goal is to provide administrative and web support to the organization in its endeavours to help families in need in her local community.
Prior to joining Power of HOPE, Karen had been a regular participant in the Weekend to End Women’s Cancers and the Ride to Conquer Cancer, raising in excess of $70,000 for cancer research, and supports a number of other charitable and non-profit causes. Karen is also on the Board for Oxford Women in Networking and is a volunteer for Purrfect Companions of Norfolk and foster parent to 4 kitties.
Phone: 519-267-5050
Email: enquiries@kazdesignworks.ca
Board Member & London Chapter Member: Dan Knight
Dan has a passion for volunteering and helping people any chance he gets. He is a proud Board Member and London Chapter Member with Power of HOPE having been involved for a few years now. Dan loves watching the London Chapter continue to grow in support and number of Comfort Packs delivered to those in need at Christmas.
Phone: 519-280-8633
Email: dan@day2knightevents.com
Founder: Penny Jamieson
Former Executive Director
Founder of Power of HOPE Community Organization, Penny Jamieson has passion and compassion for others and, with her vision, has taken what was once a dream of “Helping Other People Everyday” to reality.
As Executive Director, she brought a wealth of experience in not only helping others, but in understanding the needs of others, having been there herself. Her selfless compassion for others led to her abandoning her own small business to run Power of HOPE on a full-time basis.
Her role as executive director involved creating awareness for the organization as well as the needs of others in the community and the support needed to provide for those in need; collecting, sorting and packaging donations; and distributing the much needed items to agencies in the area.
Her tireless efforts brought her into contact with Power of HOPE’s many generous supporters, the agencies it helps and many people in need of the bare necessities of life whose faces light up on receiving Power of HOPE gifts. Bringing joy to others brought joy to Penny, and it was her goal to see this joy every day.
Penny also enjoys being a grandma of nine grandchildren from Bridgewater, Nova Scotia to London, Ontario. Becoming a great grandmother last summer and a grandmother of twins, her spare time is certainly busy. Penny is able to fit in reading, gardening and some travelling with her husband George.
Penny retired from Power of HOPE’s Board of Directors in 2021 following her decision to move out of the area.